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Trim Router

PearlWhiteGT

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Apr 9, 2009
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South Texas
Looking to purchase a trim router and want something with a cord. Looking at the Bosch Colt or Dewalt which cost more. Bosch is on sale for $89 and the Dewalt is $149. Bosh is a 5.6 amp 1 horse and Dewalt is 7 amp 1.25 horsepower. Is the Dewalt worth the extra $60? Will be used just for round over corners and maybe some dado cuts.
 
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mike93lx

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Haven't used the Bosch, but I know they make good trim routers.

I went for the Dewalt and it's been great
 

lilredex

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Apr 29, 2006
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Toronto
I went for the HF trim router when they were $17. Will do me for the amount I need a small one.

 

dnschmidt

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Oct 3, 2014
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Phoenix, AZ
Does the extra amperage and hp make that big of a difference?
Depends on what you expect to do with it. If you're using a 1/4" round over no. If you're cutting out windows that have been sheeted over then yes. I have the BOSCH Colt (it's correct name, not Cobalt) in wired and I like it a lot. All of my other trim routers are cordless and for those I went Milwaukee as that's my main battery platform.
 

dave*99

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May 5, 2009
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Coastal NJ
Looking to purchase a trim router and want something with a cord. Looking at the Bosch Cobalt or Dewalt which cost more. Bosch is on sale for $89 and the Dewalt is $149. Bosh is a 5.6 amp 1 horse and Dewalt is 7 amp 1.25 horsepower. Is the Dewalt worth the extra $60? Will be used just for round over corners and maybe some dado cuts.
I have about 5 routers, none are new. I have 2 Bosch corded trim routers. Probably 20 years old. I used them almost exclusively to trim formica projects years ago. The work great, fit in my hand well and are very maneuverable. I can't speak for the new units, but for round overs etc. I never felt power was lacking. I see guys cutting rough openings for windows in sheathing - so I guess the new cordless stuff is very powerful too.
Bosch products have treated me well.
If the Bosch is more maneuverable than the DeWalt, that would be a win for me.
 

Gizmosity

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Jun 17, 2014
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SW Wisconsin
I've had a half dozen Colts in my lab that are used by ham fisted college students. In my experience, the Colt is a decent machine but the collets are a little delicate. The raise/lower wheel/mechanism on all the ones we have are stripped out....again...hamfisted students so adjusting them is a royal PITA. But, its a decent machine and it historically comes in under $100.

I've always had older Porter Cable stuff in my shop but I wouldn't buy any new PC stuff, even with someone else's money. I switched to Makita for my shop and kind of regret not going with the Dewalt kit for a couple reasons. First, a round base can be handy, but a base with a large flat front surface helps follow straight edges (I thought the plunge base with the flat front would be enough, but it's much bigger which has bit me a few times.) A round base is a PITA to keep consistent along a straight edge and sub bases are NEVER truly concentric. The second is the light. The light. The light is a deal closer for me on the Dewalt. I don't care about amperage or HP on a 1/4" trim router from a big name.
The Colt is decent. The Dewalt, without the light, isn't anything special...but with the light it is. For me that makes it worth an extra 50 bucks.
 

tarmy

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May 28, 2014
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Nor Cal
I have the Bosch…good tool. I got the Milwaukee M18 cordless and have not used the Bosch again. I’ll make you a great deal on it…not used very much, I just like the cordless tools better.

PM me if interested and I’ll send some pics…
 

Bucko

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Aug 23, 2021
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679
I went for the HF trim router when they were $17. Will do me for the amount I need a small one.


I bought the same one because it will never see heavy use. The laminate trimmer bit pretty much lives in it and only other bit I've used with it is a 1/8th roundover bit. Anything more than that im either using one of my standard routers or the router/shaper table.
 

shoot summ

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Jun 8, 2010
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2,949
I've used a router in one form or another for over 40 years, currently have 5, the latest add was the Dewalt battery powered.

It sees the most use out of all of them, IMO battery powered is the way to go, so handy.
 

subroc

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Apr 22, 2017
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781
Location
Dover, NH
There are a lot of good ones out there. I have 2 dewalt trim routers, corded and cordless. In use they are similar. I am happy with them. My use is similar to your expected use and anything else one might use a small router for. I have even milled some aluminum with both of mine.

Anyway, if you look around I expect you can find the dewalt for around $125. Check Amazon, eBay et.c
 

Renegade1LI

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Mar 11, 2018
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long island ny
I just picked up a new subase for my cordless dewalt so I can use collars, great for routing hinges. I also like the height adjustment, makes setting depths easy. Look for a used porter cable 7301 trim kit, I've seen them go for 100$ on ebay.
 

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acer66

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Dec 4, 2010
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Western North Carolina
I just picked up a new subase for my cordless dewalt so I can use collars, great for routing hinges. I also like the height adjustment, makes setting depths easy. Look for a used porter cable 7301 trim kit, I've seen them go for 100$ on ebay.
Is that a tilt base in the front left corner of the case?
 

neophyte

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Apr 23, 2012
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Pennsylvannia
Does the extra amperage and hp make that big of a difference?
It really varies by the manufacturer.
I have a sheet metal nibbler made by fein, with a cutting head that was likely made by Trumpf.
Other nibblers use the same cutting head, but different motors.
Most of the other sheet metal nibblers used to have motors with a listed amperage twice what the Fein had.
I have literally cut sheet metal twice the spec’d maximum with the fein.
The general impression I got, is that quality machining, quality bearings, and quality motor design, can increase the actual power and efficiency of electrical motors beyond the simple amp ratings.

The Dewalt DW625 router for instance was originally designed by a German brand called Elu.
Black & Decker bought Elu’s portable power tool division and started manufacturing the routers under the Black & Decker brand name, and the Dewalt brand name.
B&D also continuously tweaked the motor design for decades.
There was a router test in one woodworking magazine a decade or two ago, and various routers were hooked up and actually torque tested.
The Dewalt, despite being only rated at 12 amps came out better than some of the routers rated at 15 amps, which included a Bosch router.
 
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tarbellb

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Apr 17, 2011
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Oregon
Don't sleep on the Ridgid, both corded and cordless.

Great features that the others have now copied, including:

power switch on top to make easy off by setting down.
led light
variable speed
round and sq bases included
micro adj

It was better then everything out there till they all copied it.Screenshot_20230116-170150.png
 
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subroc

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Apr 22, 2017
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Dover, NH
I have Dewalt trim routers. I remember looking at the Bosch Colt routers a time or 2. There are more than one version of the Colt. There is a 1hp as well as a 1.25hp version. With the latter you could make a more apples to apples comparison to the Dewalt.
 
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PearlWhiteGT

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Apr 9, 2009
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South Texas
Ended up going with the Dewalt DWP611 router. Which brand of router bits do you guys recommend? At the moment I really only need a round over bit.
 

Aileron

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outside

Renegade1LI

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long island ny
Ended up going with the Dewalt DWP611 router. Which brand of router bits do you guys recommend? At the moment I really only need a round over bit.
Honestly Yonico makes a good bits that hold up very well & their prices are great. I just got a 70pcs set, 160$, just nice to have lots of profile choices.
 

Gizmosity

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Jun 17, 2014
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376
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SW Wisconsin
When I REALLY need a bit, I buy what I can locally to me (my 'local' is about a 100 mile round trip). That's usually Freud from Menards/Home Depot or whatever a Woodcraft sells at their storefront. I will buy some random stuff at Grizzly and have used their bits for quite a few years (20+) without any issue so when I buy anything I might throw a few roundover bits in with the order. If i know I need a certain profile ahead of time, I buy quite a few bits from Infinity Tools and I've been really happy with the quality. I also have a handful of Yonico bits I ordered on Amazon and I can't complain about them either. I can't think of a brand that I bought that I was disappointed in, regardless of price point. The router bit trays I built to last my lifetime are full.......

IMG_20230117_124028719-X2.jpg
 

metaldad

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Aug 2, 2011
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nw indiana
i have an USA made bosch. might be from the era before colt.
nice tool. except the height adjustment and lock are kinda cheesy
 

metaldad

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Aug 2, 2011
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nw indiana
Honestly Yonico makes a good bits that hold up very well & their prices are great. I just got a 70pcs set, 160$, just nice to have lots of profile choices.
that, is an insane price!
id be ordering that, if i didnt order ammo last week
i have bought yonico specialty bits for random projects
 

dogdog

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Nov 15, 2011
Messages
12,711
I have the Roybi battery one, it’s good as in the construction but being battery doesn’t seems to be powerful enough, maybe good enough for trims only.

I have the hf $9 as well, it works but takes a lot of time to setup, not my favorite but it works. Just don’t like the plastic base.

I have the Bosch one from homedepot, it’s good and powerful, easy to make adjustments. I paid $120 for it back few years ago, works good, for $89 I would go for it.

If you have the extra $50 laying around, I would go for the Ridgid one from homedepot, it’s a bit more power and a bit more balanced feel and adjustability as well than the bosch, but they didn’t have any in stock when I need it then when I was replacing my garage headers and fixing the flashings. Sooooo I got the bosch.

Either bosch or ridgid or dewalt you should be fine.
 

mike93lx

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dogdog

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Nov 15, 2011
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1/4 shank bits are mostly for light work or trimming edges even flush... Just saying, when you over work that bit and it can break easily like in too depth of cut. I think I have seen a few that cries COO because of snafu.
 
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