General Purpose Router Choice

[Bessy]

Hey all

I have a Ridgid 1/4" trim router which I have only one complaint about (the switch position on top). It works great for everything I've needed to do so far, but I'm in need of something bigger to run bits with a 1/2" shank.

I'm generally looking for something with both fixed and plunge bases, but I plan to eventually mount it in a table when I finally get around to building one. Currently looking at Bosch 1617EVSPK and the DeWalt DW618PK, based on my online research, but I'm open to other options, if a case can be made under $350 CAD.

Thanks in advance!

 

[vwpieces]

Bosch 1617EVSPK is the best thing in routers these days. Currently $233 USD on Amazon but I scored mine for $179 about 8 months ago. It currently resides in a table I built myself.

 

[Bessy]

Bosch 1617EVSPK is the best thing in routers these days. Currently $233 USD on Amazon but I scored mine for $179 about 8 months ago. It currently resides in a table I built myself.

Did you buy the kit with the specific. Table mount? Looks to be about $396 CAD on Amazon right now for fixed, plunge and table mount piece. Difference with/without the table mount piece is $75.

 

[vwpieces]

I bought the table mount separately off Amazon. It was about $40 with 3 different inserts/sizes.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B082PLG1QS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

added some bling to the insert


Went a Lil over the top on the table buid

 

[vwpieces]

Oh, should mention... Think it was @kaymccampbell that said she experienced galling using it in a table with stock lift mechanism. I have not used it enough to have this issue Yet.

 

[neophyte]

The Bosch 1617 routers are excellent.
As for galling, the current 1617 routers use aluminum for the motor housings.

The older original Bosch 1617 routers had a magnesium alloy motor housing, and other parts, and the magnesium versions had corrosion and galling issues.

The switch to aluminum was because of the issues with the magnesium housings.
I presume aluminum could have the same issues, but likely less severe, but I haven't heard of it with the newer aluminum versions.

 

[shoot summ]

My general purpose router is the Bosch, spends most of it's time in the plunge base. I have the PC 7518 in my router table.

The Dewalt trim router gets used most often, I just snagged the battery powered version and am anxious to get some time with it.

 

[jar944]

I started with a 1617evs. Decent router though a bit top heavy. They were just $189 on Amazon for prime day.

Honestly though routers are routers. I have a bunch including Freud, craftsman, PC, bosch and dewalt and they all work well enough.

 

[Bessy]

(Almost) found a deal on an unopened Bosch 1617 combo kit... The guy's wife put it on Kijiji not knowing he already sold it to someone, so I'm still keeping my eyes peeled. Now if I could just find the darn wrenches for my palm router, I'd be laughing!

 

[dnschmidt]

If you're going to put it in a table you must avoid the type that have threads that screw into the base as these will absolutely clog with sawdust and become unmovable. This was a particular problem with the PC 690 and their big 3 HP routers. The groves would fill up with sawdust and make height adjustment just about impossible. Mallets, strap wrenches and cursing was the only solution. If it's going in a table I strongly suggest a plunge router. My favorite is the Elu/Dewalt 625.

 

[Dakotadadv8]

I love the Porter Cable router 890 series fixed base. It is 15 years old but not sure of the current models are as good or better at Home Depot. It was over $200 back then.

 

[lilredex]

Bought a PC 690 about thirty years ago and immediately put a large base on it. Most jobs can be handled in the vise mounting position but do have a drop in table too, similar to the HF trim router set up shown Also have the plunge base but never use it.

 

[67CarGuy]

I'm seriously looking at the Ridgid R22002 for my needs, although that's mainly going to be living in a Maslow CNC rig. Interested to see how the Ridgid compares to these other makes/models suggested.

 

[Toolfool]

You can occasionally find a nice Porter Cable 690 fixed base/plunge base kit on ebay. The old USA made PC stuff is hard to beat. Some of mine are almost 40 years old and going strong .

 

[lardy1]

Bosch 1617EVSPK is the best thing in routers these days. Currently $233 USD on Amazon but I scored mine for $179 about 8 months ago. It currently resides in a table I built myself.

I wanted something near equivalent of my 80's era Porter-Cable 690 which has and still does serve me extremely well. After reading and listening I bought the Bosch and have zero regrets. I wanted something pretty much dedicated to my table and already have multiple attachments for the 690. I think the Bosch may actually be the better of the two but the 690 in its time was a class act.

 

[Packard V8]

but I plan to eventually mount it in a table when I finally get around to building one.

You are right to want both bases. The plunge is convenient to adjust, but not as stable for running large bits in a table. If you want a stout router to use in a table, I've got older Milwaukee, Skil and Black & Decker which would be actually more rigid than a plunge. If you know how to handle the shipping, I'll make you a heckuva deal on one of those. PM me if interested.

jack vines

 

[jar944]

You can occasionally find a nice Porter Cable 690 fixed base/plunge base kit on ebay. The old USA made PC stuff is hard to beat. Some of mine are almost 40 years old and going strong .

The downside being replament parts will soon be NLA if not already with the discontinuing of the entire line of PC routers. My castle pocket hole machine uses a PC laminate trimmer and a 690. Those laminate trimmers are impossible to replace when they go (unless you buy spare routers 2nd hand)

 

[jar944]

If you're going to put it in a table you must avoid the type that have threads that screw into the base as these will absolutely clog with sawdust and become unmovable. This was a particular problem with the PC 690 and their big 3 HP routers. The groves would fill up with sawdust and make height adjustment just about impossible. Mallets, strap wrenches and cursing was the only solution. If it's going in a table I strongly suggest a plunge router. My favorite is the Elu/Dewalt 625.

Lifts solve all those issues (though at an additional cost)

 

[Bessy]

Router wrenches have been found! 2 of 3 anyway. Tossed a screw in the tool cabinet to hang them, so I won't lose them as quickly this time.

 

[WWheeler]

Triton TRA001 is a beast, and if/when you want to put it in a table it has the above the table crank built into it. It's not AS smooth and precise as having it in a table lift, but it's not all that far from it and for no extra coin. It also lifts all the way up for above-the-table bit changes. I don't know how rare that is, but it's something my Dewalt DW625 (which was great until I killed it) wasn't capable of doing.

 

[rsanter]

I have the Dewalt and love it.
I long ago got rid of my router table, I got a benchtop Rockwell shaper and that thing is great.
They are long discontinued but I found a second one for sale for cheap I grabbed it. I have seen a couple come up now and again so keep an eye out

 

[subroc]

I have a couple Dewalt 618 routers. One I keep mounted in a table. I did pick up a spare base from eBay that I could keep mostly permanantly mounted on the table and still pull the motor should I want to use that particular motor without the table mount for free work. Anyway, I am satisfied with the Dewalt routers. I also have a Craftsman router mouted in a Craftsman table saw wing. works well enough.