Dedicated Router(s) For Keller Dovetail Jig

[dlu]

Changing bits and getting them adjusted is getting old...

Thinking that it would be nice to have a pair of inexpensive routers (relative to Festool routers) to dedicate to the jig (model 1601). Last time I bought a smallish fixed base router was in the pervious century – a Porter Cable (Rockwell then) 690, any suggestions for good choice these days? According to Keller the router power requirements are modest, anything over 1 HP will do, so  I was wondering about trim routers. A perfect router would have provision for dust collection and a metric depth scale...

 

[thudchkr]

Depending on which Keller jig you have, a trim router may not be big enough. I, myself, like using a router with a larger base on a dovetail jig. That being said, the plunge base for my Bosch colt router is large enough to work well on one of the smaller Keller router jigs.

I have a Makita RF 1101 dedicated to my Leigh FMT jig. It’s a nice no frills unit that works well at that function. There is no real dust collection on it, but the FMT has hookups that function adequately, so hasn’t been an issue for me.

I’ve toyed with the idea of picking up a couple more of the Makitas to dedicate to my router jig, but do have a Dewalt and a PC that don’t see too much use other than cutting dovetails so don’t end up doing too many bit changes as is.

 

[rst]

I have a Porter Cable 890 with the plunge base dedicated to my Leigh FMT.  It has integrated dust collection that works quite along with the Leigh dust attachment for the FMT.

 

[dlu]

Depending on which Keller jig you have, a trim router may not be big enough. I, myself, like using a router with a larger base on a dovetail jig. That being said, the plunge base for my Bosch colt router is large enough to work well on one of the smaller Keller router jigs.

I have the small aluminum jig, the 1601, Keller claims that 1 HP will do. Went to HD and looked at a couple of trim routers and the fixed bases did seem pretty small.

 

[JFelchlin]

I use a dedicated Porter Cable 690LVRS Router -
With a CLEAR router base plate - For my Leigh D4R Jig.
My Leigh FMT Jig has been mostly replaced by the Dominos 500/700.
But, when I do use it, the OF 1400 Router is excellent.

I’d recommend picking up the Porter Cable 690LR -
Currently $129 at Amazon (Prime) - For your FMT needs.
11 amp motor producing 1-3/4 peak HP
27,500 rpm single speed motor
Collets included to accept 1/4" and 1/2" shank bits
If you move up to a larger jig in the future - You’re still “good to go”.