Good router?

[coolahan 10+ year member]

Price range is around $60.. what are some good ones?

but I've went to Harbor Freights Store and looked at this router (below).. didn't look to bad to me.. is it any good? I don't really know what to look for as far as options and stuff like that on them.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47937

Click to read more...

 

[~Magick_Man~ 10+ year member]

it looks like a decent $40 router.

for basic round overs and hole cutting it should be sufficient.

i have personally had mixed results with chicago electric tools from HF.

~Magick_Man~

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

The two HF routers I bought were absolute shit.

 

[rpfuror 10+ year member]

The two HF routers I bought were absolute shit.

I tend to agree, you are not going t be happy with your results.

Also, you will end up spending more then that on a couple good bits.

Althought I haven't used one I would look at THIS, I have seen positive reviews and it can be used as a Fixed and Plunge router.

 

[06stxf150 10+ year member]

Do you have a homedepot by you?I have a Ridgid router now (R2930)and it is awesome but I have used Ryobi in the past and for the money its not bad.Check out homedepot.com and check into Ryobi..............

 

[lilmaniac2 5,000+ posts]

i used a 100 dollar craftsman for over a yea with no issue

 

[DeuceLee 10+ year member]

PLEASE!!! spend the extra $50 or so and get a good one, you'll kick your @ss in the future because you'll end up spending $100+ for a good router anyways and that $60 junk router you bought was a waste...

craftsman is fine, even better would be something from makita/dewalt...

black&decker is decent too

 

[phyphoestilic 5,000+ posts]

I tend to agree, you are not going t be happy with your results.
Also, you will end up spending more then that on a couple good bits.

Althought I haven't used one I would look at THIS, I have seen positive reviews and it can be used as a Fixed and Plunge router.

lol funny, the home depot sells the skills router for $30 cheaper

I've been looking at at the Ryobi 2HP router, I can't post home depot links for some reason

Any opinions?

 

[UMGixxer 10+ year member]

check out sears for some craftsman routers

 

[bjfish11 5,000+ posts]

My ryobi plunge router has worked AWESOME. Nearly a year old, and have had ZERO problems with it. Its a locking plunge router, so it can me used as a plunge or fixed router. Ran me $99 from Home Depot.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

A router, just like a table saw, is a precision tool. It isn't something that you should take the cheap route on, because you'll be displeased and will wind up spending more in the end. Save some money, and get a better one. I have a bosch one, comes with two bases, and I've had ZERO problems and cuts as well now as it did about a year ago. Flawless piece. If baseballer comes in here, he has the same one, so he might be able to give you a model number.

 

[Flipx99 5,000+ posts]

I got a Makita. I like it very well.

 

[PV Audio 5,000+ posts]

Ryobi, Makita, Porter Cable, Bosch, and Hitachi all make extremely good value for money routers. The other brands like Dremel, Black and Decker and Skil do make routers for very cheap, but they are just that. I had a skil before my Bosch (and surprisingly they are partner companies), and it was seriously night and day.

 

[hoaxci5 10+ year member]

I bought the cheapest ryobi from HD and have done maybe 10 circle cuts in 3/4 mdf with no issues so far. I'd say for a hobbyist and non-pro it's fine.

 

[helotaxi 5,000+ posts]

I have the Skil linked above with only the plunge base. Great router with one exception. The collet is part of the motor quill. If it starts to wear, which mine started doing pretty quickly, you have to replace the whole thing rather than just the collet. The Craftsman Professional router that I have mounted on my router table has a separate collet, has never had trouble with bits slipping, and came with both 1/4" and 1/2" collets. It was more expensive but has served me well.