Best Overall

Power: 13 amps
Street price: $210
Cut quality: Excellent
Router accuracy: Good (Excellent if you don’t rely on scale for depth adjustment)
Control and handling: Very good
Cut visibility: Very good
Ease of bit changes: Excellent
 
This rack-and-pinion model made the smoothest cuts in our tests, and uses two hefty wrenches and collet nuts for the easiest bit changes. It is well-balanced and comes with a unique hand strap and rubber grip on the motor, which offers better control for some tasks. The control score was hurt a little by the Milwaukee’s soft start, which was jumpier than some. The depth scale was inaccurate, but not all woodworkers use these.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Cleantec CT 26 E HEPA Dust Extractor

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.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

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.

Buy at Amazon