Recommendations for a router.

porter cable +1 , ive used a lot of stuff from them, all built very well.

im not a fan of bosch to be honest.


I use some older craftsman routers and old (70s) chicago electric. So im a bit out of date on new stuff : )

quick edit:

D handle i find annoying : / i like to have a small ( 1- 1 1/2) router for freehand type work, and a larger 1 3/4-2hp for my table......another IMO type thing here : )

 

I have a Bosch but I must say they have gone down in quality in my opinion,

You know what I came accross the other day is a Freud Router, vertually identical to older Bosch, still made in Italy and 5 year warranty. I might consider one I am also thinking of a new router.

 

i use my router table 80% of the time, and the rest usually i have goofy jigs i use : /

I have a wierd rig i use that someone posted up here a long time ago for all my "freehand" type cuts, so stability isnt an issue.

 

Hey Ray, I was just talking about you today. People keep asking when I'm going to luthiery school.. whenever I get accepted. Sorry to hear the job isn't working out for you, but the experience is certainly great to have.

I bought a Porter Cable router in the "clearance" aisle at Sears in 2005 and it's still a beast of a router. It's not as adjustable as I'd like it to be, but it's still as good as day one. Stick with a router with a sealed switch, I know of a good few people that have purchased routers with unsealed switches and after a year or two of time the switch needs replacement. A waste of time for such a simple feature.

 

I have used a Porter Cable for a while and the on off switch stopped workin at some point, it was always on basically, really freaked me out the first time I plugged it in, hehe. I also got two of those Freud ones, with the small red table, one of them stopped working, period. Perhaps it didnt like all the waynescotting I did with it. I still love my old black and decker, works marvelously, even after 30 something years. and Triton is definetely making some heads turn with their routers. You should check em out.http://www.tritonwoodworking.com/

 

Here's a link that was up a few months back. There's alot of pictures and opinions in there:
http://www.talkbass.com/forum/showthread.php?t=396601&highlight=router

 

I always liked plunge routers. Porter Cable makes a good 2HP version. I own and despise the 2 HP Bosch version but love the 3 HP Dewalt (made in Switzerland by whoever used to make the ELU routers).

Welcome back to humid NY ...

 

The hitachi V12 routers (2.25hp ones) are a great value! I got the kit with 2 basses and keep the fixed base table mounted and use the plunge base for freehand operations. It's been working great for me for the last 3 years and I don't intend to get another router unless I buy that table top pin router I've been thinking about.

 

I strongly recommend a variable-speed router with electronic speed control and soft start - an attribute of some PC routers, but not available in the PC 690 series.

I have a PC 7518 (3.25hp) permanently mounted in my router table, have PC and Bosch 2.25hp routers for hand-held use, as well as PC and Bosch trim routers; they're all able performers.

If you can find the money, take a look at Festool routers, but be forewarned, Festool gear is expensive AND one you're hooked, you'll be counted among Festool addicts

Here's an excellent website dedicated to routers:
http://www.patwarner.com/

Pat Warner is an avid proponent of DeWalt routers.

 

I have one PC691, and it is a very nice router. It was dropped a while back and the handle broke. I have been looking for another handle, but time and money have been thin lately. The Milwaukee has picked up the slack from the D-handle.

I have never built a guitar, but I am a fifth generation cabinet maker and have owned a cabinet shop for 7 years.