With good balance and ergonomics, this router handled well. I especially liked its slick phenolic baseplate, which made it easy to steer the router for edge profiling. It plunges smoothly, and the locking lever works easily and holds the height tightly. The stops on the turret are simple to adjust to allow for variable plunge steps. Adjustments to the plunge depth, both macro and micro, are easy. Bit changes presented no problems, as the spindle lock worked and the wrench was beefy and drop-forged. The dust collection worked very well when I was mortising, but not so well while I was edge profiling. Unfortunately, the edge guide was disappointing, as its fence casting wasn’t straight. And visibility became an issue on deep plunge cuts.
Fine Woodworking Recommended Products
Makita SP6000J1 Track Saw
With enough power to slice through thick hardwoods, the Makita makes smooth, chip-free cuts in all materials.
The clear winner here is Festool’s CT 48 Dust Extractor. It has amazing capacity relative to its size, and unmatched suction power. It packs in a number of subtle but very helpful design touches, like a clever foot brake and easy hose and cord storage.
The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.
With its graceful curves, cabriole legs, and ornamental back splat, a Queen Anne side chair is a bucket list build for many woodworkers. Dan Faia had a very specific Queen…
Become an UNLIMITED member and get it all: searchable online archive of every issue, how-to videos, Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking digital series, print magazine, e-newsletter, and more.
Log in or create an account to post a comment.
Sign up Log in