Official Luthiers Forum!

OK, I have decided to get a plunge router. Advice, model numbers please. I will say that it amazes me in the price difference for bosch, porter and then b&d and skil. But I want one that is accurate, and will last.

Mike

Interesting... did not know DeWalt owned PC. So the products are comparable? I will go to the Borg (I love that, being the bozo that I am, I just figured the Borg thing out today!) and check out the DeWalt. And to think I was really googling Borg Plywood. No wonders I got no hits!

Ya'll crack me up.

Mike

Those combo fixed/plunge kits don't do either very well.
For a 1/2" collet look for a Dewalt DW621. They're descendants of the swiss brand Elu that Black & Decker and subsequently Dewalt bought and are in the process of running into the ground. Be sure it's still european made (mine's british). The controls (plunge lock and power switch) take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang, they're great.
For a 1/4' collet machine the Elu's are gone, so the only quality game in town is the Festool. I use it for delicate (template) work. Nice quiet smooth machine.

Sorry, I don't buy or recommend cheap tools, so that leaves out most of the box store brands.
-C

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Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I've been content with my Bosch 1613EVS. I bought it about 10 years ago when dollars were worth more, but it's still reasonable.

Do get a machine that accepts both 1/2" and 1/4" collets, and use 1/2" shank bits when you have the option.

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Howard Klepper
http://www.klepperguitars.com

When all else fails, clean the shop.

Makita all the way. I think the model is RF1101 or something like that. There's a combo kit with plunged and fixed bases. BY FAR the best plunge router out there, at least in its power range (2 1/4hp). Also the quietest. Blows away any PC or Dewalt. I promise.

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

Okay, the model is RF1101KIT2. Just so much better than all the other routers I've used. Did I mention I like it?

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Mike

"The Dude abides. I don't know about you but I take comfort in that. It's good knowin' he's out there. The Dude. Takin' 'er easy for all us sinners. Shoosh." The Stranger

personaly I would not buy any high end tools from the borg , they have lines made specialy for them so they can be sold at their "discount" pricing. I was a dewalt fan, not any more, although I am not familiar with thier routers , I have their compound slide miter saw , and a few of the 18 volt cordless drills.

of all the brands mentioned above i have had the best luck overall with Bosch tools . just my opinion ... Jody

I'm a fan of Bosch power tools also. If you are on a budget and who isn't anymore, Bosch sells reconditioned tools on the web with a warranty. My Colt lam trimmer was reconditioned and I couldn't tell that it was not new. Google.

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Jim Howell
Charlotte, NC

er.... we're talking guitar making here, aren't we? Even on my neck dovetail cutting (see my neck making pt.2 pics) (see my neck making pics) the 2hp is plenty. The bigger machines have more power, but they're too heavy and clumsy for lutherie.
-C

_________________
Freeborn Guitars
and home of BeauGuard©

I like my PC 690 fixed base, but the Bosch 1617EVS (With both bases, got it for around 200 from Maxtool.com) is a nice plunge router. Easy to use, easy to adjust, smooth action, no wobbling. As 'straight up' plunge routers go, euro-style non-swappable base units are generally better/smoother overall, but frankly, the only thing I need plunge capability for is routing cavities, mostly in my electric guitars (control cavities, pickup cavities). I had a pro Bosch plunge for years, but dropped it and cracked the motor shaft on the bit that the collet threads into. Only accepted 1/4" bits, and I've got enough other routers, so I'm not going to bother getting it repaired. Other than that, fixed base all the way here.

Recently got to put my new Triton (the big one) through its paces, and it's really quite lovely in a router table.

Thanks all. Will make up my mind tomorrow. I will be using it for furniture projects as well as Luthierie.

Mike

Love my DeWalt 621. Not the best upside down in a table (are any plungers?), but otherwise a great tool. I haven't used one of the swappable base models, but since I rarely use the plunge I might be tempted to go that route.

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Gabriel Regalbuto
Carlsbad, California
Freedom 35!

The Triton's great in a table - a plunge, yes, but you can easily remove the spring, the collet auto-locks with the nut above the table, so swapping bits is child's play, and adjustments are relatively simple. Doesn't height adjust above the table as far as I can tell, but I can't say that's too big of a deal for me.

you can cut neck dove tails with a lam trimmer; no need for 2 hp.

if you want a pure plunger, i still consider the dewalt 621 to be the best around, whilst acknowledging the need for a wider base plate which is readily available. if you need a fixed and a plunge, the bosch would be my choice but i haven't used the dewalt or hitachi multi base kits to make a comparison.

I've had a Bosch 1613AEVS for about 10 years now and it's lived in my router table most of that time. I also had problems with the single plunge lock. When locked down, the other shaft allows slippage so the router can actually rock back and forth. Sort of makes the fine depth setting meaningless. I finally drilled a hole in the housing and installed a brass screw that locks down on the loose shaft. It is sort of a pain to have to use a screwdriver to tighten or loosen the screw everytime that I adjust the depth setting, but it does help the accuracy.

I call then Big Box Bozo's