Replies

1. 
   milanuk | Dec 27, 2003 09:07am | #1

   IIRC, some of the brands of routers are a little off of each other as far as hole patterns. I think the PC routers are as close to a 'standard' as it gets. Unless the holes are drilled in the metal itself, it shouldn't be too big of a deal to drill a couple extra holes to mount a router of your choice.

   HTH,

   Monte

2. 
   YesMaam27577 | Dec 27, 2003 12:06pm | #2

   I have an M12V -- got it about a year ago.

   As for mounting it in a table, I'm betting that you will need to drill holes in the table's plate to accomodate any new router.  In that respect, routers are like shock absorbers -- they should be able to make them all fit every car, but they don't. They all have a different hole pattern.

   As for performance....... You're gonna love the power, the variable speed feature, and the soft start. You'll learn to live with the sticky plunge mechanism. It's not really all that bad, but there is some stickyness.

   Once you get it mounted in a table, you'll be dreaming of some sort of router raising device. (This is true with any table-mounted router).

   And if you've never worked with 1/2" shank bits before, you will probably get hooked quickly. I still use a mix of 1/2 and 1/4 shanks. But my plans include elimination/replacement of the skinny ones. The beefier shanks are more stable.

   I bought mine because I was building my deck, and I wanted it to be truly unique. The fence/railing is made from tongue and groove beaded boards. I started with pressure treated 1X6. Each board went across the router table 8 times, to get all of the molding done. I also molded my own crown molding for the same fence.

   All of that use, on that crummy treated wood with all the knots, and the M12 never complained.

   Vast projects should not be founded on half vast ideas.
3. 
   CharlieP | Dec 27, 2003 04:39pm | #3

   I have the M12V and it works great in the table. 

   For a while I tried to use it as my primary (hand) router, and it is so heavy, that I gave up and bought a separate router for hand use.  Which also means that the guide that comes with it (a selling point) never gets used. 

   I am not real fond of the vertical adjustment.  The handle to turn the bolt on the long screw works good for fine adjustments, but takes a long time if you are trying to move a long way.  And you need the fine adjustment in the operating range of the table.  So I struggle to replace the bits without moving the router far out of the operating range, basically giving up the plunge function.

   The collet is excellent, the speed control great, the power outstanding, and the plunge never stuck or bound for me, although I basically don't use that any more since it has been table mounted. 

4. 
   RANGERP75R | Dec 27, 2003 06:23pm | #4

   Gary

      If you table mount it, get the bent wrench that the CMT distributor sells. You will save time and knuckles!

   sarge..jt

   Proud member of the :  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

1. 
   mitch | Dec 29, 2003 01:04am | #5

   until the end of the month amazon/tool crib has the m12v on sale for $159, AND $25 off any hitachi purchase over $150- so with free shipping, how can you go wrong for $135?  at that price, i'm thinking of getting one just for a back up.

   m