Replies

1. 
   fussy | Feb 09, 2007 07:41am | #1

   Depends on what you want to do.  For table mounting and hand-held, yes the Triton seems to be hot.  All reviews I've read are enthusiastic.  If it's to be your only router, that would be a great choice.  Others are the Bosch evs1617(?) combo router.  I know it's good.  Just not very convenient for table-mounting.  Another good one is the new Freud.  I have the Bosch, with a 30+ year old Craftsman Commercial in the table.  When I finally pull it out, I may go with the Freud and leave it in and use the Bosch for hand-held use.  Best of both worlds.  Hope this helps.

   Steve

1. 
   Dan1120 | Feb 12, 2007 09:25pm | #14

   I actually have two of the new Freuds and have mixed emotions. I took the first one back because it kept binding in the base. I exchanged it for another and it seemed to work well. A month or two later, I bought a second to keep in the router table, but the above table adjuster seems to slip a lot - I have to reach under the table to giv it help lifting.

   The two motors seem inconsistent in diameters, so if I put on in the optional plunge base, I have to adjust the clamps differently that the other motor.

   I would have to say quality control and consistency is lacking.

1. 
   fussy | Feb 13, 2007 07:45am | #15

   Hey Dan,

   Verrry interesting.  Did you buy your Freuds shortly after they were introduced, or had they been out for awhile?  If they had been out a bit, somebody needs to get their ducks in a row lest someone put a twist on their knickers.  I would really like to find that this is an aberration because I've nearly saved up the bucks for a new router for the table, and I was focusing on the Freud.  The Triton is a bit clunky for me.  Thanks for the information.

   SteveThere are two secrets to keeping one's wife happy.

   1.  Let her think she's having her own way.

   2.  Let her have her own way. President  Lyndon Baines Johnson

1. 
   Dan1120 | Feb 13, 2007 02:20pm | #16

   I'm not sure when they came out. I bought the first in mid-December, the second mid-January.

2. 
   BG | Feb 09, 2007 01:34pm | #2

   Chalky,

   I bought the Triton 3.25 about a month ago and so far it is as advertised. There is a video clip at Woodcraft's web site...helps explain the features. What can be confusing is that the Triton 3.25 has two depth adjusters(gross and fine tune) and the 2.5 has three I believe(optional crank handle from the top).

   A few years ago I decided to upgrade from my then 30 year old B&D. I bought the DeWalt 621 to work in both the table and handheld mode. Works terrific but the conversion between the modes was a pain. Using the Triton both ways would be quite simple, however I'd keep it simple and just unplug it from the router table and flip it over for handheld use (like the router guys do on the woodworking channel).

   good luck with your decision 

3. 
   Knotscott | Feb 09, 2007 02:26pm | #3

   As "Fussy" points out, it really depends on the purpose. 

   For table mounting, above table bit changes and height adjustment are the newer available features....the Triton and new Freuds have the most above table features.  The Milwaukee 5625 and PC 7518 are the typical heavyweight 3hp contenders, but neither has great above table features.  The Hitachi M12V2 is one of the better values of the big routers.

   For general combination use, there are a bunch of kits available that include both a fixed and a plunge base...AFAIK, they're all mid size 13amp/2hp range....any from Bosch, the Bosch made Craftsman 1617, DW, PC, Makita, Freud, Hitachi, are good choices. 

   For hand use, the Milwaukee 5616 "BodyGrip" design is really nice...extremely well built routers.   

   http://www.epinions.com/content_245903494788   (MW5625)

   http://www.epinions.com/content_228357738116   (FT1700)

   http://www.epinions.com/content_209968074372    (MW5615)

   Whichever you choose, 1/2" shanks have several advantages over 1/4" shanks.

    

4. 
   cadiddlehopper | Feb 09, 2007 03:35pm | #4

   I'm not the expert, but Porter Cable (PC) had some great marketing offers around Christmas a year ago which equipped me with a router (890) and three bases. (I had lusted for one for months.) That combination gave me adequate power, variable speed, soft starting, fine height adjustment, a base to leave under a table, a plunge base, half-inch collet, and dust collection. Above table height adjustment came along with it, but I found that totally unnecessary. I bought a second 890 factory reconditioned because dovetailing goes a little faster with two routers and I like to have backup in case of failure or breakage.

   These are extremely pleasing tools to work with. The only minor problem that I have had is that a dust collection hose must be attached to the router base under a table otherwise chips foul the height adjustment. The solution was easy. Good shopping!

   Cadiddlehopper

5. 
   K1500 | Feb 09, 2007 04:53pm | #5

   I have the DeWalt 3-base kit and another identical DeWalt with a D handle.  That makes 4 bases, a plunge, a fixed, and two D handles (and two motors).  I absolutely love the D handle (almost all major manufacturers offer one) and detachable cord set.  I looked at the Bosch kit (it looked nice) and the PC kit but ended up with yellow.  I like the depth adjustment (the router doesn’t spin), it is capable of fine adjustment but it does have a bit of slop until you get used to it.  The router is 'squatty' and doesn't want to tip much when used.  It is fairly quiet and plenty of power.  90%+ of the time I use them I use the D bases.  It has a collet lock which I find awkward, so I just use two wrenches.

    

   Also, check out the reviews on Amazon (the switch problem that kept cropping up on the Bosch is one thing that scared me away from it).

6. 
   cscwem | Feb 09, 2007 05:58pm | #6

   i guess it would be a good router if that was the only one you had and it needed to be used for hand routing, pluinge routing, and below a table....but it is really clunky for my tastes for hand held routing.....

7. 
   jeff100 | Feb 09, 2007 08:12pm | #7

   If money is an issue, you can't beat the deal Amazon has on the Hitachi M12V2 plunge router. I just checked and its still for sale at 169.99, and contrary to recent complaints, it's got FREE SHIPPING as well. Never mind the money, it's a great router. I have the M12V and I love it. I also have the DeWalt 625 and can find nothing to recommend one over the other, both are great routers if you need a router with some power. Some folks have recently complained about the collet slipping in their M12V. I can only speak for myself, it's not been a problem, ever.

   Jeff

1. 
   BG | Feb 09, 2007 08:40pm | #8

   Jeff,
   I know that if you want to use the Dewalt 625 in a router table, and change bits above the table, you'll need an hieght adapter handle ($30) and an offset wrench ($17). Does the Hitachi M12V require add-ons to operate in a router table?

1. 
   jeff100 | Feb 10, 2007 07:27am | #10

   Yes, I would guess that it would take some additional accessories. The original post didn't say anything about router tables so my comments did not take that into consideration as a requirement.I agree with the comment on Pat Warners router site, great info.

1. 
   BG | Feb 10, 2007 10:45pm | #11

   Jeff100,
   I was asking for my own edification. I've been watching the Router Guys and they use the Hitachi and make bit change and height setting very simple and fast...without any accessories..so I wondered.
   For instance, you and I both know removing the bit from the DeWalt requires 4-5 360 degree turns of the collet. It seems the Hitachi releases and grabs a bit in the collet in less than 90 degrees.

1. 
   jeff100 | Feb 10, 2007 11:51pm | #12

   I see. Didn't realize that's what you were asking. The Hitachi has an interesting collet design. The DeWalt has a tapered collet captured by a separate nut, which is typical on most collet type cutting tool holders I've ever seen. The Hitachi is unique in that it uses a threaded collet e.g. the collet is threaded on the end, there is no separate nut. You tighten or loosen the collet itself, not a nut compressing a collet. I'd never seen a collet design like this before. You are right, because of this design, the collet releases with fewer degrees of rotation. I'm just guessing here, but it seems IIRC that it does release somewhere +/- 90 degrees of rotation. Since a separate nut doesn't have to loosen before it pulls the collet loose (as on a typical router), it doesn't take much to loosen.As I said in my earlier post, some people have complained of collet slippage with the Hitachi, but I have never had any trouble with slipping. I'm an old machinist and have used many many collet holders over the years and have learned that there are a few 'rules' that must be followed with collet holders if you don't want trouble, the two most important being clean tools and never over tighten. My guess is if people are having trouble, they've violated one or both of these rules. Not hard to do, and they will slip for sure if not used properly. ANY collet. Anyway, getting off my soap box, the Hitachi has been a very good tool for me, but then so has the DeWalt.Hope that helps....Jeff

2. 
   BG | Feb 11, 2007 01:37am | #13

   Jeff,

   Thanks, what was what I wanted to know. I had a gift certificate for Woodcraft so Hitachi was not an option and was curious.

2. 
   kalman | Feb 14, 2007 04:28am | #18

   I bought the m12v  as an  additional  under the table router to run my raised panel bits.  One problem is that you have to cut the small  center base to allow the use of larger bits.  It does not have any effect on the operation of the router.  I find it to be a quiet and easy to use machine, forget about the fact that it  is half the price of many 3.25 hp routers. I'm buying another to use when I'm making rails and stiles to eliminate the need to change bits.

8. 
   nikkiwood | Feb 09, 2007 11:09pm | #9

   I've always found Pat Warner's site to be a reliable source of info on all things "router". He is in the business of selling widgets and gismos, but he also offers a lot of general advice.

   He highly recommends the Dewalt 621 plunge router, which is a rebranding of the venerable Elu:

   http://www.patwarner.com/dw621.html

   And here's what he has to say about the Dewalt 618:

   http://www.patwarner.com/dw618pk.html

   The truth is, it is pretty difficult to go wrong in selecting a router these days. I would say you can safely decide what size you need (and they are basically small, medium, and large), and from there pick the features you like.

   In my own shop I have a collection that includes PC, Bosch, and one Milwaukee.

   ********************************************************
   "It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."

   John Wooden 1910-

9. 
   Al from Unionville | Feb 13, 2007 04:30pm | #17

   The discussion on collets made me wonder, has anyone had experience or opinion on the aftermarket replacements that seem to work with just an Allen wrench? I noticed this first on the WoodRat video I believe

1. 
   bladeburner | Feb 14, 2007 04:19pm | #19

   I've got a collet eliminator on my 625 mounted on my 'rat. Love it. Just make sure the split is always facing solid steel or the bit will slip or 'wobble' on occasion. Also have one on a PC and will get one for my Milwaukee when they offer it.

1. 
   Al from Unionville | Feb 14, 2007 04:54pm | #20

   Thanks bladeburner, I have a Freud so will look and see if the eliminator is offered. Thanks again