Wood Routers Reviews

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Wood Routers Reviews Reviewed
Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Wood Routers Ratings Comments on Reviews
1. Wood Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Shop Tested Trim Routers Editors of Wood Magazine July 2007		Editors test 12 trim routers, with ratings for five performance factors: depth-setting ease, bit visibility, bit-changing ease, balance and control and base-changing ease. The chart color codes the ratings so it's easy to see which trim routers excel. The cordless routers have enough power, but editors judge them top-heavy. In November 2006, a separate review gives the Ridgid R2930 combo router kit a relatively low rating, with specific pros and cons. In May 2007, the Craftsman 17517 plunge router (with digital readout) gets a higher rating than at Popular Woodworking (see below), though it does come in for criticism here too. An older review gives the DeWalt DW618PK router combo kit good scores for left-handed users.
2. Taunton's 2008 Tool Guide >> Details/Subscribe	Routers Editor of Fine Woodworking Sept. 2007		The review of routers for router tables published here is basically a summary of the Jan. 2007 review published in Fine Woodworking magazine. However, the Tool Guide review also summarizes results from an annual survey of over 9,000 readers. Readers agree with editors in giving the highest rating to the 2.25-hp Triton MOF001KC plunge router. A separate brief review of the Milwaukee 5616-24 combo router kit recommends it as a good gift choice. This issue also includes separate reviews testing router tables, router bits and edge guides.
3. Popular Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Real World Router Test Troy Sexton June 2007		Woodworker Troy Sexton reviews nine two-base router combo kits based on his own workshop tests. Starting from the viewpoint that all nine routers will perform reasonably well, he sets up tasks to push them to their limits. He evaluates each router for vibration, along with ease of changing a bit, changing bases, operating the switch, adjusting depth and plunge action. The Milwaukee 5616-24 is judged best. Several 2006 single-product reviews cover the DeWalt DW618PK router combo kit, Firestorm FS1200RP plunge router, Craftsman 17517, and Hitachi M12V2. Older comparison reviews in this magazine are also useful.
4. American Woodworker >> Details/Subscribe	Trim Routers: One New Router Leads the Way Richard Tendick Mar. 2007		This review compares eleven trim routers based on shop tests, giving the variable-speed Bosch PR20EVSK the highest rating. The review covers a wide price range as well as types; one router, for example, can double as a rotary tool. In addition to professional-brand routers, the review compares three budget models priced at $50 or less. A brief single-product review covers the Freud FT3000, a plunge router that allows for all adjustments from above the router table. In a much older review (2001), 17 mid-sized fixed-base routers were tested and rated by several woodworkers.
5. Fine Woodworking >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Test: Routers for Router Tables Roland Johnson Jan./Feb. 2007		This review compares seven routers designed for use in a router table. These routers make buying a router lift unnecessary, but tests here find quite a bit of difference in convenience and ease of use. The 2.25-hp Triton plunge router outperforms the six fixed-based routers tested here. Earlier single-product reviews in other issues cover the 2.25-hp Triton MOF001KC plunge router and the Milwaukee 5616-24 combo router kit. Editorial and owner-written router reviews are also available at FineWoodworking.com, where two Porter-Cable routers come in for noticeable criticism. Two 2001 comparison reviews test eight fixed-base 2-hp routers and eight plunge routers, and router expert Pat Warmer recommends five of the many routers he's tested over the years.
6. Woodworker's Journal >> Details/Subscribe	Trim Router Rally Chris Marshall Dec. 2006		This review compares eight medium-priced trim routers (no budget models) for ease of use as well as for performance, testing each by cutting dadoes and rounding edges on hard maple. Two models get top ranking here, but the reviewer provides detailed comments about each router. In Dec. 2005, Bill Hylton reviews 3-hp routers, including ten plunge routers and two fixed-base routers. An earlier review in Oct. 2005 praises the new Bosch Colt Palm Router series, but no testing is documented. A Feb. 2005 article by tool expert Sandor Nagyszalanczy reviews ten inexpensive Chinese-made power tools, including the compact Chicago Electric plunge router (*est. $30). In the Sept. 2004 issue, Rob Johnstone reviews a 3.5-hp Festool router, new at that time, concluding that price is its only drawback.
7. Workbench Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	10 Plunge Routers Bill Link Aug. 2006		This review compares ten 3-hp plunge routers, testing them for seven factors. The highest rating goes to the Bosch 1619EVS plunge router for excelling on all counts. The DeWalt DW625 is runner-up, but the dust control and bit opening aren't as good. The rating for best value goes to the Worx WT600K, which costs over a hundred dollars less. A June 2006 review covers the 2.25-hp Ridgid R2930 Router Combo Kit, and in 2003, Workbench includes both the Triton plunge router and the DeWalt DW616PK router kit among its top ten tools for that year.
8. Taunton Tool Guide 2007 >> Details/Subscribe	Router Combo Kits Thomas G. Begnal and Editors Fall 2006		Although this review appears in the 2007 issue of Taunton's Tool Guide, it's basically the same review that appears a year earlier in the 2006 Tool Guide. This review compares six 2.25-hp router combo kits with variable-speed motors; all but the budget Skil router have soft-start motors to minimize router twisting at startup. Comparison tests find all six routers equal in power, runout and cut quality, so the review focuses on comfort, ease of use and plunge performance. Two router kits share top ranking here, but only one is recommended for use in a router table. A survey of Fine Homebuilding and Fine Woodworking readers puts the same two router kits at the top. A similar review in Taunton's 2006 Tool Guide, also still available, compares three trim routers, while the 2005 issue reviews ten.
9. Wood Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Shop-tested Monster Routers Dave Campbell and Jeff Hall Sept. 2005		Eleven powerful routers are tested here, with ratings reported in a rather complicated chart using grades of A (best) through D for 12 different factors (from "observed power" to "vibration" and "guide bushing use"). The chart also gives much more detailed specifications than most reviews. In Feb. 2006, Bob Wilson reviews the 1-hp variable-speed Bosch Colt palm router. An earlier Nov. 2004 comparison review in Wood Magazine tests and rates multi-base router combo kits; this review is still available to purchase as a download.

Wood Routers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Wood Routers Ratings Comments on Reviews

10. Tools of the Trade	Tool Test: Trim Routers Brent Hull July/Aug. 2005		Five laminate trimmers (also called trim routers or palm routers) are tested here over eight weeks of actual use, installing and remodeling millwork and trim on historic structures -- tasks that demand precision. The review evaluates each trim router (in kit form, with its accessories) for convenience, power and overall feel -- especially looking for easy bit changes and fence adjustments. All five routers perform well with oak, so the main differences lie in convenience and comfort. In a separate article, Tools of the Trade editors give the Bosch palm router a 2005 Editors' Choice award.
11. PatWarner.com	Router Woodworking Pat Warner As of Nov. 2007		Pat Warner, sometimes called "the guru of routing," offers some reviews of specific routers as well as comprehensive information on choosing and using a router. He recommends the DeWalt DW618PK router combo kit as the best router for new users. In particular, he praises its clear sub-base, saying the polycarbonate can be made much more precisely flat than the usual bakelite bases. He doesn't recommend the DeWalt DW618PK for table use, though, indicating that all mid-size routers lack the power for more than brief table-mounted use. However, he says it's better to get separate fixed-base and plunge routers rather than a combo router that compromises the best design features. For table mounting, he recommends a Milwaukee 5625 or a Porter-Cable 7518, and for a handheld fixed-base router, the Porter-Cable 890. Twenty specific reviews are available at the site (*est. $2 each), but the DeWalt DW618PK review is a free sample online.
12. Popular Mechanics >> Details/Subscribe	Router Roundup Tom Klenck Dec. 2003		In this older review, Popular Mechanics compares seven fixed-base routers for performance, ergonomics, ease of control, adjustment and bit changes. Reviewer Tom Klenck finds the two-wrench arrangement for loosening and tightening the collet actually easier to use than the spindle lock method. First choice for a fixed-base model, if you don't need a plunge router, is the Milwaukee 5615-21. It’s usable with one hand and offers easy bit-height adjustment when mounted in a table. Shaft and collet nuts are heavy duty and easy to use. For combo kits, the review recommends the Bosch 1617EVS, especially in a router table. The D-handled version of the DeWalt DW618PK is also recommended.
13. Journal of Light Construction >> Details/Subscribe	Tool Test: Fixed-Base Routers David Frane May 2003		This review compares seven pro-grade fixed-base routers, most of which can also be adapted for plunge use if you buy the combo kit. Reviewer David Frane notes that while most models have 2.25-horsepower motors, these are only one amp greater than 1.75-horsepower motors, which he finds adequate for most hand-held operations. An April 2004 review by Joseph Fusco, who says he's used Porter-Cable routers for over twenty years, reviews the Porter-Cable 894PK router kit. The same reviewer tests 13 plunge routers in a Sept. 2001 review. A 2006 review of trim routers by Brent Hull is really just a reprint of his review published earlier at Tools of the Trade Online.
14. Woodworker's Journal	RIDGID R2930: Router with Two Bases Rob Johnstone Feb. 2006		Rob Johnstone reports on the Ridgid R2930, a 2.25-hp router combo kit. He praises the Ridgid R2930 as "smooth, powerful and feature-rich," with quiet soft-start motor, minimal vibration and flat top for resting the router upside down (when changing the bit). Extra touches include a light on the plug so you can tell when it's plugged in, plus LED lights in the base to illuminate the work when the router is handheld. Even a carrying bag is included, all for a relatively low price.

Wood Routers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Wood Routers Ratings Comments on Reviews

15. About.com	Do You Need a New Router? Chris Baylor Aug. 2007		About.com's guide to woodworking reviews five router combo kits plus the Bosch Colt Palm Router and the Festool OF 1400 EQ plunge router in separate reviews based on his own testing and use. Each router gets a rating (on a five-point scale) so it's easy to pick out the top choice, though three others share second place. Pros and cons of each router are well covered. Oddly enough, his brief buyer’s guide recommends starting with a fixed-base router rather than a kit, but no separate fixed-base routers get reviews here so far. (Note that ConsumerSearch is owned by About.com.)
16. American Router Magazine >> Details/Subscribe	Worx's Mean Green Machine Tom Rounds Jan./Feb. 2006		This in-depth review of the new Worx 3-hp plunge router finds the tool well balanced with plenty of power. The plunge action is smooth and precise, and the plunge depth lock can be reached without removing your hands from the handles. Two-stage depth adjustment, EVS motor and one-wrench bit changes place it among the top competitors. It's unique in having two different dust ports, one for the baseplate and a second as part of the edge guide. The router comes with a dust bag, but can also be attached to a standard shop vac hose. A case and accessories are included.
17. The Woodshop	Router Reviews Jack Loganbill Not Dated		This site offers comprehensive, well-illustrated reviews of two routers (with more promised): the DeWalt DW618PK router combo kit and the Festool OF 1000 plunge router (now the OF 1010). Loganbill compares them with four other routers, including the Bosch 1617 and Porter-Cable 693. Though he recommends the Festool router for handheld use and the DeWalt DW618PK over the Bosch and Porter-Cable routers for table-mounted use, the reviews also give a detailed analysis of drawbacks for each router. For example, the Festool trigger lock is dangerous because it can be turned on accidentally, and the base plate limits visibility of the work. The Dewalt DW618PK router lacks a fine height adjuster.
18. Benchmark	Tool Review Index Phil Bumbalough As of Nov. 2007		Woodworker Phil Bumbalough reviews several routers separately, including the Bosch 1617EVS fixed-base router, as well as the Festool OF 1000 E (now the Festool OF 1010 E), Festool OF 2000, Trend T3 and Triton plunge routers. He finds a few faults with the Triton's ergonomics, but he’s impressed with its innovations, including dust collection with a shroud to catch more chips, three modes of plunge action and easy bit changes. He finds the Triton and older Bosch 1613 better balanced than the Bosch 1617EVS. Bumbalough also notes some fit and finish problems with the Bosch, including a base that's not flat. He loves the fit, finish and smooth operation of the Festool OF 2000, comparing it to "a 3.5-hp Swiss watch." He finds it very light and easy to control, despite its immense power.
19. RayGirling.co.uk	Triton Router Review Ray Girling Updated Nov. 2006		This lavishly illustrated review of the Triton 3.35-hp plunge router is quite detailed, almost a user's manual. The only comparison with other routers is about noise: Girling says the Triton router is loud but lacks the whine that makes most routers quite annoying. He praises the safety features and overall performance, adding that he is now a Triton affiliate, but wrote this review several years before becoming one.
20. Festool USA	Review of Festool OF 1400 Strother Purdy Mar. 2005		Though hosted by its manufacturer, this well illustrated review of the Festool OF 1400 router is written by furniture maker and woodworking teacher Strother Purdy, which gives it more credibility. Purdy is also a former associate editor of Fine Woodworking. Although briefer than other Festool reviews, this one makes its features easy to understand. Purdy recommends this router without qualification, praising the handle design (D handle on one side with on/off switch, knob with depth setting control on the other). He also admires its superb dust collection, height adjustment, fence, full 2.75-inch stroke, ease of bit changing and factory centering.
21. New Woodworker	Tool Reviews: Routers Tom Hintz As of Nov. 2007		Woodworker Tom Hintz provides well illustrated, in-depth reviews of 14 different routers of various types and brands, including three trim routers, testing each router in actual shop use. With this much experience with so many routers, Hintz is able to provide some valuable comparisons in the latest reviews. He usually emphasizes the positive aspects of each router, with only minor criticisms, but these reviews can still give a sense of how the routers perform in the shop. The latest reviews test the 3.25-hp Bosch 1619EVS, and at the other extreme of size, the Bosch Colt Palm Grip Installers Kit -- complete with pictures showing how the different bases in the Bosch Colt kit function in a woodworking shop.
22. OnlineTool Reviews.com	Festool OF 1400 EBQ Router Review Dean Bielanowski Not Dated		Woodworker Dean Bielanowski provides an in-depth, well-illustrated review of the Festool OF 1400 EBQ Router. He is especially impressed with the dust-collection system, which he considers crucial both for personal health and minimal cleanup. An electronic brake, which is another safety feature, stops the bit from turning within one second after the power is turned off. However, this brake is not available in the United States. Noise level is only 79 decibels. He finds the power adequate for most jobs, but he does say that the Festool is not meant for continuous heavy-duty use.
23. OnlineTool Reviews.com	Triton 3-1/4-hp 1/2" Precision Router Review Bill Esposito Not Dated		Woodworker Bill Esposito gives a wonderfully illustrated, in-depth review of the Australian Triton router. He finds the fit and finish better than the Bosch and the control more comfortable than his Milwaukee Body Grip router. Esposito loves the variable speed soft-start motor, rack-and-pinion depth adjustment, clear depth gauge and lighted power switch (so you know when the router is plugged in). The Triton comes with its own set of bushings. In the year-end update, Esposito notes several problems he encountered, plus a warranty repair -- all of which have been fixed in the newer Triton model. He wishes Triton would design the router with a self-releasing collet.

Wood Routers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Wood Routers Ratings Comments on Reviews

24. Wood Magazine	Routers Contributors to Wood Magazine Forums As of Nov. 2007		You can browse or search the discussions about routers posted here, or you can join free and ask a question of your own. In recent discussions about selecting a palm router, one woodworker points out that variable-speed is unlikely to be needed, since small trim routers are usually used with small bits at high speed, making the inexpensive single-speed Bosch Colt PR20 a good buy. Several other users also recommend this router. In another discussion, a user notes that the Grizzly budget trim router is underpowered, making the MLCS trim router a better buy. In discussing larger routers, one user notes that the Craftsman dual-base Professional combo kit router (Model 1617-12) is identical to the Bosch 1717, but it has above-table adjustment.
25. Amazon.com	Tools & Hardware: Wood Routers Contributors to Amazon.com As of Nov. 2007		Amazon.com publishes router reviews and ratings posted by owners, averaging the ratings (done on a five-star scale) for each router. Usually the site's ability to sort products by average rating is helpful, but for routers it produces page after page of bits and accessories. At the time of this report, the DeWalt DW618PK seems to be the top-rated router combo kit, with several separate plunge routers and fixed-base routers getting high ratings here. The new Bosch Colt Installers model (the Bosch Colt trim router with a full set of bases and attachments) also gets good marks from owners. This is a good site to check for reviews of a specific router that interests you, since owners often highlight quality or customer service problems that escape notice in the big comparison reviews.
26. Lowes.com	Routers Contributors to Lowes.com As of Nov. 2007		Lowes publishes owners' ratings of plunge routers, fixed-base routers and router combo kits sold here, but doesn't give owners a chance to add any comments. In addition to the average rating, each router gets separate ratings for features, quality, value and ease of use. At the time of this report, the Porter-Cable 9690LR fixed-base router, the Bosch 1617EVSPK router kit and the Bosch Colt trim router are top ranked among owners. Among budget choices, owners give the Skil 1825 router kit an especially high rating for value.

Wood Routers Reviews above this line are significantly better than reviews below.

Review Ratings	Citation	CS Credibility Rating	Wood Routers Ratings Comments on Reviews

27. Sears.com	Routers Contributors to Sears.com As of Nov. 2007		Sears publishes both ratings and reviews posted by router owners, but at the time of this report, very few routers have any reviews. A notable exception is the Craftsman 17517 plunge router equipped with digital readout. This router receives lukewarm reviews in professional comparison reviews, but owners like it very much. One tall user, for example, says it's the first router whose depth gauge he's really been able to see well. The 11-amp Craftsman 17542 fixed-based router, a budget choice, gets even higher ratings, while owners complain that accessories for the Craftsman 17540 are hard to find, and the Craftsman 26501 router and table combo get mixed reviews for performance.
28. HomeDepot.com	Routers Contributors to HomeDepot.com As of Nov. 2007		Home Depot mixes routers, planers and various accessories together in one listing, making reviews and ratings here especially tedious to browse. Surprisingly few routers are sold here at the time of this report, with only the Ryobi P600 cordless trim router getting reviews from at least six owners. There's still useful information in owners' comments, but too few ratings to count much.
29. Rockler.com	Routers Contributors to Rockler.com As of Nov. 2007		This retail site publishes owner-written reviews and ratings of routers sold here. At the time of this report, 17 router models are sold here, but few have accumulated reviews. There's still good information here. For example, both owners reviewing the Porter-Cable 892 router warn others to avoid it, while the less expensive Porter-Cable 690LR gets rave reviews. A few less widely known brands are included, but unfortunately, so far the Speedmatic 7518 router has been reviewed by only two owners plus the product buyer.
30. Epinions	Router Ratings Contributors to Epinions As of Nov. 2007		There's little of value for router shoppers here. Tons of products are listed, but routers are intermingled with stands, attachments, bit sets and more, and lots of discontinued products remain on the site. In addition, few routers get more than one or two reviews.
31. Consumer Guide.com	Routers Contributors to ConsumerGuide.com As of Nov. 2007		Editors rate 11 wood routers in separate reviews with minimal comparisons. Since eight of the 11 are selected as "best buys" and one as a "budget buy," the reviews don't help narrow the choice much. Nor do they seem consistent; ratings don't always match comments. The quality of the reviews is mixed, with some comments based on apparent usage, others just covering features supplied by the manufacturer. Finally, most of the routers listed are discontinued.