Routers Reviews

I have several routers (Proter Cable, Hatachi, Bosch, DeWalt and Ryobi) ranging in Hp from 1 1/2 - 3 1/4. Each of these routers have outstanding features, but the one I would rate over all is the Milwaukee D and the Body comfort models.

When it comes to control these two routers give the feeling of complete control over what you are doing. The startup is smooth and the power is above average.

I would recommend both of these routers highly.

Well done Milwaukee...

best router I have ever used! Porter cable, look out!

I had been looking for a "D" handle router and was in the process of deciding on the Bosch or the Makita when I came across Milwaukee's router. Both of the previous two have good reputations, and I'm sure I would have been happy with either, but what caught my eye was the features on the Milwaukee... and it didn't hurt that it was several dollars cheaper. My primary reason for wanting the "D" handle is that I prefer having that motor switch right at my fingertips.

One feature I like, is that the base is tightened down to the motor, or loosened, with a metal lever that snaps open and closed. This is easier than twisting a knob, and once closed, you have a positive lock. (yes, I have failed to tighten a knob securely enough on another router and had the base come loose while operating it). Removal of the base is done by pressing a button and sliding the motor out of the base. "Coarse" adjustments are made the same way. A knob is provided on the top side for making fine adjustments. Though the adhustment is not a fine as on my plunge router, I find it to work very well. The collets require 2 wrenches to install bits, and the wrenches provided are the forged type rather than stamped metal, a definite plus.

All in all this router is a pleasure to use, and my past experience with Milwaukee service has been very good.

This is my second router and replaced my ... Ryobi "Router". Once again I learned the value of purchasing a quality tool, and the pleasure of violently discarding the source of far too much frustration and wasted wood.

I have cut Maple, Poplar and Pine with it so far, and it has yet to break a sweat. I cannot imagine needing another router for what I do (no shaping..). The precision of the depth adjustment is very good and reassuring. The collet system is solid - yes needing two wrenches is a bit awkward, but worth it. Not that big of a problem really, and the overall quality far outshadows this minor nit pick.

If you don't need a plunge router, buy this.

I bought mine about a year-and-a-half ago, and have routed over FOUR MILES of wood with it on a simple home-made router table. It's been through almost every wood immaginable, and a cup of coffee or two, and yet it still works great. The only cons about it: Your neighbors will not be happy with this choice. Like most routers; it's loud. The only other con would be the hand tool bit tightening system. I guess it's not too bad, though. This was the first router I purchased. Very satisfied.

If I were recommending a router to someone just getting into wood working, it would without question, be this tool.People just cant say enough about this machine and what a fine tool it is.For the money, this is best darn router on earth. Just read the reviews and ask around, and this guy will sell itself. Now get out there and make some dust.

I bought this router because I needed to make some fancy doors on cabinets I was building. This is a great tool. The router is powerful and did not have any problems cutting through hard oak. This is a great kit because sometimes you don't need the plunge base and it's much easier to cut free hand with the fixed base, smaller, more sleek. The dust collection in the plunge base isn't that great but that could be because my shop vac isn't that powerful. I have used this tool a lot and would buy it again if I had to do it over.

I was volunteering in a workshop and they had this Dewalt router kit. I was amazed at how quiet and smooth this router was and bought one myself! It is nicely designed. The grips are very comfortable. It is easy to change between the two bases. I love the rpm ramp up feature...this prevents the router from jolting to a start. It comes with a nice case and 5 router bits.
One slight complaint I have is that the on/off switch is hard to reach when both of your hands are on the handle. It is at the top of the router motor unit and is just out of the reach of my thumb.
Dewalt has another winner on its hands!

I have researched routers for the past 2 months. I've been in stores, felt them all, looked at them all. Read every review here on Amazon.com and all of those "free reviews" i could read on the internet as well as patwarner.com.

I really really wanted a Porter Cable because I heard they are the best. I didn't like the crude nature of the 690 and I didn't want to twist the MOTOR to move the freaking bit up and down. I'm just getting into woodworking and I wanted something that felt just right. After going into Woodcraft and Lowe's and Home Depot, I chose the DeWalt over the newest Porter cable because:

1) the 890 series, while it feels solid and looks great, has some shortcomings with quality parts--especially the plunge base. It has a PLASTIC depth marker--and some aren't even CLEAR so you have no idea what depth you are at.
2) the dewalt's plunge is the smoothest out of ALL other routers with bosch's and makita's being tied for 2nd. Porter cable's was very very stiff and didn't feel natural. I would be scared i would mar the workpeice pushing down so hard on the dang thing.

Bottom line- I tried and tried to love the new porter cable. And I do, but not as much as the newest Dewalt. However, I still will probably go with their 3 1/4 horse, and a 890 D-Handle if they ever make it.

while this jig may look a little complicated and unerving, don't be afraid of it. its really easy after you get it set up properly. its very precise so your table, router, fence, and mounting board must be as close to square as you can get. a lot of the templates deal with 1/4" material which is a little thin for me, but there are enough requiring 3/8-1/2" material to keep you occupied. have fun

If you are really, really serious about using a router table for dovetails, finger joints, and all the other milling operations that require high precision, you will want to own one of the Incra woodworking systems. My personal choice was the 'Super' system, which is an Ultra system like this in combination with the Incra Wonder Fence. The advantage to that model is the split fence, but it you aren't into turning your router table into a miniature joiner than this version will suit you fine for considerably less.

The heart of the system is the LS Positioner, which controls the fence from a rock solid center rather than from the ends as do most fence systems. The LS position locks into 1/32" increments, which can then be adjusted by 1000th's of an inch. This is more precision than a woodworker might ever need, but it is nice to have available. Also included as the Incra stop and the right angle fixture. With all of this mounted on the 28" fence you have a milling machine capable of exotic work.

The LS Positioner holds what Incra calls templets. These are plastic strips that come market with all the positions to cut a particular joint pattern. Something like sophisticated story sticks. There are places to keep five of these active on the Positioner - this is to minimize switching. I suppose the idea seems a bit corny, but Incra has bet their reputation on these templets, and they really do work.

Two notes of warning - Incra calls this a 16" jig, but the truth is that is takes nearly 30" of machine to give you that 16" cutting width. In all likelihood you will have to build an extension to your routing table. In my case I wound up adding 12 inches of draw. And you want this to be a solid extension, since the jig and fence weigh an appreciable amount. And the learning curve for a jig with this many adjustments is pretty steep (this isn't helped by a terse manual). Expect to do a bit of experimenting before you are getting the best results possible.

I have owned this fence / jig for about three weeks now and have used it to make several boxes and one case. It is simply great. Everything written about it is true - it is very stable and repeatable. I did purchase the new metal installation bracket that holds the system off of the back end of the router table (in order to free up additional room on the table and not give it up to the tool - download the owner's manual and look at the installation versus your router table to see what I'm talking about). In addition to reading through the manual, I also suggest that you purchase the intro video, which more simply walks you through the setup and usage of the tool. In short, well done Incra!

As most US Craftsmen have noticed, nearly all woodworking manufactureres are off-shoring the manufacture of their machines. Powermatic (JET) is no exception; their PM 66 series tablesaw, their shapers, and a couple drill presses are all that remain of American made machinery. I picked up the 5HP saw with the Router Lift table and am very pleased with it. It won't be long before all of Powermatic will be made in Taiwan, so if you want an American made saw, you better act now. Your next best choice is General (not General International), which is made in Canada. General carries two lines one made in Canada and their General International which is the same Taiwan crap you find at Jet. Happy shopping. John - Knoxville, TN

The saw is great. Just do not buy this from AMAZON!!!! I have waited for over six weeks for my saw and finally gave up(I was told in the sixth week of waiting that it wasw being shipped to AMAZON from the manufacture in 3-5 weeks and AMAZON was going to take another 3-5 weeks on top of that to get me my saw for a grand total of 5 moths!) So, I went to southern tools and they shipped the saw that day. I had my saw within three days (not weeks or months like AMAZON!!!)
I received the saw in seven boxes but it was very easy to set up! The boxes they used for the saw was reinforced with 2x4's. They even test the saw before it leaves the factory (give you a readout of the test results, which is great to use as a reference.) I got the mobile base and set up the saw in the base. The table saw was square right out of the box. Just follow the directions and you will have a great saw that will last for years!
Thank You Southern Tool for my table saw!

dont order this product from amazon been waiting for three going on four weeks amazon says it will be two to three more weeks if they dont change it again ......can they really get this saw?????? steve

Milwaukee always represents quality and this set is no exception. Well worth the expenditure.

If you want good, really really good, drill bits - GET THESE! The differance between these and cheap ones is unbelievable. Worth every penny. Accurately sized, finely machined, SHARP, properly ground angle, and somewhat larger sized index case with size markings that are easy to read. I first used these to drill some holes in metal for tapping. Granted I was using a drill press but I hardly felt any resistance at all in the handle. A perfect clean hole.

Good drill bits are getting harder and harder to find! These are the fastest and smoothest bits I've found for drilling metal hands down.

i'll preface this by saying i'm a professional carpenter and make my living using my tools.

i have owned or used worm-drives from skil, makita, and bosch, as well as sidewinders from porter-cable, makita, hitachi, skil, and dewalt. this milwaukee is my saw of choice in nearly every situation--it is light (4+lbs less than a worm-drive), powerful, accurate, and the tilt-lok handle is a great feature. at first, i thought i'd not use the tilt-lok often, but i end up using it in a different position several times a day. another feature easily overlooked but crucial is the positioning of the secondary handle. i most often cut one-handed anyway, but when i do grab the front handle, my hand and wrist are far enough forward to stay well away from the blade sightline.

my only (small) complaint is that i'd prefer the dust collection to be a bit more organised. porter-cable saws do a great job with this, and i wonder why the other manufacturers can't seem to get it together.

if i had it to do over again, i'd spring for the blade brake model--the blade can do a lot of damage in the 8-10 seconds it takes to spin down.

I received this saw as a birthday present, allowing me to retire my old underpowered and inaccurate Black & Decker "Sawforce" saw. The Milwaukee arrived in perfect condition and purred like a kitten from the start. I have been very impressed with every aspect of this thing, most notably:

The tool-less ability to change the base plate angle as needed;

The POWER. It cuts wet framing lumber and quarter sawn white oak with equal ease;

With all that power, I have not experienced any binding, stalling, kicking, burning etc;

The tilt lock handle is fantastic. I cannot conceive of using a saw without it now that I have it;

The blade that came with the saw is quite good.

Overall I cannot say enough good things about this saw. Its relatively light, very accurate, powerful, and feels like it will outlast me. Buy one yourself and you won't be sorry!

I bought this saw about 5 months ago to replace an old Makita and have used it almost daily since. I did a lot of research before buying using online reviews and magazine comparisons. After reading the reviews and having previous experience with other Milwaukee products, I opted for this one.

The tilt-lok handle makes it very easy to change positions, allowing for maximum control and comfort while sawing. I especially like the adjustable front handle. It makes beveled cuts a snap, keeping maximum leverage right where it needs to be. Once you use it, you will miss it if you have to use anything else. With 15 amps, I haven't found any wood too tough to cut with it even with a dulling blade. I purchased the edge guide about two months ago. This is a necessary addition if you cut lots of plywood.

I am becoming quite a Milwaukee "fan-boy". Every tool of theirs I've bought has been a winner. As long as they keep making tools with this kind of quality, performance and features, I'll be a user for life. This saw will be a welcome addition to any serious woodworker's shop or contractor's truck. If you're still undecided, give this saw a try. You won't regret it.

I have never owned or used a router before and chose the Bosch 1617 after reading a review of routers in Fine Woodworking at the library. The two advantages the reviewer cited were 1) no change in depth of cut as had happened with a Sears Craftsman router he reviewed (Craftsman had been my other choice, because of price) and 2) quick removal from the base for easy bit change. So far, all I've done is table routing, and this quick-release has been a godsend. No scraped knuckles, no dropped pieces. I don't regret a penny of my purchase.

I got mine at my local Sears store for less than Home Depot, which was a real surprise. It pays to shop around.

The only negative comment I have is that no one seems to stock the edge guide, which is also very pricey where it is offered for sale at all.

I have a Freud FT2000, and the little DeWalt plunge router. I was in the market for a fixed base for both hand and table use. This one fits the bill perfectly. I've been woodworking for over 10 years, (5 of those professionally) so I know what I am talking about. Oh yeah. I was tempted by the Dewalt fixed-base, but this one had some nice features that I could not pass up for $30 more. One small observation. There are small raised bosses around the base plate screws on the base casting which causes excess dust to get trapped between the two. Filing them down, or lapping the base may fix the problem, but at risk of ruining the perpendicular alignment with the motor. It is not that big of a problem, especially if you clean that space out. Something you should do regularly anyway.

I absolutely love this router. I bought it a few months ago and have used it nearly every day since. The original one that I received had a faulty switch, but Tool Crib had a new one at my door in two days. So far I haven't had a problem with this one. This router is extremely accurate. The slow start motor keeps it from jumping out of your hands and it does not have lots of "extras" which are usually made of plastic and just end up breaking. They now offer it with an additional plunge base which would have been great to have since the base mine came with is mounted to a table and takes a while to take off...If you want a basic, sturdy router I would highly recommend this one.

This is the third router I've purchased, and about the sixth I've seriously used, and it is an excellent tool. It has plenty of power, and is still light and agile enough to make it the first router I try to use for every project. I bought it in part to replace a 1.5 hp router I had given away, and I can't tell that it weighs any more than the 1.5 hp model. It is a bit bigger around, and is at the limits of what I can "one-hand."

I have owned this router for about 3 years and it shows no significant signs of wear. I made the mistake of leaving it out in an unheated garage one winter and the motor body oxidized, making the depth adjustment unbearably stiff. I buffed it with steel wool and the depth adjustment again worked smoothly until it reoxidized (apparently ther is a coating on the original motor housing). I repeated the steel wool treatment followed it by a wiping of clear shellac and so far so good. Despite my mucking around, I've never had any perceptible problem with the motor being off-center in the base.

I found the trigger lock button too short to make it ergonomically useful, so I replaced the plastic button with a slightly longer machine screw the head of which I turned down in a drill press.

I bought this because I really wanted to try a D-handle router, and if this is your object I'm confident you won't be disappointed. My only regret is that it did not come in a kit with a plunge base as the 1617 does. In fact, if I were just breaking into woodworking and wanted to buy only one router to fulfill all of my forseeable wants I would get the 1617 with the fixed and the plunge bases; it is simply too cost effective to pass over.

I got this little gem earlier this year to replace an old Craftsman antique that still "works." I didn't get a chance to use it 'til last week making some cabinet doors. It's like the difference between driving an old used car (it gets you there) and a new BMW (it also gets you there, but the experience is rather different). I am impressed with the 1618 and its oodles of power and smoothness. I specifically wanted a D handle and am glad I specified this particular unit. I recommend it.

This is a quality built router. I've used it for many different applications. One nice feature is that the base edge (all 360 degrees) is dimensionally constant in relation to the bit. This produces accurate work when you use a fence or a "clamp & tool" guide. Of all the routers I have used, this one ranks among the top in quality. It has plenty of power unless you are using shaper sized router bits. Then you may opt for a larger model. The microfine depth adjustment is another great feature along with the resettable indicator ring. I would buy this router again and have no complaints.

ok i bought a cheaper but not much cheaper bit same size as this and i did not get far into my project at all before the bearing exploded and runied my work.
i bought this one and finished that project and another with no signs of dulling and this is in oak.
PLEASE DONT BUY THE CHEAPER BITS MADE IN CHINA
Freud is great and will last

I used this bit to trim my Trex decking flush. It ate throught the Trex like nothing.

As the previous reviewer said, this bit comes sharp and stays sharp. I have enjoyed super smooth cuts in flat sawn red oak, quarter sawn white oak, poplar, pine, and walnut. I can't say enough how good this bit is for flush trimming both free hand and in a table.

I highly recommend it!