Wood Routers, Woodworking Routers: Wood Router Reviews

Best heavy-duty plunge router

*Est. $280 Compare Prices

Reviews recommend this 3.25-horsepower Bosch wood router for heavy-duty routing even on hardwoods, praising its soft-start variable-speed motor, dust control and self-releasing collets. As a plunge router it can start… grooves or cuts safely in the middle of a board, so it's versatile. Despite its 13.2-pound weight, reviews say this router maneuvers well for handheld use, yet also works well mounted in a router table. The large base opening and 2.56-inch maximum depth make it usable with large bits. It comes with a one-year warranty.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Workbench Magazine: After comparing ten 3-hp plunge routers based on tests for seven factors, this review gives top ranking to the Bosch 1619EVS: "If ...

Woodworker's Journal: This detailed review compares the Bosch 1619EVS with 11 other big heavy-duty routers, testing each primarily for use in a router ...

New Woodworker.com: This well-illustrated, detailed single-product review by woodworker Tom Hintz tests the Bosch 1619EVS both for freehand and table ...

Amazon.com: Over two dozen owners review the Bosch 1619EVS wood router here, praising its power and usefulness in a router table, but also ...

Epinions.com: Only a handful of owners review the Bosch 1619EVS here, but the reviews highlight both pros and cons -- including some drawbacks ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Fixed-base wood router

Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21

*Est. $150 Compare Prices

If you don't need to do plunge work, a fixed-base router costs less and can be easier to learn to use. This single-speed, 1.75-hp Milwaukee wood router lacks dust control, but does have self-releasing collets, so bits are… easily changed. Reviews recommend it as an excellent choice as a first router. It's designed so you can hold it with one hand, and at 8.8 pounds, it's lighter than most. When mounted on a router table, reviews say height adjustment is still easy. Like most Milwaukee tools, it comes with a five-year warranty.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

PopularMechanics.com: For the best fixed-base router, Popular Mechanics gives top ranking to the Milwaukee Body Grip 5615-21 after testing it in ...

New Woodworker.com: This detailed, well-illustrated review recommends the Milwaukee 5615-21 BodyGrip router for hand-held routing operations like ...

Amazon.com: Nearly three dozen owners review the Milwaukee 5615-21 router here, most with praise but several noting excessive vibration -- ...

Epinions.com: A handful of owners give the Milwaukee 5615-21 mixed reviews here, some comparing it favorably with competing models, others ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best router combo kit

Bosch 1617EVSPK

*Est. $250 Compare Prices

Woodworking router combo kits combine one motor with two bases: a fixed base for table-mounted and trimming work and a plunge base for cutting grooves in the middle of a work piece. This 2.25-hp Bosch router kit earns top… ranking in more comparison reviews than any other model by a wide margin. Reviews say the scales are easy to read, bit changes and depth adjustments are easy, and the Bosch excels in overall comfort. You can adjust bit height from above a router table; a major convenience. The warranty is for one year.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Wood Magazine: This recent review compares the Bosch 1617EVSPK with 11 other router combo kits,testing each for power, comfort and feel, and the ...

PopularMechanics.com: This review gives the Bosch 1617EVSPK top ranking after testing it in comparison with six other router combo kits. The Bosch ...

Taunton Tool Guide 2007: Readers of Fine Woodworking and Fine Homebuilding agree with editors in giving top ranking to the Bosch 1617EVSPK as the best ...

Tools of the Trade: This older comparison review covers an earlier version of the Bosch 1617EVSPK that doesn't include easy adjustment above the ...

About.com: The Bosch 1617EVSPK shares top ranking here with the Porter-Cable 893PK, compared with eight other router combo kits. The Bosch ...

New Woodworker.com: This detailed single-product review is lush with illustrations, covering all aspects of the Bosch 1617EVSPK adjustments and ...

Amazon.com: Over a hundred owners rate and review the Bosch 1617EVSPK router combo kit here, with the majority praising it. Most of the lower ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Budget wood router combo

Sears Craftsman 17543

*Est. $120 Compare Prices

Bit changing and depth adjustment on this 2-hp Craftsman router kit isn't quite as convenient as on the Bosch and Milwaukee kits, and scales aren't as easy to read. Nor is the Craftsman as easy to use in a router table.… However, comparison tests show that it outperforms others in its price range. It has LED lights to illuminate the work area, and like the Bosch router kit, a soft-start motor with electronic speed control. The warranty is for one year.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Wood Magazine: This recent review recommends the Craftsman 17543 as a budget router kit -- though noting inconveniences -- after testing it in ...

Sears.com: About two dozen owners review the Craftsman 17543 router combo kit here, praising its smooth operation, but with a few complaints ...

RouterForums.com: This brief forum message notes that the Craftsman 17543 router kit looks quite similar to the well-recommended Porter-Cable 890 ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Best trim router

Bosch Colt PR20EVSK

*Est. $120 Compare Prices

The Bosch Colt palm router gets high praise in more reviews than any woodworking router of this type (also called a laminating trimmer or palm router). This lightweight 3.3-pound wood router comes with a self-releasing… quarter-inch collet, variable-speed with electronic speed control and two-stage depth adjustment -- features usually found only on more powerful routers. It's also comfortable for either right- or left-handed use. The warranty is for one year.

See more photos, specs, and reviews

expand

collapse

Expert & User Review Sources:

Fine Homebuilding: This review gives the Bosch Colt PR20EVSK trim router top ranking after testing it in comparison with nine other trim routers for ...

Taunton 2009 Tool Guide: This review of trim routers includes the results of the annual survey of over 7,000 readers of Fine Homebuilding and Fine ...

American Woodworker: This review compares eleven trim routers based on shop tests, giving the variable-speed Bosch PR20EVSK the highest rating.

Woodworker's Journal: This review compares eight medium-priced trim routers for performance and ease of use, testing each by cutting dadoes and ...

Popular Woodworking: The Bosch PR20EVSK earns top ranking in comparison tests of nine trim routers, not only for power but for the best depth ...

Tools of the Trade: This comparison review is unusual in that the five trim routers are tested over eight weeks of jobsite use on trim work that ...

Amazon.com: More than 50 owners review the Bosch Colt router here, giving it mostly high praise. However, we also find quite a few reports of ...

Where to buy:

See All Stores

Wood Routers: Reviews

Best heavy-duty plunge router

Fixed-base wood router

Best router combo kit

Budget wood router combo

Best trim router

Wood Routers by Price Range


	Bosch 1617EVS 2-1/4 HP Variable-Speed Router from Amazon.com New: $170.00 In Stock. Average Customer Review: