Have I Been Overthinking The Router Motor?

[woodferret]

I'd second a look at the Bosch or any of the more common routers that have collets from Elaire Corp.  As much as 1/2" will be the go-to router bit, sometimes you do need a smaller trim bit if you're going to be doing any template work.  I have a Bosch sometimes fitted with the 8mm to get into the tighter spaces.  Skil isn't listed, unless of course it uses the porter cable collets (doubtful).  The cost premium above the Skil for any of the listed routers isn't that much.  You'll spend far more in bits.

 

[onocoffee]

Thank you everyone for the generous knowledge. I do appreciate it.

Today, I swung by the local Lowe's to pick up some carriage bolts and was wandering the aisles when I spied the same old $99 Skil router in the tool department. However, it had a price tag of $79.98 - twenty bucks off. Not sure if this was a typo, I took the pic and brought it with me to the register.

I had been chatting with a guy on Marketplace who was asking $75 for the same router - but it's an hour away. I asked him to consider $50, he came back with $65 and I told him I'd think about it. Now, I get a new one for just a little bit more.

Took it home and it seems like a pretty decent router. The housing is nice, the fixed base is nice, it even comes with some dust collection. Problem is: it doesn't fit in the PRL-V2 Lift! Seems that I need to get different (larger) pads to fit the narrower bodied router. Have to look into that on Monday.

Fired it up to clear out some spots on a project I was working on today and I think it's a nice router. The dust collection is surprisingly good (at least compared to the OF1400 I've used) and it has built-in LED lighting. My plan is to use it as much as I can to get a feel for things and if the work I do really needs it, I can always move up to the bigger routers.

Thanks again!

 

[usernumber1]

you're going to nickel and dime yourself to death. buy once cry once get it over with and start making things.

are these the pads: INCRA PRL-V2 Adaptor Pads ? They are $50 and they might not even work w/ that router