How many routers do you think is enough?

[Brent Taylor]

How many routers do you own and how are you using them? I have currently 7: 2-3 1/4 Hp Triton in a table, Makita for workhorse stuff; ie site table and freehand. 2.5 Hp Ridgid combo Fixed base in small table, plunge base for hand work ( soon to be on Craiglist, to hard to work controls ). 3- 1 1/4 Hp. Makitas; one is first gen plunge that is my go to hand work, other 2 are the newer multi base, one is in a small table for site and shop round overs and the other is for everything else and the last is an originial off-set laminate router that I use for that. I had 4 others but they got lost with the rest of my shop when I move to a new state , but I am thinking of replacing them with newer models of the OF 1000, 1400 and 2000. 9 sounds like the right number of routers for a one-man shop does it? ;D 

 

[wow]

I have an autographed picture from Norm Abram that says:

"You still need one more router."

[big grin]

 

[#Tee]

i think 3 sounds about right. the fixed base for light work, the plunge for more intricate and to hog material out and the one mounted under the table cause its a hassle removing it.

 

[Sparktrician]

Four work well for me - MFK 700, OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200.  Got all my bases covered here... 

[big grin]

 

[elfick]

I think 5 is the magic number... The 4 Sparktrician listed plus one to stay permanently mounted in a router lift/table.

 

[Iceclimber]

Shit i need more routers?

After i purchased the CMS i figured out this simple fact out really quick.

What i really need is to either stop buying tools like a a crackhead or more money!?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Answer: 4.

MFK 700, OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200. [big grin]

 

[Pixel]

Answer: 4.

MFK 700, OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200. [big grin]

Bias view but good sales pitch

 

[guitar_ed]

Good question.  I have 5.

OF2000 from the recon sale a few years ago.
Bosch midsize, I forget the model.
POS plunge router I paid $75 for brand new when I needed a plunge for a one off.  Someday it will go.
Porter-Cable in my router table.
Porter-Cable in a plunge base because the OF2k circle cutter was too expensive and I found a better option.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Answer: 4.

MFK 700, OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200. [big grin]

Bias view but good sales pitch

It was meant in jest. But, it is a good range of routers.

 

[grbmds]

I believe that you can never have enough routers. They keep getting better.

 

[hrrb]

I have an autographed picture from Norm Abram that says:

"You still need one more router."

[big grin]

WOW...no not your name WOW...I mean really WOW!
I wouldn't care 'bout autographs from rockstars or football players. But an autographed picture with Norm saying "You still need one more router"...that is a COLLECTORS ITEM!  [big grin]

And back to topic. I only have an OF 1400 and a cheap noname router. The cheap one is permanently mounted in a router table in my summerhouse in Sweden. I'm going to buy an OF 1010...and I'm still waiting for Festool to make a palm router like the Bosch Colt (or the similar one hand-routers from Dewalt and Makita).  [poke]

Being a hobbyist I don't think I'll ever need more than those 4.

Kind regards
Henrik

Oh, by the way WOW I wish you a fast recovery  [smile]

 

[Pixel]

Answer: 4.

MFK 700, OF 1010, OF 1400 and OF 2200. [big grin]

Bias view but good sales pitch

It was meant in jest. But, it is a good range of routers.

my response was in jest also, it would be a sad day if a Festool employee recommended a Bosch [big grin]

 

[wow]

I have an autographed picture from Norm Abram that says:

"You still need one more router."

[big grin]

WOW...no not your name WOW...I mean really WOW!
I wouldn't care 'bout autographs from rockstars or football players. But an autographed picture with Norm saying "You still need one more router"...that is a COLLECTORS ITEM!  [big grin]

And back to topic. I only have an OF 1400 and a cheap noname router. The cheap one is permanently mounted in a router table in my summerhouse in Sweden. I'm going to buy an OF 1010...and I'm still waiting for Festool to make a palm router like the Bosch Colt (or the similar one hand-routers from Dewalt and Makita).  [poke]

Being a hobbyist I don't think I'll ever need more than those 4.

Kind regards
Henrik

Oh, by the way WOW I wish you a fast recovery  [smile]

Thanks for the kind wishes

And yes, I cherish that picture.  He and I got a chance to hang out for a few minutes at a show where he was signing autographs. Later that day he actually stopped by the booth with a picture and we had a good chuckle.

Currently I have an OF1010 and OF2000. From before my religious conversion I have a B&D in my router table (which I've nicknamed the banshee because of the way it screams) plus a PC7539 plunge router, a couple of PC690's and two PC trimmers. So I guess that makes eight for me.

So somewhere between 7 and 9 sounds about right to me?!

 

[Scott in San Diego]

In a perfect world every bit you own would have its own router.  ;D

But, nothing is perfect.  So, I would strive for a serious real world solution with a minimum of the following:

One each of Festool's four routers.
Two or more Bosch Colts dedicated to small round overs and trimming.
At least two DeWalt 618s fixed base setup for dovetails.
One Porter Cable 7518 in a router table.

That makes 9 minimum and for me the sky is the limit on the how much is enough question.

 

[Billnut]

You need one router per router bit. Then you never have to change your settings.
I heard that many years ago. Makes sense but not financial sense.

Bill
Bonetto's Carpentry

 

[grbmds]

At least one per function . . . like one for a dovetail jig, one set up to do dados, one for template routing, and one for mounting in a table. That's only 4 though and that's not enough for sure.

 

[dltflt]

I have 5 at this with plans of adding the 1010 & 2200. I have two PC690's I use with my dovetail jig. A 7518 that stays in my router table. OF1400 for all hand work and MFK700 for trim router and small dado.

 

[rst]

My first router was an ancient PC from the fifties, next was the original Makita 3 1/4 hp plunge router (both of which I still own).  I currently use two PC 7518s, one in Benchdog lift and one that I use to rout heavy (3/8 and 1/2") plastic.  I have an old PC trimmer kit with the offset base and formica stripper, and one of the new 450 plunge base trimmers.  I bought two of the new PC 890 to use with my Leigh dovetail and tenoning jigs.  I own three Bosch, a Colt trimmer, a 1617, and 1619 plunger.  THEN  I discovered Festool and had to have a 1400 as an excuse to buy the LS32.  [sad] Putting this is writing makes me think I may have a problem

 

[dltflt]

Honestly I beleive we all have a problem.