Hitachi M12V Now $129 at Amazon with Free Shipping

[PALefty]

Hey PALefty, I think the question I'm hearing you ask is "is it worth $143 shipped?"

I'd say absolutely, but the cahnces are good you'll be able to shave that 13 bucks off at some point if you wait patiently.

So can you get 13 bucks worth of good out of it between now and then? I thought it did great at the work I did with it handheld--just cause everyone else is table mounting theirs doesn't mean you have to.

Yes, that is basically what I am getting at. I know it sounds worth it.. but perhaps I could do a little better if I wait. The thing is, I am building up my tool collection... but I don't really have anything planned for them yet. My priorities would be a tiling project coming up.. and I would like to do a deck project this summer. I am also planning on replacing the doors on my kitchen cabinets in a few months. This is where I may have potential to use my router/table. I was planning on buying doors, but I need to do research and figure out if I save any money by doing it myself (and still have it look semi-professional!). I have a lot more research to do in this area before I decide which way I am going to go. In any event, I have an opportunity buy some things on my wish list.. and tools are on my list. I would like to research and buy good tools.. not necessarily the best of the best, but I like good quality at a good value. I would rather research and buy as I go along... instead of being forced to buy something at the last minute and throw money out the window because I didn't time it right.

I didn't mean to imply the M12V wasn't capable of hand-held use. I know it is certainly capable... but being my first router, I would probably find the 3+HP a little intimidating and unweilding to start out with. I would prefer a smaller one for plunging projects... but if the M12V is the only one I have at the time, I would not be against using it. If I do the deck project, then I could see myself using it to smooth out the rails.

[PALefty]

I'm surprised that Amazon still has that router in stock. So many people (myself included) grabbed one for $79 last month when that $80-off coupon glitch was discovered. If you do get one for table use, look on the Woodpeckers site for the M12V version of the Plunge-Lift. You can build one kick-ass table around that set-up.

That is a deal I don't think I could ever beat.... congrats to all who saved the $$$! If I had been on top of things last month... I would have grabbed a bunch of stuff as well. C'est la vie.

As for the Plunge-Lift... yes, my mouth is watering for a kick-ass setup like that.. but I question whether I need to bring it to that level just yet. I don't have any projects that would require numerous bit changing.... at least not yet. If I had to do some precise depth setting adjustments, could I get by without it? I think this would take me to that next level.. before I even give my starting setup a try. I would like the support of an aluminum plate to mount a big router too though... but I was thinking of starting with something a little less expensive than the Woodpecker. I could be convinced otherwise though...

[PALefty]

There's a great deal on a freud router on amazon right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...&s=hi&v=glance

Interesting... something else to ponder... as if I need something else! I haven't really looked at Freud.. as I haven't found many references to them online.. except for their bits. As another poster in a different thread, I would be interested to hear how this stacks up against the M12V. It only has one review, as compared to the 88 for the Hitachi. That doesn't give me warm fuzzies...

[LarryG]

If I had to do some precise depth setting adjustments, could I get by without it?

Well, this won't be what you want to hear, but pretty much every height adjustment involves a fair amount of precision. Set a roundover bit a skosh too low and it becomes a beading bit. Set it a skosh too high and you get an abbreviated arc instead of a full quarter circle.

On the plate issue, you might want to start by just bolting the router directly to the underside of the table, with no insert plate at all. See fourth picture down, here:

http://www.patwarner.com/selecting_router.html

You can always upgrade to a lift later. I would not fool with phenolic plates; they can sag. And if you buy a quality aluminum plate and something like the RouterRaizer, you can spend almost as much as some lift costs.

[Stormbringer]

I would be interested to hear how this stacks up against the M12V. It only has one review, as compared to the 88 for the Hitachi.

There's a bunch more reviews over at www.eopinions.com

[PALefty]

Well, this won't be what you want to hear, but pretty much every height adjustment involves a fair amount of precision. Set a roundover bit a skosh too low and it becomes a beading bit. Set it a skosh too high and you get an abbreviated arc instead of a full quarter circle.

On the plate issue, you might want to start by just bolting the router directly to the underside of the table, with no insert plate at all. See fourth picture down, here:

http://www.patwarner.com/selecting_router.html

You can always upgrade to a lift later. I would not fool with phenolic plates; they can sag. And if you buy a quality aluminum plate and something like the RouterRaizer, you can spend almost as much as some lift costs.

Yes, good point. But couldn't I achieve the same level of precision without a lift? The woodpecker lift just makes it easier to make those adjustments using a crank above the table.. as opposed to tweaking the plunger depth setting from below the table? The later is less fun... but still possible...no?

The sag is what I am worried about... at least with a big router. I don't know if anybody made the connection between this post and a previous one of mine, but I picked up the bosch professional table. It comes with what I presume to be a phenolic plate which I would like to improve/replace with an aluminum one. I don't know if I want to go full bore with a top of the line one.. unless it was really advised to do so.

[SwingKing]

Freud router and Rousseau 3002 lift

There's a great deal on a freud router on amazon right now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...&s=hi&v=glance

Does anyone know if this router can be made to fit the Rousseau 3002 Router Lift? I tried to buy both the lift and the M12V during the Great Pricing Mistake, but the M12V never shipped. The price of the Freud seems reasonable, but now that I have the lift I'd like to pick a router that would work with it.

Thanks!

-- Ken

[jay75009]

Freud FT2000E

Just ordered the Freud from Amazon, free shipping and the tooldays 10% discount. Thanks for the alert.

John

[JeremyM]

So what was your final price, John?

Was it $1xx or was it the snafu $8x??

[PALefty]

well... I thought it over some more last night and my gut was telling me to get the M12V over the Freud. I went to pull the trigger.. and got this message:

"Important Message: Please note that the price of Hitachi M12V 3-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed 1/2" Plunge Router has increased from $159.99 to $197.63 since you placed it in your Shopping Cart. Items in your cart will always reflect the most recent price displayed on their product detail page"

Amazon made the decision for me... so I went with the Freud.

[jay75009]

Jeremy- I paid $125.99 for the Freud.

[jackellis]

Just checked and the price is down to 151.99.