Bauer Trim Router on sale at HF via coupon.

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  • dbhost
    Slow and steady
    • Apr 2008
    • 9348
    • League City, Texas
    • Ryobi BT3100

    Bauer Trim Router on sale at HF via coupon.

    I'll get the pic up in a bit, but I did a thing.

    I needed to swap out my recalled Pittsburgh jack stands since I don't cherish the idea of my truck falling on my dome, and they had a coupon for the Daytonas that made for an even swap, but while I was in the coupons for the week, I noticed the Bauer corded trim router was on coupon for $34.99, which is a meager fraction of what I would pay for a better router. Not saying it is equivalent of the fabled Bosch Colt by any means, but functionally for me it is close enough and I can buy 4 of these for what I would pay for one Colt...

    https://www.harborfreight.com/65-Amp...vent_id=182939

    Anyone that has followed my posts for any amount of time knows I have been ultra leery of the HF routers, but my brother got one of the full size fixed / plunge base router kits and a couple of the guys from my church have been talking about these little Bauer routers. Fit and finish seems pretty good with it.

    I have been finding the 2.5HP full size Hitachi is more than a handful when using my signmakers bits and doing some of the finer work that, well the big beastie is just too much for.... Not to mention the hassle of changing out the 1/2 for 1/4 collets.

    It's certainly not going to replace the Hitachi for the bigger tasks, but a worthwhile addition to the arsenal, I should have however grabbed a small tool bag for it to keep the wrenches etc... handy...
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  • dbhost
    Slow and steady
    • Apr 2008
    • 9348
    • League City, Texas
    • Ryobi BT3100

    #2
    No clue what is going on with that px-captcha thing but the link does sem to work...
    Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

    Comment

    • capncarl
      Veteran Member
      • Jan 2007
      • 3619
      • Leesburg Georgia USA
      • SawStop CTS

      #3
      I purchased the Hercules plunge base router for the router lift table in my Saw stop. I was disappointed when I found that my Freud router would not fit any of the adapter sleeves provided with the Saw Stop router lift and refused to pay the higher router prices. I have been impressed with this Harbor Freight router.

      Comment

      • LCHIEN
        Super Moderator
        • Dec 2002
        • 21462
        • Katy, TX, USA.
        • BT3000 vintage 1999

        #4
        Here's the coupon if you need it.
        Expires 4/21/2024

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        for comparison
        Click image for larger version

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        Last edited by LCHIEN; 04-17-2024, 01:51 AM.
        Loring in Katy, TX USA
        If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
        BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

        Comment

        • dbhost
          Slow and steady
          • Apr 2008
          • 9348
          • League City, Texas
          • Ryobi BT3100

          #5
          I would have never thoguht about StewMac as a woodworking generalist supplier, They tend to cater to luthiers. This is one of those items where the need is infrequent, but exists, might as well not blow a ton of cash on it.
          Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

          Comment

          • LCHIEN
            Super Moderator
            • Dec 2002
            • 21462
            • Katy, TX, USA.
            • BT3000 vintage 1999

            #6
            Not saying the HF is not a good bargain for the price, it probably is if you need the lowest cost router right now, but
            consider you can get the Bosch PR20EVSK refurb "kit" which includes the router plus a nice fitted case and some accessories for $88 Amazon or $79 Acme
            This has 3 big advantages for me...
            • Nice storage case
            • Bosch tools are usually very high quality and well engineered, a real joy to use in my experience.
            • I can get repair parts and accessories for Bosch routers for a long time; name brand and a popular model; I recently replaced the switch in my 20 year old Bosch 1617 router. Try getting parts for a 20 year old HF router or any HF tool more than a couple of years old... It likely means you have to buy another if it breaks.

            Another consideration is resale or trade value of the name brand.
            Last edited by LCHIEN; 04-18-2024, 02:23 AM.
            Loring in Katy, TX USA
            If your only tool is a hammer, you tend to treat all problems as if they were nails.
            BT3 FAQ - https://www.sawdustzone.org/forum/di...sked-questions

            Comment

            • leehljp
              The Full Monte
              • Dec 2002
              • 8553
              • Tunica, MS
              • BT3000/3100

              #7
              Some things, I go for quality of product, others, I will go for what does the job and does it cheaply. Cheap doesn't necessarily mean that it will do the job, but if it does, then great and I will probably buy it.

              THAT said, here is my router table lift (seriously):
              https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07KDXJGX9/ref=sspa_dk_detail_3?psc=1&pd_rd_i=B07KDXJGX9&pd_r d_w=wEWjM&content-id=amzn1.sym.386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_p=386c274b-4bfe-4421-9052-a1a56db557ab&pf_rd_r=G47F1RB3MP8QWVC4VKVD&pd_rd_wg =g4fAS&pd_rd_r=0c72f470-d841-4fc7-bc45-7a82815fdc8e&s=automotive&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zc F9kZXRhaWxfdGhlbWF0aWM
              Hank Lee

              Experience is what you get when you don't get what you wanted!

              Comment


              • dbhost

                dbhost
                commented
                Editing a comment
                In all fairness, Harbor Freight does still offer the Drill Master palm / trim routers, which I wouldn't touch. I just don't trust the fit and finish on those considering the high RPM they operate at. Worried about bits and pieces coming off at inappropriate moments. Nothing to really base that on other than just gut feeling though. My drill master hammer drill is just fine, and probably will be until I no longer am...
            • dbhost
              Slow and steady
              • Apr 2008
              • 9348
              • League City, Texas
              • Ryobi BT3100

              #8
              Just FWIW, I know a lot of folks don't like tool cases. For me they are a must have, At least a bag. So since the router didn't have either, a quick trip back to Harbor Freight netted me one of their Voyager 11" tool bags. This keeps the router, collet wrenches, fence, and spare brushes in one place so nothing gets lost, theoretically. Unfortunately I didn't keep everything in the bag for the angle grinder the last time I used it and I have no idea where the wrench for it went... Been busy cleaning the shop like a madman though. I know it is in there somewhere...
              Please like and subscribe to my YouTube channel. Please check out and subscribe to my Workshop Blog.

              Comment

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