Help me choose a router

[ColossusX]

I currently have the Makita palm router.  Looking for a mid size router and narrowed it to the Dewalt 618 and the Bosch 1617evspk.  Both have good reviews.  A Festool is out of the running.  Too expensive and I dont use a router enough yet to justify the cost. 

 

[Gregor]

I can only suggest you try each of them hands-on (= make some actual chips with them).

While at it do yourself the favour of adding a hands-on (after someone explained you the fine parts of it) with the OF 1400 - I think you might a reasonable chance of reaching the conclusion that, even when not using it enough yet, it's a machine that will make you more happy (both short- and longterm) in relation to money spent (compared to the dewalt and bosch).

 

[ColossusX]

It's hard to justify the $600 for the 1400.  I can buy the bosch, the dewalt, and $200 worth of bits.  So far my jobs haven't required a big router. 

 

[rvieceli]

I have the 618. I like it does what I need it to do. I have the kit with the plunge and the fixed base. If I can get by with a 1/4 inch bit I find myself reaching for the Dewalt 611 more I actually have two of those. One’s in the fixed base and one in the plunge base.

Ron

 

[ColossusX]

I use my makita palm a decent bit.  So far it's done what I need.  But i want to make an mft style top and assume I'll need a bigger one

 

[lwoirhaye]

I like the Milwaukee bodygrip.  Terrific ergonomics and robust components.

 

[glass1]

Dewalt dw621. The gold standard for 2 hp plunge routers. It’s an elu. Or take advantage of $100 off and get the festool of1400.

 

[lwoirhaye]

I had a first gen 621.  The bearings started to rattle after a year or two.  I sold it later and I didn't need a plunger much because I had a J/P with a  mortiser.  Any light plunging I did with an OF1000. 

The dw621 has a great design though.  Pat Warner picked that one and the Milwaukee as his favorite in plunge and fixed-base midsize routers.  I didn't know that until after having bought them.

Predicting router life is a tricky thing.  I bough a reconditioned Milwaukee and used it for many years before burning it out by pushing it to trim 2"  end grain on an oak table top in one pass.  I bought another one in a kit with the plunge base.  Milwaukee doesn't make an edge guide anymore but some of the  Porter-Cable ones can fit.

 

[Cheese]

Make your life easy and just purchase the 1010. Great router...An alternative is the Milwaukee body grip router...half the price of a 1010 but it has ZERO DUST COLLECTION. Still a very nice router and it feels good in the hand.
Downside... it is not a plunge router and the plunge base they offer is an abomination. It’s absolutely horrific. A truly tragic attempt at marketing a plunge router. Shame...Shame

I still own the Body Grip and still enjoy using it. It doesn’t have the finesse of the Festool 1010 but it’s still a great router.

Lose the Dewalt variants...they just annoy.

 

[bigshaw929]

The dewalt 618 was my first router. Had the kit with all the bases. Used it for years in and out of a kreg table top set up and it’s held up great. I have had no complaints with it.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[shanegrilah]

I have two Bosch 1617's that are both 15+ years old. Used them for hand work, router table and as a spindle in a home made CNC machine. Burnt the main bearing up once due to the latter but replaced the bearing, which was fairly easy and about $20, and it just keeps running.

Only complaint I have is that when fine tuning the depth adjustment the motor body does get hung up a little on the base. The small knob can become hard to turn. A little jiggle between the two helps. Maybe they have addressed this on newer models.

Probably best, as stated earlier, if you can get hands on with them to see if you like the depth adjustment of one over the other.

Regards,
Shane

 

[Ajax]

Would love to have the 1010 and 1400, but at 2-3x the price of my newer Bosch routers and backup Craftsman routers, I can't justify the cost.  I would love to leverage Festools system approach (rails, vacs, etc), but the cost vs benefit doesn't work for me.  No doubt the Festool routers are superior, but 2-3x better?  Same argument applies for drills and drivers.  Not so with the Domino and the array of sanders...unique capability and dust mitigation features make these Festools worth the extra money.

 

[elm]

I have the Bosch 1617evs and it was quite the upgrade from my previous router.  I used it for plunges, basic work and on my router table.  As previously mentioned my only 'gripe' was the adjustment.  Sometimes it was not as smooth or as easy as I wished it to be.  Perhaps I just did not spend enough time trying to master it.  I still have it, but recently bought a 1400.  Have not really used it, but looking forward to it.

Thanks for the post, as it now reminds me that I need to clear out some of my routers before my wife finds out.  I seem to collect them and really only use 2 of them (one stays mounted in my table and the other for free hand work)...oh and then the palm trim router so I guess it is 3[smile].  Need to purge the others.

 

[TealaG]

I have the Bosch 1617.  One nice thing was using the base for the router table.  It allows you to adjust from the top of the table.  It comes with the tool to adjust.  You do have to unlatch it then relatch it under the table.  But the rest can be done from the top.  I replaced it with a lift and I'm glad I did.  But that adjustment got me through for 3 years until I could afford a lift. 

 

[SASPred]

Not sure if anyone from a Festool dealer has told you yet, but from now until the end of October you can get a $100(US) or $120(CDN) rebate back from Festool on the 1010, 1400 and 2200 plunge routers.

My shop guy uses the 1400 and loves it. The 1010 is a smaller version and its also a great unit.

For more information on the Rebate program, just contact your local Festool Dealer and they will be able to give you more information.

 

[ColossusX]

Lots of good feedback.  Lots of good and not so good things about both the 1617 and the 618.  While I would love one of the festool routers, even with the rebate, just out of my current budget.  The 1010 is like a boosted trim router, and I love my makita trim. I just cant justify them from a business standpoint yet.  I'll probably get the 618.  A little cheaper, has built in dust collection, a good "training router" till my skills can justify me charging customers.

 

[earcaesar1]

The first router I got was a Triton TRA001. It does very well and also allows you to mount it and adjust the height with a crank tool at the top for more precision.

 

[kevin clifford]

My vote is the Dewalt. 616 or 618. Both have the twist lock cord so you can stick with one cord and multiple routers. Dust collection is ok, but not great on them. Solid workhorses though. I have quite a few of them.

 

[gunnyr]

Interesting thread for me.  I started my Festool journey because I needed a plunge router.  I have a PC 690 that i bought as an upgrade to a Craftsman Router.  The dust collection and the ability to use the OF1400 as part of the Festool System make it my go to router.  I confess that I recently purchased a Ridgid palm router that I use on set for quick morticing tasks; I like the clear baseplate and small size. 

I recommend a Festool router!  Get one for dust collection if no other reason!