shaper or router?

[jovani]

I have an opportunity to purchased an old heavy duty shaper- I don't have a good router. What would be the best choice for a novice woodworker, the shaper or a good router?

[LarryG]

What would be the best choice for a novice woodworker, the shaper or a good router?

For a novice woodworker -- router, without question. For an experienced woodworker -- probably still a router.

See Pat Warner's excellent analysis, also this recent forum thread.

[ragswl4]

I have an opportunity to purchased an old heavy duty shaper- I don't have a good router. What would be the best choice for a novice woodworker, the shaper or a good router?

As a rule shapers are used in production shops while routers are more for us work at home types. I think the router is more versatile and the bits are probably cheaper. The router can be mounted in a table and then becomes a mini shaper. The router can also be removed from the table and used in a handheld mode which a shaper cannot.

I have no experience with a shaper but quite a bit with a router and it does everything that I need it to do.

[jovani]

router VS shaper

Thanks for your advise and the references are great! On this note, what would be the best first router that I can get, to keep, for years to come?

[Sawatzky]

Get a good router. A good option would be to buy a two base kit. That way you can leave one base in a router table and use one motor for both a router table and hand held router. Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt, Makita, Hitachi are all great brands. Craftsman even has a Bosch kit in red. I love my Porter Cable 690. Some would say it is outdated, but it has done everything I have needed it to do, and it is very light weight. I recently made some rail and stile doors with it and it worked great. Just check out any major brand - they will all be good routers.

[Hoover]

Thanks for your advise and the references are great! On this note, what would be the best first router that I can get, to keep, for years to come?

There are many good brands out there Bosch, Porter Cable, DeWalt, Hitachi,
Triton, Freud, etc. The main thing to look for is that it will accommodate 1/2 shank bits, as well as 1/4. The 1/2 shank is preferred. Variable speed is a good feature to have, as the size of the router bit increases, you want to decrease the speed.

Good luck with your search!

[ragswl4]

Thanks for your advise and the references are great! On this note, what would be the best first router that I can get, to keep, for years to come?

I would recommend that you get a fixed and plunge base router kit. At least 2 HP. It should be able to use both 1/2" and 1/4" diameter bits. Porter Cable, Dewalt, Bosch, Hitachi and Triton (their 2 1/4 hp router has received excellent reviews) are a few of the good name brands. There are also some good ones at Sears (made by Bosch, I believe).

Expect to spend $150-$250 for a quality router. Amazon.com has some good prices from time to time and many folks here post good deals when they see them in the "Bargain Alert" section of the forum. Wouldn't hurt to get a good router book while you are at it.

Here is a link to the smaller Triton:http://www.amazon.com/Triton-MOF001K.../dp/B000DINFHY

I personally have a 2 1/4 HP and 3 1/4 HP Hitachi and like them both.

http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-KM12VC...0052109&sr=1-2
http://www.amazon.com/Hitachi-M12V2-...0052210&sr=1-1

[LCHIEN]

Thanks for your advise and the references are great! On this note, what would be the best first router that I can get, to keep, for years to come?

I would look at the two-base kits based on the
Bosch 1617evs (like the 1617evspk) http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-1617EVSP...0053572&sr=8-1

the Porter Cable 890 series http://www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-8...0053621&sr=1-1

The Dewalt 618 http://www.amazon.com/DW618B3-Horsep...0053678&sr=1-2

and pick the one you like best.
All run around $225 give or take $50. And sometimes much less if you shop aropund.
All popular (with advocates here) and powerful, smooth, versatile and full featured.

Me, I like the Bosch.

[LarryG]

I'd agree with everything posted so far. The EVSPKE variant of the Bosch 1617 package is especially attractive, although sometimes hard to find. Curiously, although it contains several more accessories (useful ones, too) than the EVSPK kit, the E-variant can sometimes be had for less.

Among all the two-base router kits named, I'd put the Bosch and the DeWalt 618 at the top of the list.

As your first router purchase, get Bill Hylton's excellent book, "Woodworking With The Router." It is considered the bible for this tool, will answer questions you didn't know you had. Be sure to get the newer revised edition, recognizable by its inclusion of color photos (the original release is all B&W).

[gwyneth]

As your first router purchase, get Bill Hylton's excellent book, "Woodworking With The Router." It is considered the bible for this tool, will answer questions you didn't know you had. Be sure to get the newer revised edition, recognizable by its inclusion of color photos (the original release is all B&W).

Larry said it before I could. It's the same philosophy as router-buying--if you get a good one, you won't be looking wistfully at the others in a few weeks.

No matter what other router books you have or may buy in the future, this one is essential. It's probably saved more time, money, materials and possibly fingers than any other woodworking book.

[ragswl4]

I have an opportunity to purchased an old heavy duty shaper- I don't have a good router. What would be the best choice for a novice woodworker, the shaper or a good router?

I found this while surfing the net and its a good read. May help you decide.

http://benchmark.20m.com/articles/Sh...us_router.html

[jovani]

shaper VS Router

Great resources. I have learned so much about routers in the last 2 days than in all of my life.. Thank you guys/ladies. When I was told about BT3, it was mentioned to me that it was the best extended family in the world, and I agree. I am ordering some of the recomended books and reading all the materials I have received. Will let you know when I get my router. Blessings. Jovani

[Pappy]

Good advice above, but I will add something else. If a tool doesn't fit your hands comfortably, it is harder to use.

Check with local tool dealers and get your hands on as many of the better routers as you can. Try the switches and controls several times to see how easy they are for you to reach and control. On plunge bases, pay particular attention to the plunge lock.

Accessories are nice to have but no good if the router doesn't 'feel right' in your hands.

[Hoover]

Another thing to consider is that you can't have just one router. Kinda like clamps!!!

[LinuxRandal]

Great resources. I have learned so much about routers in the last 2 days than in all of my life.. Thank you guys/ladies. When I was told about BT3, it was mentioned to me that it was the best extended family in the world, and I agree. I am ordering some of the recomended books and reading all the materials I have received. Will let you know when I get my router. Blessings. Jovani

You might not be as happy when you go broke saving from the bargain alerts.

I prefer the Bosch (two base kit), or the DeWalt (three base kit), if you like the D handle. You might be able to pick the Craftsman Bosch clone up on closeout at your local Sears (1617-12 is the model #). If you do I recommend you change it's baseplate as it's set up for Craftsman stuff.