Makitas new 18V trim router

[Michael Kellough]

Steven said,

"I can imagine the feature disparity between corded and cordless tools is only going to increase with time."

I sometimes do special effects for commercials (tabletop scale). About 25 years ago I was operating a motorized rig that used a cordless drill as the driver. When the battery died I substituted an old school Milwaukee corded drill. Even though the load was negligible the speed was very erratic simply from fluctuations (I assume) from the grid. We had to wait for the battery to charge to get the steady rpm the speed control in the cordless drill provided.

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Laminator: ok, that offset base looks nice. I am thinking of making my own in acrylic or plexi. We don't really get those after market bases here, if we did I would probably get one. Not that big deal making my own but if there is a working solution, complete with knob I wouldn't mind.

Michael Kellough: interesting.

Did my first routing today, edge chamfering Staron and Oak. It is a smooth operating machine indeed. It feels on par with the Virutex (750W) corded unit it is replacing and it is a little more stable and a little better balanced for edge routing. Love the LED, soft start and so far I am very happy with the purchase.

Haven't done any plunge routing yet, maybe tomorrow.

One nitpick is that the plunge base locking lever is a bit fiddly and hard to reach comfortably with the fingertips. It is also very sensitive going back, a little too much effort to lock positively and too "easy" to release.  I don't like how much effort is needed to  plunge and lock. I will add something to the lever to give me a little more leverage for the fingers.

I am trying to keep battery platforms to a bare minimum but the Makita is such a niece and useful piece of kit so I don't mind it being the odd one out in the line up. It will probably be used 90% in the workshop and should Festool or Metabo release a similar machine in the future I would still be happy using the h*ck out of the Makita until I can consolidate battery platforms.

I did sell off my two least used routers to get the Makita - and it also enabled me to sell one of my two OFK500 routers so at this point I made a good deal out of the trade. Less machines that see more use. Awesome. 

 

[Steven Owen]

Laminator: ok, that offset base looks nice. I am thinking of making my own in acrylic or plexi. We don't really get those after market bases here, if we did I would probably get one. Not that big deal making my own but if there is a working solution, complete with knob I wouldn't mind.

Michael Kellough: interesting.

Did my first routing today, edge chamfering Staron and Oak. It is a smooth operating machine indeed. It feels on par with the Virutex (750W) corded unit it is replacing and it is a little more stable and a little better balanced for edge routing. Love the LED, soft start and so far I am very happy with the purchase.

Haven't done any plunge routing yet, maybe tomorrow.

One nitpick is that the plunge base locking lever is a bit fiddly and hard to reach comfortably with the fingertips. It is also very sensitive going back, a little too much effort to lock positively and too "easy" to release.  I don't like how much effort is needed to  plunge and lock. I will add something to the lever to give me a little more leverage for the fingers.

I am trying to keep battery platforms to a bare minimum but the Makita is such a niece and useful piece of kit so I don't mind it being the odd one out in the line up. It will probably be used 90% in the workshop and should Festool or Metabo release a similar machine in the future I would still be happy using the h*ck out of the Makita until I can consolidate battery platforms.

I did sell off my two least used routers to get the Makita - and it also enabled me to sell one of my two OFK500 routers so at this point I made a good deal out of the trade. Less machines that see more use. Awesome.

How do you feel it stacks up against Festool’s trim Router? 

 

[glass1]

Stephen Owen:name one issue that Makita fixed on their track saw from corded to cordless. For the record I own both.

 

[Steven Owen]

Stephen Owen:name one issue that Makita fixed on their track saw from corded to cordless. For the record I own both.

The changes or refinements are minor.  They changed the dust collection port.  The new cordless saw is going to support a wider range of blades design for use specifically for cordless brushless motors.  The handle ergonomics changed slightly too.  I think they had to change the handle to make room for the two batteries.

I wish they would have used a true 36 Volt platform like Dewalt so you wouldn’t have to stick 2 batteries in the saw.  Overtime the two batteries could wear out at different rates impacting performance.

 

[WastedP]

Stephen Owen:name one issue that Makita fixed on their track saw from corded to cordless. For the record I own both.

I wish they would have used a true 36 Volt platform like Dewalt so you wouldn’t have to stick 2 batteries in the saw.  Overtime the two batteries could wear out at different rates impacting performance.

I have the 18Vx2 string trimmer and blower, with a pair of 5.0 Ah batteries for each, that I have used since July.  The blower runs through batteries pretty fast, so I have mixed and matched and used different chargers at different rates.  I have noticed no issues or changes in performance since new.

I wish I had read this thread earlier this week; I bought a corded Makita router that replaced a Bosch Colt with a bad lower bearing.  I looked at the cordless router and balked at the $70 premium over the corded model (with no batteries or charger).  The biggest issue with the corded router is the arcane placement of the power cord, coming straight up out of the top.  The memory in a coiled cord seems to swing the cord into the router's path.  If that cordless router is as great as everyone here says, I might still go get one.  One thing I noticed when I as looking at the cordless model was that the power switch is a single membrane switch in a weird location.  It seems like it would be hard to single-handedly turn it on and off.  Any thoughts on that?

 

[J0hn]

Keep in mind that a lot of woodworkers follow the guideline to 'always unplug your router when changing bits'

With that being said, Makita rightfully made it a little difficult to turn the router on.  There is an 'unlock' button that you first have to press which also turns on the led light.  Directly adjacent to that is the actual on/off switch.  It may seem a little awkward at first, but at least for me, once I used it for a while, it is very easy to reach up with your thumb, feel the buttons and turn it on/off.  On my Colt, and Dewalt pony router, you definitely have to take a hand off the router to get to the switch

I have the 36v blower (probably my most used cordless tool) along with the 18v blower.  The other day I saw Acme Tools had the 36v blower with (4) 5.0 batteries and a dual charger for $339 (basically the cost of the batteries) and I ended up buying it - my wife likes using my 36v blower so now she will have her own 

 

[DB10]

Stephen Owen:name one issue that Makita fixed on their track saw from corded to cordless. For the record I own both.

I wish they would have used a true 36 Volt platform like Dewalt so you wouldn’t have to stick 2 batteries in the saw.  Overtime the two batteries could wear out at different rates impacting performance.

I have the 18Vx2 string trimmer and blower, with a pair of 5.0 Ah batteries for each, that I have used since July.  The blower runs through batteries pretty fast, so I have mixed and matched and used different chargers at different rates.  I have noticed no issues or changes in performance since new.

I wish I had read this thread earlier this week; I bought a corded Makita router that replaced a Bosch Colt with a bad lower bearing.  I looked at the cordless router and balked at the $70 premium over the corded model (with no batteries or charger).  The biggest issue with the corded router is the arcane placement of the power cord, coming straight up out of the top.  The memory in a coiled cord seems to swing the cord into the router's path.  If that cordless router is as great as everyone here says, I might still go get one.  One thing I noticed when I as looking at the cordless model was that the power switch is a single membrane switch in a weird location.  It seems like it would be hard to single-handedly turn it on and off.  Any thoughts on that?

It's also frustrating that the power cable is so short on the corded Makita model. Soft start and LED lights on the cordless model plus no cable getting in the way probably make it worth the premium imo.

 

[Steven Owen]

Stephen Owen:name one issue that Makita fixed on their track saw from corded to cordless. For the record I own both.

I wish they would have used a true 36 Volt platform like Dewalt so you wouldn’t have to stick 2 batteries in the saw.  Overtime the two batteries could wear out at different rates impacting performance.

I have the 18Vx2 string trimmer and blower, with a pair of 5.0 Ah batteries for each, that I have used since July.  The blower runs through batteries pretty fast, so I have mixed and matched and used different chargers at different rates.  I have noticed no issues or changes in performance since new.

I wish I had read this thread earlier this week; I bought a corded Makita router that replaced a Bosch Colt with a bad lower bearing.  I looked at the cordless router and balked at the $70 premium over the corded model (with no batteries or charger).  The biggest issue with the corded router is the arcane placement of the power cord, coming straight up out of the top.  The memory in a coiled cord seems to swing the cord into the router's path.  If that cordless router is as great as everyone here says, I might still go get one.  One thing I noticed when I as looking at the cordless model was that the power switch is a single membrane switch in a weird location.  It seems like it would be hard to single-handedly turn it on and off.  Any thoughts on that?

It's also frustrating that the power cable is so short on the corded Makita model. Soft start and LED lights on the cordless model plus no cable getting in the way probably make it worth the premium imo.

I’m rarher turned off by the fact Makita has done nothing to update their SP6000  track saw since 2008.  It’s long overdue for a model refresh.  You shouldn’t need an extension cord for a 8ft cut. 

 

[pingvinlakrits]

StevenOwen:

The OFK500 is still the best balanced edge router I have used to date. It would be super if they churned out an 18V'er - that would be the edge routers dream machine for me, if the balance was as good. 

Still, the Makita is surprisingly well balanced as an edge router with a battery on top.
If I had to let one go or just keep one edge router I would keep the Makita  - the slight difference in user ergonomics  is offset by the lack of a cord.

It is better balanced than the Virutex that the Makita replaced. The Virutex is a nice machine with soft start and runs quiet. The Makita has that too, has lower center of gravity  and adds the LED - awesome.

Is it a game changer? Dunno, but Makita shows the competition that it is possible to make a great little 18V router that does not feel weaker than a small corded one. All the "cheap" add ons are just gravy on top. Will make good use of the tilting base tomorrow after thinking of what could be done with it.   

I haven't pushed the machine or made any strenous routing with it but so far I am very impressed.

I picked up the correct collet for it today and will continue the first project with it tomorrow morning; two bedside tables in massive Oak with Staron/Corian tops. Commissioned by the missus and made by "left-overs" from a side board I built years ago that we don't need any longer. 

 

[Svar]

Most Brushless direct drive motors are simpler to make and quicker to mass produce than their brushed counterparts.

If that was true they would also be cheaper.

 

[antss]

Most Brushless direct drive motors are simpler to make and quicker to mass produce than their brushed counterparts.

If that was true they would also be cheaper.

Perhaps cheaper to make.

But that sometimes has no correlation to the selling price of a widget or motor.

 

[Steven Owen]

Most Brushless direct drive motors are simpler to make and quicker to mass produce than their brushed counterparts.

If that was true they would also be cheaper.

Perhaps cheaper to make.

But that sometimes has no correlation to the selling price of a widget or motor.

Demand usually determines price more than anything else.  Brushless tools are in high demand ergo higher prices. 

 

[Svar]

Most Brushless direct drive motors are simpler to make and quicker to mass produce than their brushed counterparts.

If that was true they would also be cheaper.

Perhaps cheaper to make.
But that sometimes has no correlation to the selling price of a widget or motor.

Demand usually determines price more than anything else.  Brushless tools are in high demand ergo higher prices.

From what I've read, brushless are more difficult to manufacture. Hence my initial response.

 

[Steven Owen]

Most Brushless direct drive motors are simpler to make and quicker to mass produce than their brushed counterparts.

If that was true they would also be cheaper.

Perhaps cheaper to make.
But that sometimes has no correlation to the selling price of a widget or motor.

Demand usually determines price more than anything else.  Brushless tools are in high demand ergo higher prices.

From what I've read, brushless are more difficult to manufacture. Hence my initial response.

The answer is complicated.  Larger/higher HP brushless motors and cordled brushless motors running on tools that convert AC to DC are more expensive than brushed AC motors.

I’m taking about smaller brusheless motors in smaller battery powered tools.  You don’t see as huge of a cost difference in many brands brushless battery operate tools anymore.  (In the non-Festool brands)

The motor is only one part of the tool.  There’s plenty of tools that have the same motor yet one will cost twice as much as the other tool.  The price of a tool is a sum of all of it’s parts. 

 

[Michael Kellough]

StevenOwen:

The OFK500 is still the best balanced edge router I have used to date. It would be super if they churned out an 18V'er - that would be the edge routers dream machine for me, if the balance was as good. 

Still, the Makita is surprisingly well balanced as an edge router with a battery on top.
If I had to let one go or just keep one edge router I would keep the Makita  - the slight difference in user ergonomics  is offset by the lack of a cord.

It is better balanced than the Virutex that the Makita replaced. The Virutex is a nice machine with soft start and runs quiet. The Makita has that too, has lower center of gravity  and adds the LED - awesome.

Is it a game changer? Dunno, but Makita shows the competition that it is possible to make a great little 18V router that does not feel weaker than a small corded one. All the "cheap" add ons are just gravy on top. Will make good use of the tilting base tomorrow after thinking of what could be done with it.   

I haven't pushed the machine or made any strenous routing with it but so far I am very impressed.

I picked up the correct collet for it today and will continue the first project with it tomorrow morning; two bedside tables in massive Oak with Staron/Corian tops. Commissioned by the missus and made by "left-overs" from a side board I built years ago that we don't need any longer.

Did it not come with a collet?

 

[pingvinlakrits]

Michael: it came with just the 6 or 6.35mm collet - something that is not standard over here, most routers are sold with a 8mm collet. Feels kind of cheap I didn't get one "most common standard size" included.

 

[WastedP]

The feedback in this thread convinced me to go get one of these routers this morning.  Comparing it to the corded laminate trimmer, for roughly the same price (bare tool), it is no contest.  The cordless is metal instead of plastic, the adjustment rack and pinion is metal, the collet can be worked with one wrench.  The cordless router is heavier, naturally, but the weight is centered and the balance is good.  Right out of the box I thought I'd test it by flush trimming 1x cedar.  I figured it would choke, but it handles it better than the Porter Cable 1-3/4 HP router I usually use.  At lunch time I went back to the dealer and he agreed to take the corded version back in exchange for a second cordless model.

The switch I was concerned about is not really a big deal.  Not needing to drag a 25 foot cord reel around a 12'x20' MFT table is a big deal.  I saw the future today.

The US models I bought came with both 1/4" and 3/8" collets.  It also came with a dust collection attachment.  I put it on and hooked it up to the CT and it was a joke.  The router itself is no joke, though.  If it holds up to laminate trimmer abuse, then it is awesome.

 

[Steven Owen]

The feedback in this thread convinced me to go get one of these routers this morning.  Comparing it to the corded laminate trimmer, for roughly the same price (bare tool), it is no contest.  The cordless is metal instead of plastic, the adjustment rack and pinion is metal, the collet can be worked with one wrench.  The cordless router is heavier, naturally, but the weight is centered and the balance is good.  Right out of the box I thought I'd test it by flush trimming 1x cedar.  I figured it would choke, but it handles it better than the Porter Cable 1-3/4 HP router I usually use.  At lunch time I went back to the dealer and he agreed to take the corded version back in exchange for a second cordless model.

The switch I was concerned about is not really a big deal.  Not needing to drag a 25 foot cord reel around a 12'x20' MFT table is a big deal.  I saw the future today.

The US models I bought came with both 1/4" and 3/8" collets.  It also came with a dust collection attachment.  I put it on and hooked it up to the CT and it was a joke.  The router itself is no joke, though.  If it holds up to laminate trimmer abuse, then it is awesome.

It’s been getting very stellar reviews so far.  I’d be surprised if it didn’t perform with laminate. 

 

[lawhoo]

How can someone in the US get the 8mm collet?