Hello All!
I’m looking at investing in a designated large plunge router. I have 2 Bosch 1617EVSPK Kits and love them and so I’m looking at the big Bosch 1619EVS the possible choice, but I need feedback. I don’t want to use this router in a table. Before I make the investment of almost $300, I would like feedback.
Is it a good bang for the buck?
Is the Makita, Festool 1400, or DeWalt 621 (I know the 621 is smaller, but maybe that is enough) just as fine of choice?
Thanks for the Input,
Mike
Replies
Mike,
I have had the Makita 3.5 HP plunge router for more than 15 years. It is a reliable work horse that has routed miles of work for me. It has never failed me and has never been repaired. That is the good part. There are some drawbacks to the big Makita plunge routers. First, the plunge depth adjustment is unreliable for repeated, precise plunge work like mortises. The router vibration causes the plunger to rotate and the depth setting varies. The only way around this is to use 1-2 extra nuts on the plunger but then the quick depth change function does not work well. Second, the plunge action gets a little difficult unless you clean it out and wax it fairly frequently. I have put up with those drawbacks over the years because it is so reliable and hogs through wood and MDF so well.
Best - Tom
You might want to check out http://www.patwarner.com for any/all info regarding routers. He's one of the great ones. He also sells great after-market bases...round and offset.
No, I'm not affiliated with him. :)
Michael
I have owned a number of plunge routers over the years (Makita, Hitachi, Porter Cable, Bosch, and Festool). Only the Hitachi is what I would consider large (3HP) with the rest being in the 1-1/4 to 2-1/4 HP range. The Hitachi TR-12 is relegated to the router table since it doesn't have soft start and is very heavy. I sold the Makita and the plunge base for the Porter Cable (it was part of a kit that was not so easy to change bases). My preference for plunge routers has been the Bosch 1613EVS and more recently the Festool 1400. I have been particularly impressed with the Festools ergonomics, dust collection and bit changing features. The Festool feels slightly lighter than the Bosch although I haven't put them on the scales. If you are willing to pay the price for the Festool, I would say go for it - if you don't like it, you can return it within 30 days for a full refund less any shipping.
Hope this helps,
Steve
Steve:
Do you really think the Festool is worth the big outlay of cash? What makes it perform any better than the Bosch big boy? I am not overly familiar with Festool and have heard lots about them. Sorry for the partial highjack.
Thanks-
Marko
Thank you,
The Great Marko
Marko - Sorry for the delay in this reply but I have been on vacation. "Better" is a relative term that is highly dependent on the user. Up until I purchased the Festool, the Bosch routers were my favorite. I purchased the Festool OF1400 during its introduction primarily due to my complete satisfaction with other Festool products. This router is probably most comparable to the Bosch 1613EVS although I do have an older model so it may not be a totally fair comparison. I don't know if Bosch has made any improvements on the current model(s). Based on my use of both these routers (and every other router in my shop) I always reach for the Festool first. Here are my primary reasons why:
1 - Ergonomics, the tool is lighter and just feels better in my hands.
2 - Dust collection - absolutely incredible pickup and something my Bosch doesn't have
3- Quiet - while I still need hearing protection, there is a very noticable difference in noise levels between the Festool and any other router I have
4- Bit changes - Festool requires one wrench with a ratcheting lock in both directions. Makes for very easy bit changes. The Bosch uses a one wrench system with a shaft lock (no ratchet) but is awkward to lock and use the wrench at the same time.
It was significantly more expensive to get the Festool and I have absolutely no regrets about its purchase. IMHO it was worth every penny just for the dust collection. In these hot, humid, Arkansas summers, I refuse to wear a dust mask and any difference in price is cheap compared to potential future health problems.
Steve
I 'll second everything you say about the Festool. They make excellent tools that will be around long after others retire.
the hitachi 12 would be my choice, i have two of them in my cabinet shop
caulking is not a piece of trim
Another vote for the TR-12. I've been using one for close to 20 years with no problems. I use it both in and out of the router table. Art
Don't mean to hijack this thread, but has anyone used the Fein RT-1800? Is it worth the $300? I'm pretty new at woodworking but I have heard some people really talking up Fein. I'm in the market for a plunge, too. Any info you can also throw this way would be helpful!
I have the Fein and bought it at a promotional open-house sale with a fence. I use it in my BenchDog router table and occasional plunging. Its quiet (as routers go) and very smooth to plunge. A built-in collet stop (the correct term escapes me) is handy. 2 quirks: the plastic dust hood is cheap and broke quickly, and the dust fitting didn't fit my Fein vacuum hos??!!
BTW, I also have a combination 2HP Bosch router kit and have been happy with that as well (except you need 2 wrenches to change bits).
I have the hitachi mv 12, 3+ horsepower and 160 bucks at amazon. works good for me.
I'm really curious what you're using a 3-1/4 router for if it's not in a table . . .
Dan, Are you kidding? Are you new to using a router? I have 4 of the 3600 - 3612B, and Ryobi of the same size. and have worn out several others. Only 1 normally lives under the tavle, although I can set up 3 in the table if I need that many. I think the Hitachi is the best value right now.
And one more vote for the TR-12...not that I owned it a long time, it's that I dropped it (actually it fell after tripping over the cord) and it still works like a charm.
To defend myself: It was winter, there's no heat in my shop and I was wearing big clutzy boots.
My ego directs me to add...It's not a habit of mine to drop tools :-)
pqken
The FESTOOL is sensational even at Australian prices.
Mike,
I have a few routers, and I've gotten rid of a few from my younger and less educated days when I thought spending less was the same as saving money. Well, as I get older, I'm still learning that there are no absolutes in this world. I bought a Hitachi M12V from Amazon for $160 that fits the specs you mention. My buddy opted for a $300 Porter Cable, and we both figured he'd have a heftier tool.
To my surprise (and his), turns out that the M12V is probably the best router purchase I've made - especially in terms of value. You don't always get what you pay for, and in this case, my opinion is that you get a lot more than you pay for.
Here are some facts to add basis to my claim:
I recently put it through its paces building a 2 1/2" rock maple workbench (cutting opposing dados to create a tongue for apron joints w/ a 3/4" straight bit). This monster not only handled it without even breathing heavy, but I had the feeling that I could bury an inch of that bit into the maple without bogging it down. So, I gradually took deeper and deeper passes, until I found some limit to where the router started to slow down. Well, that was a bad idea - not for the router, but because it broke the 1/2" shanked bit on some end grain. The router didn't skip a beat though. I wouldn't recommend doing this, but since I'm still alive to talk about it, I thought it was a good testimonial for the Hitachi.
I'm buying another one, and my buddy has is brand-new Speedmatic for sale - and that's not a joke.
Hope this helps. Good luck.
TPA
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