New router, almost gloat...

**Pappy** · 08-06-2008, 05:18 AM

Good price on the Hitachi. I would keep at least one of the other routers for those times when you need a different bit but have one set that is going to be repeated on the project.

**LarryG** · 08-06-2008, 07:09 AM

+1 on Pappy's advice. Of all the power tools in a shop, a second (or more) router is the easiest to justify.

If you have, or plan to get, a dovetail jig, a router dedicated to that purpose is nice. Cutting DTs doesn't take much horsepower and a lot of the bits have 1/4" shanks.

**leehljp** · 08-06-2008, 07:41 AM

Same advice here . . . from a fellow with 3 routers here in Japan and 2 in the States - for repeatable work in either place.

I hate to replace bits and then re-adjust each time when working on a single project.

**jonmulzer** · 08-06-2008, 07:58 AM

Me too. I have the same Hitachi you just bought and a Bosch 1617 combo kit also. You won't need two or more routers every day in the shop, but when you do it is a godsend. I am even planning on a third, just to keep a roundover bit chucked up and ready to go. My next will probably be a Colt.

Have you tried out the Hitachi yet? The first time I fired it up I was amazed at how much quieter it was than my Bosch. Great router and I love it. It gets the most use out of the two on my projects.

**dbhost** · 08-06-2008, 08:52 AM

Originally posted by Pappy

Good price on the Hitachi. I would keep at least one of the other routers for those times when you need a different bit but have one set that is going to be repeated on the project.

I thought about that... I am not 100% happy with the B&D though. I may pick up the fixed base version of the Hitachi, not the whole kit, so that I have a second router motor and fixed base. Keep one base on the router table, and have the two routers, a fixed and a plunge base to work freehand...

Don't recall who, but somebody told me about Reconditioned Sales getting $59 for it... I would prefer new for warranty reasons though...

**Knottscott** · 08-06-2008, 08:53 AM

The Hitachi is a different class of tool than the Skil IMHO....nice deal, nice router, excellent decision!

**dbhost** · 08-06-2008, 10:39 AM

Exactly. The Skil is readily available for $89.99 locally. Figure another $10.00 for tax and all, so I am $100.00 in already for a Skil router. The Hitachi was priced so low by Amazon I simply could NOT pass it up...

I know for a fact the Ryobi R161 has to go. It's not a bad router, but the fact it won't accept 1/2" shank bits, which for the most part is what I want to go to. I Need to find screws to reattach the stock base to it again as I pulled it off of my table... Once that is done, I am placing it on Craigslist. I still have everything that came with it, in it's OE condition (the case was missing a latch when I bought it, but it all closes up anyway...

I have not fired up the Hitachi yet. I May take some scrap 1x4 material when I get home tonight and try it out with a double cove bit I like using... I need to mate the fixed base to the router table, but once that is done, I am good to swap back and forth I think...

**poolhound** · 08-06-2008, 11:52 AM

Its great to get new "toys" and when they arrive all shiny you just want to sit a look at them. As soon as you feel brave enough to get it dirty and make some sawdust, lets us know how you get on. Its a nice router I am sure you will love it.

I think you will be getting the message as I add my agreement to all the other posters that more routers is a good thing. I was up to 4 at one time but am now back down to 2 (Bosch & Dewalt). I had an older PC (fixed speed) which I picked up for a song at a garage sale. I used it until I got a great deal on my DW 3piece kit, I then cleaned it up and sold it which I regret even though I made a nice profit which went towards more tools. I also had the DW trim router but I hated it and sold it. I am waiting to see if I can find a great deal on the Bosch colt and then that should complement my other routers nicely.

**dbhost** · 08-12-2008, 03:31 PM

I am learning that having routers is a good thing. I do want to unload the old Ryobi though, I don't like the lack of ability for the 1/2" bits... The B&D works well, and I have a custom mount plate made to mount bushings finally. And I know how to use it...

I still want another one of these routers, with just the fixed base, so I can keep the fixed base in the router table, and have one out, as well as one in the plunge base...

I have gotten it dirty a bit, just to test it, with the MLCS dovetail jig. It works nice, but I messed the tails up. (kind of dropped the pine boards I was experimenting with, and amazingly enough broke the tails...)

Setting depth on this is different from the Ryobi, and the B&D. It was a lot easier to set up than the others...
It is WAY smoother, and quieter than either. It also seems like it isn't trying so hard to get through the work...
Dust collection is not built in like the B&D though. Lousy for freehand work. Fine for table mounted as my table has a DC port and a nicely designed chute...

All in all, I am very happy with this choice, and I couldn't be happier with the timing. The price has gone up about $5.00 since I bought mine...

**mjernigan** · 08-14-2008, 08:38 PM

If you want one and refurbished is okay with you...

Shows as in stock here for $105, but shipping not included:
Reconditioned Sales

**dbhost** · 08-14-2008, 09:56 PM

Originally posted by mjernigan

Shows as in stock here for $105, but shipping not included:
Reconditioned Sales

$102.00 actually, with $10.65 shipping the cheapest. So $112.65 to my door for a recon with a 1 year warranty. Not bad, the savings are decent enough is money is that tight.

$133.00 from Amazon with free shipping, new, with the 5 year warranty is awfully attractive.

I don't think I will need a second plunge base though, so I am seriously considering the recon fixed base / motor set for $59.00 + S&H...

**Knottscott** · 08-14-2008, 11:55 PM

Originally posted by dbhost

$102.00 actually, with $10.65 shipping the cheapest. So $112.65 to my door for a recon with a 1 year warranty. Not bad, the savings are decent enough is money is that tight.

$133.00 from Amazon with free shipping, new, with the 5 year warranty is awfully attractive.

I don't think I will need a second plunge base though, so I am seriously considering the recon fixed base / motor set for $59.00 + S&H...

I picked up the $59 fixed base Hitachi and am very happy with it. It replaced my Bosch 1617 which was a little big for what I wanted to do with it, plus it didn't have variable speed. The Hitachi is a nice router...a steal at $67 shipped.

**dbhost** · 08-15-2008, 08:32 AM

I think it's an amazing deal if you just need the fixed base, and the motor. I am planning on picking one up for my router table. And yeah I know the way it adjusts is going to make setup a little interesting, but not bad enough to worry about... If you need the entire kit, unless the $20.00 after shipping is gonna take food out of your mouth, the full factory warranty on new, at least for me, eliminates the value proposition of refurbished...

**JimD** · 08-15-2008, 08:50 AM

I have four good routers and two more kind of junk ones (a J. C. Penney and a Craftsman). At times, I wish for another. I have a Bosch Colt I use for most things involving a 1/4 inch shank bit (like a 1/8 roundover, inletting hinges, flush trimming thin edging on plywood, shallow dados, etc), two PC 690s with 4 bases for hand-held work usually with 1/2 inch shank bits (although I use one for dovetails using a HF jig since the Colt is a little light for that) and an old Ryobi R-500 in the router table. I've thought of picking up the Hitachi or maybe even a better Craftsman so I could leave one setup for the dovetail jig. Swaping bits is no huge effort but it is also very nice just to pick up a router and go to work.

Jim

New router, almost gloat...

New router, almost gloat...

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