How many Routers do you have and why?

squall_line said:
MFK 700 with all three bases
OF 1010
OF 1010-R
OF 1400 Metric in Classic Systainer
OF 1400F in TLoc
OF 2200
Skil fixed base/plunge 1/2" router

Sorry, but I just couldn't pass this up...it's eerily similar.  [scared]

MFK 700 with all three bases
OF 1010
OF 1010-R
OF 1400 Metric in Classic Systainer
OF 1400F in TLoc
OF 2200

PC 97311
Milwaukee 5616-21...2-1/4 HP
Milwaukee 5625-20...3-1/2HP
Shaper Origin
 
rmhinden said:
Sort of waiting for Milwaukee to come out with an M12 model.  The M18 models seem top heavy to me, and I don't want another battery platform. 

Bob

Bob, The 2Ah 18V Milwaukee makes the router perfectly balanced...at least to me. I think it's the smallest 18V Milwaukee makes. I have a couple of them, a slightly larger 3Ah, some 5Ah and an 8Ah.  I have the bigger batteries for some lawn and garden equipment. They fit and work, but I almost always use the little 2Ahs. The router can run most of the day on one 2Ah battery, if you're just softening edges.

I get not wanting another battery platform, but the Milwaukee 18V router is a remarkable tool. I am amazed at it's power. I love the micro-adjust on the base and I have both the regular base and the plunge base. Dust collection is included and works almost as well as my Festools. Don't hold back. You'll love it.
 
Interesting look back. It seems I have added half a dozen or so since then.
A second MFK700
OF1010F
another Triton for the table
a couple of cordless Makitas
 
I've got an old Skil plunge router that works decently enough - except the plunge stop will always wander, so that's kinda useless. I also have the Makita 7000 trim router and I just got a Freud FT2200 that came with the router table I bought recently. Been thinking about the OF1400 to replace the Skil or just going for the Jessem Router Motor to put into a lift for the table.

I do have a Q about the 700. I noticed it's designed for trimming edge banding but are any of you using for other trim router type of tasks?
 
onocoffee said:
I do have a Q about the 700. I noticed it's designed for trimming edge banding but are any of you using for other trim router type of tasks?
I generally don't, but that's because I have so many other trim routers.
I leave one set-up with the zero-degree base (horizontal) for 3/4" solid wood edges.
The other goes back and forth between the angled horizontal base (for narrower edges) and the vertical base for flush trimming protrusions like dowels, Dominos, or through-tenons.
 
jeffinsgf said:
rmhinden said:
Sort of waiting for Milwaukee to come out with an M12 model.  The M18 models seem top heavy to me, and I don't want another battery platform. 

Bob

Bob, The 2Ah 18V Milwaukee makes the router perfectly balanced...at least to me. I think it's the smallest 18V Milwaukee makes. I have a couple of them, a slightly larger 3Ah, some 5Ah and an 8Ah.  I have the bigger batteries for some lawn and garden equipment. They fit and work, but I almost always use the little 2Ahs. The router can run most of the day on one 2Ah battery, if you're just softening edges.

I get not wanting another battery platform, but the Milwaukee 18V router is a remarkable tool. I am amazed at it's power. I love the micro-adjust on the base and I have both the regular base and the plunge base. Dust collection is included and works almost as well as my Festools. Don't hold back. You'll love it.

What Jeff said - I have exact same setup and always reach for a 2.0 battery.  Micro adjust and bit change set up are really well done  Dust collection is very good and mates directly to my CT midi hose.
 
Here's my Router List

PC 6518, mounted in table
Dewalt DW618, set up for routing dovetails
PC 690, also set up for routing dovetails
Makita RF1101, mounted to Leigh FMT
Bosch Colt, in a plunge router base
Bosch Colt, attached to offset trimmer base
Dewalt DWP6112, attached to Festool LR-32
Festool OF 2200
Festool OF 1400
Festool OF 1010
Festool MFK 700
Milwaukee M18 Compact

And for the wishlist

Milwaukee M18 ½”
Mafell L055, (although getting this one to run in NA requires some serious gyrations)

Interestingly enough, one of my favorite routers was a Black and Decker with a rack and pinion depth adjustment. I think the bushings, (yes bushings, not bearings), wore to the point that it would just eat 1/4" straight bits, snapping them off at the shank.  It was gracefully retired at that point, but I still miss it.
 
Keep in mind that I am handtool-orientated when building furniture. I will prefer to create sliding dovetails with hand tools than a power router. So I find it interesting that I count 6 power  routers and 4 hand routers (plus two other vintage Stanley power routers which sit displayed as they are just so beautiful).

These are the power routers I use (purchased when new) ....

1 x (1/2") Elu 177e for hand held use
1 x (1/2") Elu 177e in a router table
1 x (1/4" and 8mm) Elu MOF97e
1 x (1/4") Elu MOF96
1 x (1/4" and 8mm) Makita rt0700cx with fixed and plunge bases
1 x (8mm) Makita rt0700cx clone in a router table



Hand tool routers ...

1 x Large Veritas and 2 x Custom routers I built (below)





Regards from Perth

Derek

 
As with Derek I absolutely love my ELU routers, they are every bit as good now as they were 40+ years ago!

I think this is my complete router list:
MOF177E 1/2" ELU router (The 1st quality router I bought 40+ years ago, permanently setup with 2" slab planer cutter)
OF900 1/4" Router (My 2nd quality router bought 40+ years ago, setup permanently with 4mm slotter for biscuits)
MOF177E 1/2" ELU router (Never used NOS bought this year, semi-permanently setup as dovetailer)
Virutex FR155N 8mm Trimmer (permanently setup as 1/8" r/over)
Hitachi TR12 1/2" (never use it - selling)
Virutex FRE317S 1/2" Tiltable Router (Rarely use but super handy for internal cove work and getting right up to edges)
Festool OF1400 (Use for all smaller grunt work)
Festool OF2200 (Use for all large grunt work, spiral insert cutters, and panel cutters)
Makita Trimmer (Permanently setup in mini table with 2mm r/over)
Makita Trimmer (Permanently setup in mini table with 45deg chamfer)
Makita Trimmer (Permanently setup with special base for planing glue lines/high spots on faces flush)
Makita Trimmer (Permanently setup for inlay work)
Makita Trimmer (Permanently setup with side wall grooving cutter)
Makita Trimmer (Ad-hoc)
Makita Cordless Trimmer (Ad-hoc)
Carbatec RT-RPU2400 Round body router (Temporarily used in router table while I sort the spindle/VFD for it)
MFK 700 Trimmer with all accessories
Spannhals 6901 6mm router (Setup for Hegner Finger Jointer Jig - selling)

I'm guessing it's pretty obvious I like the Makita trimmers!

I also have several spindles in various stages of setting up for other routing jobs, including a modified arbor press I'm converting to a pin router for template work.

Probably the only router I want to still get is the OF1010 with the accessory kit, that will fill a nice spot missing that the OF900 isn't really up to the task for nowadays. Unless of course if a cordless OF1400 is released, I'd love a 1/2" cordless.
 
In May 2020 I replied on here and had 14. Since then DeWalt came out with their 20v trim router which I have added. I took the plunge with Festool routers and now have the 1400 and the 700. The 700 is set up for trimming edgebanding 100% of the time. 
After my dad passed I got his routers too, so another 6 Porter Cable and a few old Craftsman too. It's a little bit like he is still in the shop with me when I use his tools.
 
The new DeWalt  DCW620 battery router looks pretty nice, I have to admit. ½" & ¼" collets, built-in dust collection through one of the shafts and using a cut-away base as well as an edge funnel, nice action on the plunge-lock, supports templates, and is brushless.

Are any of Festool's routers currently brushless?
 
[member=77266]smorgasbord[/member] None so far, but I'm really hanging out for a 1/2" brushless/cordless from them!
 
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