Freud 3 1/4 HP Router for Table?

[gkeas]

Woodcraft has a Freud 3 1/4 HP router on sale for $129.    I'm familiar with their blades, but I didn't even know they made power tools.  I know the Triton is often preferred for table mount applications, but does anyone have any experience with this unit?  I wasn't really in the market for a router table, but I can certainly see the benefits.  See this link:

Freud Router

Thanks!

 

[Greg B]

Garry,

I checked into that yesterday. There is a new 3000SE super hummina, hummina that replaces this 2000 series router. The new one has above the table bit replacements and adjustments that the cheaper one doesn't have.

GB

 

[gkeas]

Ahh, so Triton is still the way to go (proven/tested.)  Thanks Greg!

 

[Lou Miller]

Actually, that Freud 2000 router was tested and proven years before the Triton hit the market. They've been around for quite a while and have been proven to be very capable routers. Go to any of the major woodworking forums and ask about 3+HP routers for table mounting. The Freud 2000 and the Hitachi will be two of the routers that a lot of people currently have or had at one time. For years, those two routers represented the best bang for your buck by a wide margin.

I had two of them and they were very good routers. I sold them both and went with PC7518s because I wanted to use Jessem lifts with my tables. The only downside to the Freud 2000 was the opening for the bits wasn't large enough. It was fairly easy to get around that, but it was a PITA to a degree. The Freud 2000 routers would spin any bit you wanted and do it with ease. The newer versions are certainly upgrades, but that price on the Freud 2000 is pretty good. That's a lot of router for the money.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I saw that ad and also think it a very good deal.  I bought Freud's similarly designed 13A router about a year ago on sale for $159? which included a coupon for a free plunge base.  I mounted it by its fixed base to a router plate for use in a router table extension to my table saw.  While it is certainly no Festool in terms of precision of its adjustment mechanisms (and shaft runout according the testing reported in FWW), I still consider it more than adequate for any rabbeting, dadoing, dovetailing, and grooving job I am asking it to do. (I am not a pro, just a hobbyist.)  The clamping and adjustment mechanisms work well, as do the soft start variable speed control and slide action switch which is much like that of the Domino machine.  The power cord is decently long and made of molded rubber, not lesser quality plastic like many are today.  And Freud guarantee is for 5 years.  Had this larger unit been available, I would have bought it.  I also note that Klingspor is offering the same large Freud router at $289.  It should be able to handle large panel raising bits, it that is among your planned uses.

Dave R.

 

[getyourbone]

full time lurker and now 1st time poster here

I just ordered a FT2200E 20 minutes ago.

Amazon is showing the FT2200E on sale for 119.99 through peachtree woodworking.  It came to 130.74 with shipping.  link

one other item of interest for the mft

on sale for 15.99 from same company. 

Steve

 

[Corwin]

Your talking about these clamps here.  They used to sell for $6.95 or so a few months back.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Your talking about these clamps here.  They used to sell for $6.95 or so a few months back.

The clamps are $11.45 for a pair here.

 

[getyourbone]

Ya but I talked to peachtree and if I buy 100 pair at their price, they will give me the router for free!!!

I was in retail most of my life.  I don't understand why people will fall for deals like that?  Or they will drive 100 miles round trip to save $25.  It costs me 70 to 80 cents a mile (not including my time).  I don't see how the math works out, even for people smart enough to drive less expensive vehicles. 

steve