My plunge router died tonight. Replacement suggestions?

[Mark Berenbrok]

I've used that Ryobi R-500 for 21 years without a hint of trouble. Tonight it just gave up the ghost and died without a whimper. Oh well...

I have a dedicated Triton in the router table. I used the Ryobi for handheld applications and with a Leigh dovetail jig. Anyone have a suggestion for a good replacement or what to stay away from? Thanks

[Erik Frederiksen]

I have a Festool Of1010 which I like very much. Light and powerful and very well thought out controls. Takes 1/4 or 8mm bits.

[Peter Pedisich]

Mark,

DW621
Bosch 1613
Festool OF1400

Good luck,

Pete

[Roger Jensen]

Bosch's new kit looks pretty good - can you wait a couple of months? Do a search on Bosch MR23EVS. Popular Woodworking has a blurb about it this month.

I have been very happy with my Bosch equipment.

[jerry nazard]

Why not become a two Triton family?

[Stephen Edwards]

Hitachi KM12VC 2-1/4 HP Variable Speed Router Kit (I don't like the plunge base on this one. It isn't a smooth plunge)

Bosch 1617EVSPK Kit (I have two of these. I like both bases. The plunge action is very smooth)

[glenn bradley]

Have you checked the brushes? It may still live to fight another day. I have a Milwaukee 5616 and a couple of 5615's. As all the bases are interchangeable I have fixed or plunging 1-3/4 or 2-1/4 HP routers as required. If I was after just one I would get the 5616-24 combo kit.

The 5615 can often be found on sale for under $150 for the combo kit. It is fixed speed and feels more powerful than it's amperage rating. The 5616 in variable speed, soft-start, electronic feedback torque controlled and has never balked at anything I have thrown at it.

I have the 5625 in the table and like other 'locomotive' class beasts, it just doesn't care what you feed it but that's outside this discussion.

[Chris Tsutsui]

Out of 4 brands I suggest a Porter Cable Router suited to your size and power requirements.

I use my Bosch, Hitachi, and Festool routers the least.

I would probably use the Festool router the most if I got the OF1400 instead of the OF1010 which doesn't accept 1/2" shanks. Festool routers are very user friendly, but they cost a lot of $$$. :(

[Doug Shepard]

+1 on either the DW621 or Festool OF1400

[bruce buren]

bosch 16173evspk i have two sets the first is probably 7 years old and have not had an issue. New version coming out seems even better with the on / off controls on the handle

[Myk Rian]

Check out the new Craftsman routers. Really nice tools.

[Jeff Hallam]

+1 for the DW621. Perhaps with the addition of a sub base made by Pat Warner (http://www.patwarner.com/) (that's my personal setup).

[Prashun Patel]

Just your luck:
check out the Deals and Discounts thread. Tooliday is running a special on the Bosch 1617 fixed/plunge combo, which is well-respected.

$160 shipped.

[Matt Meiser]

I like my Dewalt combo.

[Stan Mitchell]

I've been using the Milwaukee 5615 for a few weeks now (it was on sale a while back for around $119) and I've have been really happy with how nice the plunge action is, and the overall quality.

This is my second Milwaukee router (5625 in router table) and have quickly become a fan. The 5615 kit comes with both a fixed and plunge base. The plunge base has worked really smooth with lots of work-piece visibility.

They have turned out to be really nice routers that are priced right.

[John Coloccia]

So it looks like the right answer is: "Take your wife with you and buy the pretty one" :D

I'm liking my Bosch the best at the moment. It's a pretty shade of blue.

[Logan William]

Bosch 1617 with plunge/fixed base, normally around 200 but as already said there is a link in Deals for a sale on them

[James Evers]

So it looks like the right answer is: "Take your wife with you and buy the pretty one" :D

I'm liking my Bosch the best at the moment. It's a pretty shade of blue.

I use the 1617 and it's the best tool I own. Very reliable and the dust extraction attachments are decent too. I've found little use for the fixed base though.

[Prashun Patel]

I use the 1617 and it's the best tool I own. Very reliable and the dust extraction attachments are decent too. I've found little use for the fixed base though.

My fixed base is permanently mounted in my router table.
The plunge mechanism on the 1617 is really top notch. The only issue I have with this router is that the fittings are not standard, so PC-style (the most popular) bushings and faceplates require adapters. You'll notice that if you do any inlay kit work.

[Brian Muecke]

I have the Bosch kit and really like it. I demoed all the routers in its price range and found it's plunge action the most ergonomic by a large margin.

[John Coloccia]

I use the 1617 and it's the best tool I own. Very reliable and the dust extraction attachments are decent too. I've found little use for the fixed base though.
You know, that's a good point. I have the dust extraction accessories too and find that they really work extremely well. I forgot all about that.

But how lucky are we that there are so many excellent choices that you really could almost give someone a couple hundred bucks and say, "Hey kid, go out and buy me a router", and you'll probably end up with a great tool.

[Tom Esh]

Another vote for the DW621. Pat Warner offset base makes it even better.

[Sean Nagle]

+1 DeWalt DW621.

[Ed Griner]

I've owned a Hitachi Tr 12 since the early 80s.Still my first choice for mortises.rabbets,you name it,it does the job.Hitachi still makes something very similar very cheap, very reliable.My router table is an old delta shaper,with a router bit adapter.Everything else is the tr12.

Ed

[scott spencer]

The Milwaukee 5615 (http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-5615-24-1-75-Horsepower-Multi-Base-BodyGrip/dp/B000QV35AK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1265220259&sr=8-2) is tough to beat IMO, and happens to be on sale for $140 shipped. It has the BodyGrip feature, an excellent plunger, a stout 11 amp motor, and accepts standard PC style bushings....note that the Bosch does not.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WUKhQsajL._AA280_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ibDC4W-3L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

[Ben Martin]

My vote would be to fix it, or send it to me and I will fix it!

Or get a Milwaukee 5615 or 16. :cool:

[dan sherman]

+1 on the Bosch 1617, I like it better than my more expensive PC 890.

[Greg Portland]

I use a Dewalt 625 with a Woodrat plunge bar for larger tasks & a PC 690 for smaller stuff. If I was buying today, I would look at the smaller router options (Bosch Colt, etc.) which have plenty of power for smaller edge profiles.

[Mark Berenbrok]

Thanks everybody for your suggestions. I pulled the trigger on a Bosch 1617 this afternoon. It should be here Friday. My project is dead in the water without a router.

[Mike Rees]

The Milwaukee 5615 (http://www.amazon.com/Milwaukee-5615-24-1-75-Horsepower-Multi-Base-BodyGrip/dp/B000QV35AK/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1265220259&sr=8-2) is tough to beat IMO, and happens to be on sale for $140 shipped. It has the BodyGrip feature, an excellent plunger, a stout 11 amp motor, and accepts standard PC style bushings....note that the Bosch does not.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/41WUKhQsajL._AA280_.jpg
http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/51ibDC4W-3L._SL500_AA280_.jpg

Why doesn't this router get a whole lot of love on this forum? I'm almost ready to buy the Bosch everyone is talking about - but for the people who try this router out they all seem to think highly of it. What I don't get is, how can it be so cheap with a 5 year warranty? What am I losing/giving up here for the price differance?

[Anthony Scott]

The Hitachi KM12VC plunge sucks, do buy it. I have done alot of research for a replacement. I have concluded that there is a lot of merit to buying a brand that has readily available pars and accessories - Porter Cable will be my next router for this reason.

[James Carmichael]

Just my 2-cents worth, but if I was shopping for a new router kit, I'd take the opportunity to get something with a D-handle base.

[dan sherman]

What am I losing/giving up here for the price differance?

Half a horsepower, and the big one variable speed.

[Tom Hargrove]

I just bought the Bosch variable speed combo, and can't believe what an improvement it is over my old PC. More everything except grief.

The Milwaukee seems like a fine machine - great features, great price, great reviews. However, I could not find one to put my hands on, and have stopped "buying without trying." Had I been able to touch one, I might have purchased it instead of the Bosch.