Best router for the buck?

[OldCityBassman]

What's the best router for metal?

A grinder.

 

[Hopkins]

Yeah, they are fixed speed and have only the 1/4" collet. But the PC690 is actually quite a lot more than the Ryobi. And for routing pickup cavities and control cavities, they are adequate. The collet really doesn't become a problem until you want to do a roundover, which I find I like less and less anyway.

Yes, its about double the price, but with the 1/2" collet you are pretty much getting double the router. If ones needs will ever only require a 1/4" collet I guess the Ryobi would be fine.

 

[Jisch]

so the 690 is a fixed speed router, correct? After looking through a bunch of stuff, I don't think I'd ever need a plunge router, so I'm kind of narrowing on that one. I'd use it for usual body work - control/pickup cavities and rounding over edges.

 

[FBB Custom]

The 690 is fixed speed. I use the plunge base about 80% of the time, it's very convenient. I'd be sad without it.

 

[sissy kathy]

My .02 from being a wood worker for most my life.

If your planning on using the router for 2-10 hrs a week, buy festool. If your planning on using it for 2hrs a month, buy a ryobi. No matter what you buy, you should buy one with a variable speed. The larger the bit, the slower the speed. Want to burn out bearings and overheat switches and brushes, run a 1" roundover at 23,000 rpms.

I currently use a ryobi plunge router with variable speed. It may get used a total of 50 hrs a year now. Love having the variable speed and it came with both 1/2 and 1/4 inch collets. I don't understand why people don't like plunge routers. Works great for plunging into plywood for door and window openings, but I can also lock it into place at depth easily and it doesn't move. It has also been through 2 major floods, and all I did was hose it out...

View attachment 721245
Tried to find a pic of the router, but here you can see the 10" ryobi table saw along with a craftsman 10" compound saw, both of witch get used weekly.

Where? All I see is a picture of my garage,, how'd you get in there anyway?