Low $$ good router to spin 1/2" shank bits.

[dbhost]

Post up your reviews of currently available, budget conscious, good routers for 1/2" shank bits...

[jonmulzer]

Depends on your budget I suppose. What may be chump change to one is out of reach for another and routers vary from $30 HF specials to $500+ Festools. For my money though, the best lower-priced router is the Hitachi KM12VC combo kit. It can be picked up under $130, has fixed and plunge bases, smooth action, variable speed and soft start. It also comes with a full set of router bushings.

But do you consider $130 to be budget level?

[dbhost]

Good point...
My price point is sub $150.00 including shipping / and / or TX sales Tax... (8.25%).

I came to the rude realization that my R161K won't spin 1/2" shank the hard way... I am wanting to make some mitered frame doors for a cabinet project, and the bits won't fit my old router! (stupid me didn't check first...)

[sweensdv]

Have you considered reconditioned? As long as you purchase it from a reputable company, a reconditioned tool is a great way to get a high quality tool for not a whole lot of $$.

[dbhost]

Who is a reputable refurb company?

My experiences with refurbished products is things like "Rebuilt" water pumps, alternators, starters, etc... for auto repair, and they are rarely worth a warm bucket of spit...

I have read good things here, and other places about reconditioned sales, but that is the only one I recall hearing about... Oh, Cummins tool as well...

I am thinking the Hitachi looks pretty darned good. But what do I know?
Hitachi Router Combo Kit.


* Plunge and fixed base router kit with 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch collets
* 2-1/4-horsepower, 11 amps; variable speed (8,000 to 24,000 rpm)
* Nickel-plated motor housing for smooth depth adjustments
* Includes plunge and fixed base router; 1/2-inch and 1/4-inch collet chucks, template guide adaptor, centering gauge, sub-base plate, 3 wrenches
* 5-year warranty

I have a plunge router already (B&D Firestorm). I am wanting a router to keep mounted in the router table. I HATE stripping the router out, and reinstalling it every time I go from freehand to working on the table... If I am stuck with that, I will just mount up the B&D...

[Schleeper]

Another Hitachi user

The Hitachi router kit is probably your best bet. I don't know of any other decent 2-1/4 hp 1/2 inch router that you'll find for under $150, unless you buy it used on ebay or CL. I bought mine new, on Amazon.com, for $129 with free shipping. I think ReconditionedSales.com sells them for about $20 less, when you factor in the shipping cost.

[mschrank]

Who is a reputable refurb company?

I've purchased several reconditioned tools from CPO Bosch and CPO Porter-Cable.

They have other brands as well, but these are the only two I've had experience with. I've been very happy with the purchases.

[Schleeper]

Reconditioned Sales is apparently the only company authorized to sell reconditioned Hitachi tools. My one experience with them was less than satisfactory, but there are a number of other guys who have had good luck dealing with them.

I think the 5 year warranty, alone, was worth paying an additional $20.

[Gator95]

Here's what I've got:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...inate+Trimmers

Craftsman 17543. Great value in the under $125 category, particularly if you get it on sale- try signing up for craftsman club. Also if you have a discover card, you can get your cashback bonus in sears cards at $45 card for $40 in cashback $$$.

Reviews in router formus generally good. I like it, the soft start is great and have had no problem with it. It is suprisingly quiet for a router. Only weak point is that the height adjustment and calibaration on the fixed base isn't as easy to dial in as with some other routers- but since I keep my fixed base mounted to a table and dial in height with set-up blocks this isn't a problem at all for me.

[Tom Slick]

I have a PC 693 with a fixed and plunge base. I wouldn't hesitate to buy another. they can be found for $150 or less for both bases.

[pacwind3]

[QUOTE=Gator95;357171]
Craftsman 17543. Great value in the under $125 category, particularly if you get it on sale- try signing up for craftsman club. Also if you have a discover card, you can get your cashback bonus in sears cards at $45 card for $40 in cashback $$$. [QUOTE]


I second that. I'm normally not a huge fan of Craftsman tools. They are either really hit and miss in quality, or an over-priced clone of another manufacture's tools.
But the 17543 is a REALLY nice set. My parents got it for me in April for $99 on sale. I have nothing but good things to say, and decided to sell off my porter cable routers to get one more motor to go with the sears set.

Interested in a nice porter cable set? They are in great shape!

[steve-norrell]

Here's what I've got:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...inate+Trimmers

Craftsman 17543. Great value in the under $125 category, particularly if you get it on sale- try signing up for craftsman club. Also if you have a discover card, you can get your cashback bonus in sears cards at $45 card for $40 in cashback $$$.

A third vote for this Craftsman. I use it for hand routing and have been quite pleased with it. It looks suspiciously like a Bosch, but you can check that out at http://www.owwm.com/mfgIndex/detail.aspx?id=222.

Regards, Steve

I just checked the link and it appears bad. Tried www.owwm.com, but couldn't get anywhere. I suggest you look at the Bosch specs and compare. Sorry! SN

[sweensdv]

Who is a reputable refurb company?

I've had good luck buying reconditioned tools from Tyler Tools.

[Sawatzky]

I will put in another vote for the Porter Cable 690 series routers. I have one and love it. It does not have variable speed, but so far I have not had a need for it (I don't use panel raising bits). It is small enough to easily use freehand, but powerful enough for everything I have used it for. I bought an additional base on e-bay for $15.00 and mounted it to my router table. If you don't mind buying used tools, e-bay is a good place to start. I have have been very happy with the tools I have bought used on e-bay.

[dbhost]

I see a LOT of the PC 69x series routers. I have no clue what the differences among them are...

My needs are not for a multi base particularly. I need something that can spin the big shank bits mounted in a table, where I can adjust height / depth of cut etc...

And I am trying my hand at raised panels door construction...

I should mention. I do fully intend to grab a BT3100 / Cman 21829 as soon as one comes into my price range (or I win the lottery, whatever...)... Whatever router I pick up should be mountable to the accessory router table. (If there are mods that need to be made to fit a specific router please let me know...)

I am in the process of building the "Utlimate Workbench" from bobsplans.com, but the router table section may or may not end up as part of the finished product... in favor of more storage in drawers and router table on the BT...