Routers Reviews

I got one of these routers from another source .
If you are like me and don't have alot of money to burn but enjoy wood working then you shop around right , you see online photo's that look appealing , they are however not quite the same thing as viewing the tool in person now are they ?
This router is for all practical purposes useable but this is as far as it goes .
The motor sounds good and it does not vibrate . the on /off switch in in the handle this is fine and good .
now here is where the positive ends .
The springs on the plunge are so strong it is almost impossible to get a smooth start , I see it driving the bit into the wood .
There is a depth turrent , well it has so much slop I would not chance it staying put , even if it did it rocks so you can't define it a stable .
There is a large plastic knob that screws down a threaded rod , the knob is of hard plastic and it is sharp edged . This is not the best part . When it is raised ( knob unscrewed ) to raise the body away from the base which is what is required to get any plunge action at all , the threaded rod inside the routers body through a hole rubs on these threads .
If the router is up set for the plunge you can rock the body side to side and back and forth ,you really don't know if the base is even close to 90 degrees to the shaft now and if you wanted to do plunge routing don't count on it finding the same angle every time .
the base has four tiny screws that hold it in place with four cheap washers and the subbase is not flat , this is because there is a vacuum nozzle that does not fit well . this can be fixed .
At best and if you don't mind endlessly turning a sharp plastic knob this router may make a good table router as long as you drill out the four base holes and retap and install larger ones , otherwise you may find this thing letting go from it's restraints and becoming airborn .
Do yourself an enormous favor , spend twice as much or a bit more and get something real , something that has a past , something that is at least good and don't try to reinvent this thing or refine it with the hopes that it will turn out well .
This may be good for rough work as a second tool on the jobsite hogging out close enough slotes in 2x4's , if someone walks off with it no loss really .
Too add a personal note , to get this router and see what it really is , is downright depressing this makes the cheapest DIY B&D a shining star , imagine that .

I purchased a steel carrying case for my Milwaukee drill a year ago and was quite pleased with it. It had a foam-cushioned bracket inside that cradled the drill, and also included a tray that was able to hold bits and accessories. I decided to purchase a case for my Milwaukee grinder as well, so I purchased this item. Unfortunately, the features of Milwaukee's drill case were not carried over into this one. This case is empty... no bracket to keep the grinder from sliding around inside and no accessory tray. For half the price, I could've bought a small Craftsman tool box that's twice the size AND includes the tray. This is much too expensive to simply be an 'empty box'.

I purchased this case for my Milwaukee grinder. I was thrilled when I found it because most of Milwaukee's cases today are the plastic style which don't give you much room for extras. When I got it, it looked perfect. Its dimensions are 14-1/2 x 12 x 4-3/4". The grinder fits in angled, and slightly offset in order to accommodate the side handle, and there's plenty of extra storage space for anything you have. I put my grinder and accessories in the case, everything looked perfect... that is, until I tried to close the cover. The edge of the side handle sticks up about 1/2" too high and there's no way to close it with the handle attached. I contacted Milwaukee who told me that I would have to remove the handle to store the tool, which is not very practical, especially since the case looks to be offset in order to accommodate the side handle. If the case was 1/2" taller, it would fit perfectly. Doesn't make any sense to me.

The Powermatic 66 saw is an excellent saw. Without exception it represents one of the best American made cabinet saws. My problem is not with this saw but the listing Amazon has posted on this saw. The image is not correct there is only 4 1/2 inches from the right miter slot to the black accessory table. The image represents a much larger distance because it shows the saw with its right cast iron wing extension. To be exact, looking at the technical data Amazon has posted for this listing shows an overall length of 74 inches. The actual saw has an overall dimension of 64 inches because it DOES NOT include the right cast iron wing. The listing for the 1660802 has the correct dimensions and image (less the router lift) for this saw. With a little effort you can buy the same router lift install it on the 1660802 and save between 150 and 250 dollars.

This set has a 3/4 inch shoulder on the square bit and does not fit the Delta Mortising Attachments.

The 1/4 inch bit was slightly bent and it is fragile enough already so I sent the whole set back.

I am going to order the Delta Set. Might not be any better quality but they will fit.

The fit of the parts is not of great quality. There is only one router base bushing even though there are three different template sizes. There are no size specifications for the different templates nor are there adequate setup directions.

I bought the Dewalt DW616PKR to replace a Craftsman that must be 20 years old at least. The Craftsman, which I bought at a yard sale, uses no-longer-available brushes and I was afraid it would quit mid-job with no way to fix it. So I looked for a new state-of-the-art replacement. Hah! If there is such an animal, it's not the Dewalt.

The Craftsman has a nice bright work light built in (so nice), a "trigger" on/off switch on the handle (so convenient), and a one-wrench bit changing system (not great, but I like it). Rated at only 8 amps, it nonetheless has plenty of power.

The Dewalt has none of these wonderful features (except the power - but not much more that I can notice), and I can't see that any advances have been made since that old Craftsman was made.

Yeah, it's nice having the plunge base, but I know how to do plunges without that if I have to. And the Dewalt surely will last for years...but so what? I don't like the thing. It wasn't designed with the forethought of that old Craftsman.

I'm gonna use the Craftsman until its brushes give out, and then I guess I'll have to, unhappily, get used to the Dewalt.

I bought this reconditioned router a month or so ago from Amazon. I made a trip recently to my local Lowes (blue guys) and found that for slightly less than $20 more, I could buy a brand new one.

Although it was clean and free if wood dust, there were obvious signs of wear and use as the base was scratched, so was the plastic body. I don't know how much abuse this router had taken before it came into my hands, but I think for 10% more, I would have purchased a brand new router.

I give it 2 stars because it is a good router nevertheless.

It is a nice bit set but the picture is of an Ogee Panel Cutter, the bit you will get is straight.

I thought I had made the mistake! After a few experiences here I will now check Home Depot for availability (they're often cheaper!).

Picture is not of the 97-200 set. The panel bit shown is from the 204 set. The one that will arrive with the 200 set is a straight angle rather than the double curve. March 3, 2006.

The tool came in a very nice carrying case. However, furnished were 1/2" and 3/8" collet chucks. As far as I'm concerned, the 3/8" collet is absolutely useless. And, all my router bits have 1/4" inch shafts. So, I've been forced to try to find a local Bosch tool dealer (25 miles away) and order (at a cost of $17) the 1/4" collet chuck. It will be here in 5-8 days. Would have been very nice for Amazon.com to furnish this tool with equipment that is used in the trade. Not so!

I HAVE TWO DEWALT LAMINATE TRIMMERS....ONE WITH A STRAIGHT CUT BIT AND ONE WITH A BEVEL BIT....I USE THESE EVERYDAY TO INSTALL KITCHENS AND COUNTERTOPS....THESE HEADS ARE WORTHLESS... THERE IS A ALUMINUM GEAR THAT DRIVES THE BELT AND BOTH OF MY ROUTERS THAT GEAR HAS SHATTERED, NOT TO MENTION THEY GO THRU BELTS LEFT AND RIGHT.SO IF YOUR LOOKING FOR A OFFSET LAMINATE TRIMMER LOOK FOR ANOTHER BRAND....IF YOU ALLREADY HAVE THE MOTOR AND NEED A OFFSET BASE--WELL BEST OF LUCK TO YOU WITH THESE JUSK PRODUCTS.