looking for a laminate trimmer

[Timtool]

I am possibly looking for a laminate trimmer, i don't do alot of laminate work if any. But should it come i want to be able to do a clean job. So far i am using this special knife with average results on shop cabinets.

For the first time since i got into buying festools i am actually not considering a festool, but rather leaning towards the Bosch  GKF 600 palm router (is it actually a trimmer?) known in the states as the Colt.
It looks like a nice little router and comes with a bunch of accesories, what appeals to me is that i could also use it for routing hinges and other light duty stuff. Whereas Festool offers nothing of the kind apparently and certainly not at that price range.

Anybody has some advice on another tool or brand?

 

[JLB builders LLC]

I just got that Bosch Colt kit last Monday. Used it on a deadbolt install Thursday. On speed 1 with a 1/4 straight bit, after using a utility knife to scribe around the latch I set the depth and free handed the route on a Mahogany door. It looks factory installed. Very Impressed with it so far, soft start, all the accessories and easy to control. I wanted to buy the MFK 700 to do hinge routing on door installs but the MFK 700 doesn't have a way to see the bit while free handing. I door a lot of door replacements, changing flat slabs over to 6 panel or removing solid doors and replacing with a 15 panel lite glass door.

Bosch had a deal on Amazon that instantly took $20 of the price making it a $159 purchase (original $179)with free shipping and I ordered it Sunday night and had it by 4:30 pm Monday….Amazing!

 

[mastercabman]

Timtool
I have the bosch colt and really like it.I got the whole kit,tilt base,offset base,underscribe base and other accessories.
I have used other trimmer like dewalt,porter&cable and older bosch,but not the festool.I don't do as much laminate work this days.
If i did i would give the festool a try but for the money i think you will do fine with the colt.

 

[greenMonster]

Check out the dewalt

 

[Brice Burrell]

I heard the Colt doesn't hold up well with professional use.  I don't own one but I've used one that was new for a small routing job, very nice (when new).  I used one recently that belongs to a friend that has seen a few years of use and it was crap.  The height locking mechanism was worn, the spindle lock would stick and the bearings were starting to go.  He's fairly hard on his tools, maybe with light to moderate use it will hold up better.     

 

[Erik63]

I use my Colt regularly, but it has plenty of flaws. I have been using my 1400 for more and more small jobs. The Colt has a depth adjustment that does not work, I have had 3 different colts now and it didn't work on any of them. Also you need to tighten the nut on the depth knob to keep the router from going deeper during a cut. Even with it very tight, it tends to creep. it works ok as a trimmer where depth doesn't need to be as accurate.

I will buy a MFK next time I need to replace a colt. Its expensive, but if its anything like my 1400 I will be happy.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Ditto on most of the above.  Bought a Colt, it worked fine for a while then developed creep.  Sold it.  Heard they had improved it, bought a new one, its getting close to crap after a couple years of very light use.

I would love to find a small router with good solid bones (e.g. precise adjustment, no creep, good visibility).  I've heard good things about the "mill accessory" that Micro Fence makes, but it is pricey.

 

[mastercabman]

WOW sorry about those of you that has a problem with it.Like i said i don't use it a whole lot but have not had any problem.
I use my 1010 a lot maybe that's why the colt does not get used that much.
Is it mostly the height adjustment that you have problem with? What about the motor? Bearings?

 

[Erik63]

I have had good luck with motor and bearings. I only have 1 that has been really abused, but that motor is still good.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

I've had the full Bosch Colt kit for as long as it's been out.  No problems with the router itself.  Not happy with base depth adjustment/locking and flatness of the subbase.  I'm sure at some point I'll take the plunge with MicroFence's accessories for it.  I use the Bosch only when it makes sense over using the MFK700.  You might want to take a look at the older Porter Cable 310 trim router, now discontinued, but a long-time favorite and a quality built tool.

 

[dbworkshop]

The colt has a nice feel in the hand, but other than that it's crap. The spindle lock wore the shaft down and doesn't work anymore, so I ground down a wrench to fit the flats on top of the router. Within a week, my custom wrench had worn those flats down. Don't get me wrong, been using routers for years, so I'm not over tightening it. I believe the shaft material maybe too soft. When the need next arrises, I'll try the Festool trim router (you have a 30 day guarantee after all ).

 

[Timtool]

thank you for the replies, now i am not sure anymore lolwether it's a good buy or not.
I have the 1400w big brother of the Colt under my router table and i am pleased with it. It functions on the same principle with an aluminium case sliding in the base. It's not perfect as a system but it somehow functions ok.

 

[Timtool]

little update, i won't be needing a laminate trimmer anymore!
I managed to use my router table as a very effective laminate trimmer, i lifted up the fences and glided the worpieces with the flat side against the fence, and the edge banding below with the to be trimmed part sticking under the fence.

using a roundover bit set flush with the fence i just glided the pieces against the fence and the bit trimmed everything that sticked out.

 

[ajones]

Hi the only issues you may come across is when the item is too unwieldy to get too the table