Best router for cutting circles

[Boomsday 10+ year member]

Im gonna get a new router for fathers day, can someone recommend me a good one for under $150, just looking for one that will be able to cut nice circles everytime without wearing down to fast..

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[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

pretty much anyone will do the job.

just get a jasper jig and an up cut bit. youll be fine.

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

Porter Cable.......

And don't get a Jasper jig......wait for the one Toolmaker is making out of aluminum.

 

[Phoenix Risen 10+ year member]

^^^ good point. i forgot that he was doing that.

has he gotten any farther with them yet?

 

[bhsdriller 10+ year member]

Get a plunge router...lots easier than a non plunge for cutting circles

porter cables are alway good, I have a craftsman from sears that's going strong for 3+ years

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

^^^ good point. i forgot that he was doing that.
has he gotten any farther with them yet?

Iirc, he is waiting for his protos to be put to hard use to see if they need any tweaks, then he will do production runs.

 

[Boomsday 10+ year member]

Iirc, he is waiting for his protos to be put to hard use to see if they need any tweaks, then he will do production runs.

I had planned on getting one of those when they are ready, I just didnt no if his would be fully universal or not..

 

[CHEMMINS 10+ year member]

It will work with 90% of routers....odd oned like Freud will need an adapter of some sort. Porter Cable will be a definite fit....seeing as the Jasper was designed to fit it, and toolmakers is designed same as the Jasper.

 

[THATpurpleKUSH 5,000+ posts]

Get a piece of sheetmetal and make your own circle jig, thats what I did. I'm using an older Craftsman 3/4hp and its been working fine so far.

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

my craftsman plunge router works great but the cuts are more dependent on the bit than the router. no matter what router you get, get good quality bits.

 

[Boomsday 10+ year member]

my craftsman plunge router works great but the cuts are more dependent on the bit than the router. no matter what router you get, get good quality bits.

What kind of bits do you use?

 

[Digital Designs 10+ year member]

I use a DeWalt one and I like it a lot. Some people dont like DeWalt, but I have a bunch of their tools and have never had a problem.

 

[fasfocus00 5,000+ posts]

What kind of bits do you use?

not harbor freight, found those wear and burn. I usually use Bosch or Craftsman, although I do have a Milwaukee Rabbeting set and Ryobi Round Over bit set (my 3 set and my last)

 

[Kangaroux 5,000+ posts]

Sorry in advance about bumping didn't really feel like making another thread.

Is it harder to use a router on birch ply than it is MDF? What's a good circle jig? And what is an inexpensive router that will work well?

 

[pro-rabbit 5,000+ posts]

craftmans has some that are under $100 for a plunge base and they are pretty good. Birch is easier on them in my experiences and the circle jig is personal preference.