How many routers do you own?

[Joe Shinall]

I have ONE single Bosch router combo my wife bought for me for Christmas a few years ago and I have a small HF trim router.

I am finding the need for more routers and reason being is I do a lot of dadoes and it would be nice to just leave a dado bit in one, a round over bit in one, beading bit in one, etc... to keep from changing them so often.

I see many people with multiple routers, is this a common practice or just the fact that we are tool nuts and love routers?....

[John Hays]

I only have one and it's all I need, so far. *shrugs*

[Roy Harding]

4 and a half (plus a CNC router - but that doesn't really count.)

One in the router table (Porter Cable 7529).

One permanently assigned to the Leigh FMT jig (it required the use of a special base to use on the jig) (Porter Cable 690LR with 6902 Motor).

One used on the Leigh D4R jig and general work around the shop. (Another 690LR with a 6902 motor).

One Bosch Colt for light work.

I have the router base for my Dremel - so I counted that as 1/2.

It's worth noting that I make my living doing this - so anything I can do to save time makes me money in the long run. When I was a pure hobbyist, I had one for the router table, and one for other uses.

In the same spirit, I have multiple drills and drivers as well. When I'm assembling something, it's much quicker to have a drill set up with a #2 robertson bit, one with a #1 bit, etcetera. Having to swap out bits in the same drill gets old fast when you're assembling multiple cabinets all day long. Again - when I was a pure hobbyist, one drill did it all.

[Dave Zellers]

Four. Need four more.

[Joe Shinall]

Roy, I am with you with the drills, I have 2 sets of Dewalt 12 volt drill and impacts and a 20 v set of the same. I started as a hobbyist but branched out into the friends and family territory and now going further as a side job and feel the need to save time as you said.

I also need one with the dovetail bit and collar left in, I do a lot of dovetail jewelry boxes and that gets to be a pain as well changing all the time and resetting bit height constantly.

[Jim Neeley]

Let's see,, two 15A ones in my table.. Two 15A handheld..... 3 Sears mid-sized dual-base units [3 motors, 6 bases], most with jigs affixed... and a Bosch Colt...

I guess that's eight...

While not necessary, it's handy to leave a router set up for cut until the project is complete. That way if you later goof up a piece the re-make is a piece of cake. But then, maybe I'm the only one here who ever makes mistakes!! :D

Jim in Alska

[Mike Henderson]

Five. Although three of those are trim routers. They just seem to proliferate.

Mike

[Bruce Page]

Five, and one spindle.

[Dave Cav]

At least eight or nine. I'd have to go out and count. But four of them are set up for the Leigh and Keller DT jigs.

[Joe Shinall]

So it's looking like I'm not totally crazy by thinking I need more. The wife thinks otherwise which is why I had to justify it...

[Rick Potter]

It's a sickness, somebody stop me. I can count 21, but I think there are more hiding somewhere. I have gotten a lot of cheapies off CL for single duty. Sure is handy. See my recent post on $105 worth of routers.

Unsigned, no one will ever figure out who I am.

[Frank Trinkle]

Six....but will be selling all except my PC7518 that resides in a Jessum Mast-R-Lift, and replace with three Festool routers in the next month or so. (1010, 1400, and 2200)
Currently PC, Ryobi (X2), Makita, Bosch (X2)

[Rich Engelhardt]

Four actual routers, plus a Roto-Zip, plus three Dremel tools (with the Dremel plunge router attachment & the Dremel router table attachment).

The "perfect" router has yet to be invented & probably never will..

[Harold Burrell]

How many routers do you own?

I cannot tell you...

because my wife might read this...

and then I will die.

[scott spencer]

I'm down to 4....Milwaukee 5625 for table use, Freud FT1700 for table use, Milwaukee 5615 for plunge use, Hitachi M12VC for hand use.

[Matt Day]

I have four. Hitachi in the router table, a Bosch trim router, and Bosch and Dewalt combo routers.

[Charles Lent]

I have eight, or maybe nine. I'm not in my shop so I'm not sure.

Charley

[glenn bradley]

I have 6. The Milwaukee 5615's and 5616's will swap bases so I have extra bases setup for tasks rather than one profile per router; a couple are offset, one with extra dust collection, one with various guide features, two plunge and so on. Do set a reminder on your calendar to remove the bits every now and again so they don't end up "stuck".

[Ole Anderson]

Three, a Hatachi M12V for my router table, a Dewalt 621 plunge and a Porter Cable trim.

[George Beck]

Let's see; I have 3 Festool Routers, 2 PC routers, 1 BD Cyclone, 1 Bosch, 1 triton and 2 laminate trimmers. So I guess 10. Oh and an old craftsman, so I guess 11. Geeeez I need to call Dr. Phil or something.

[Ellery Becnel]

A Bosch combo set, Bosch colt, old Craftsman, new 2hp. Craftsman, and a 2hp. $50.00 E-bay special. It is not over yet!
I just got the Bosch colt plunge base for Fathers day. My youngest son asked me, "so dad just how many routers do you have"
my reply was, "son you can never have too many routers, or clamps". I love them all!

Ellery Becnel

[Clint Baxter]

Have a PC 7518 in a table, Festool's 1400 and 700, Makita 1100 plunge mounted on a FMT base, Dewalt DW618 Plunge/Fixed base set, PC 690, Dewalt trim router kit and Bosch Colt kit with a plunge base as well. When I do dovetails, I set up the 1400 and the DW618 with their own bits so I don't have to do any bit swapping.

Clint

[Peter Kuhlman]

Currently- Dewalt 611 - 3, Dewalt 618 - 3, PC 7518, PC 7529, Festool 2200 & 1400 & 1010.
That is after I gave 3 to my son and sold 2!!
Think I have an addiction.

[Lornie McCullough]

Twelve.... not counting two old round tops sitting on a shelf.

264927

I consider my shop a 'production hobby shop'. I am retired, so I only make what interests me, but I would rather make three or six or a dozen of something than make a 'one off'.
Lornie

[mike holden]

I have seven routers, ten if you count dremels, and I consider myself a "hand-tool" woodworker!
Maybe I need to re-think that - grin!
Mike

[Thomas Bennett]

264929I have 12 or 15 collected over the years. I just bought this German Scheer plunge router, with bits, at an auction for 20 bucks.

[Leo Graywacz]

Looks like 5 for me. 2 Bosch Colts, a Bosch 1617EVS, a Bosch 1613 EVS and a Festool OF1400

[Mike Cutler]

I have four, and would like more.
Two PC 8529's, one PC 890, and a Festool OF 2200.

It can be very frustrating having to change and align router bits multiple times in a project. It can also have an effect on accuracy if the work flow isn't planned right.

[Leo Graywacz]

Oh ya. Wireless router. 2 of them. For the computer :D

[Dave Cav]

At least eight or nine. I'd have to go out and count. But four of them are set up for the Leigh and Keller DT jigs.

Ok, I just counted. Eleven. How did that happen? But I'm a CL bottom feeder and will buy any PC 690 that's not too far away and cheap enough.

[Bruce Wrenn]

I could stand naked in the shower, and still not be able to count my routers. Only bought one new, and it was on a close out.

[Joe Shinall]

Ok that was some pretty good reading and put me in a better mood today. Been in a bad mood past few days and needed to get on here to feel better. House was broken into Wednesday and 15k worth of stuff stolen. Luckily no tools taken, just the really expensive TV's and jewelry.

So won't be buying any routers anytime soon but hopefully next month I can start. Looks like for a tool junkie, I'm a little far behind.

[Dave Zellers]

Oh ya. Wireless router. 2 of them. For the computer :D
It was only a matter of time......

Good one. :cool:

Me, I've concluded I'm under routered, and I'm embarking on a mission to correct that.

This will be a multi year endeavor. But I will eventually achieve routerness.

Is there public funding for this?

[Joe Shinall]

It was only a matter of time......

Good one. :cool:

Me, I've concluded I'm under routered, and I'm embarking on a mission to correct that.

This will be a multi year endeavor. But I will eventually achieve routerness.

Is there public funding for this?

Knowing me, it will only be a month endeavor. I don't like to procrastinate...

[Dave Zellers]

House was broken into Wednesday and 15k worth of stuff stolen.

Well if you catch them, send them my way. A little of my router therapy will make them talk.

Bastards.

[Joe Shinall]

Well if you catch them, send them my way. A little of my router therapy will make them talk.

Bastards.

If I catch them, noone will ever know. :D

[Dave Zellers]

If I catch them, noone will ever know. :D
Mum's the word.

[Scott Stafford]

It's a sickness, somebody stop me. I can count 21, but I think there are more hiding somewhere. I have gotten a lot of cheapies off CL for single duty. Sure is handy. See my recent post on $105 worth of routers.

Unsigned, no one will ever figure out who I am.


21?! I like having you around Rick... you make me look normal!

After a quick recount; I have thirteen. But like others here, many are set up for dedicated purposes. Two in router tables, one in the multi-router, two for the Akeda dovetail jig, two Colts with frequently used round-over bits, a Porter Cable 310 in a Micro-Fence plunge base. A couple extra PC 310's purchased when they were being discontinued. A PC 890 when Home Depot had them on-sale at about 1/2 price. And a couple other Bosch routers for just general purpose.


Scott in Montana

[Rick Fisher]

Okay..

1. Festool 2200
2. Festool 1400
3. Festool 1010
4. Festool 700
5. Porter Cable 7518 ( Jessum lift )
6. Porter Cable 7518 ( spare )
7. Porter Cable 690 ( Jessum Lift )
8. Porter Cable 690 Spare
9. Milwaukee ( Multi Router )
10. Porter Cable Trim Router
11. Hitachi 1/4" Router JM8 ?
12. Makita 1/4" Plunge Router
13. Bosch Colt ( needs repair )

Hmm.. I might sell some routers..

[Bill Graham]

12-1/2 if you include the extra base for the 1617. Not including the Roto-Zip and the Dremel with the StewMac plunge base.

[Joe Mioux]

Only Two, hitachi for hand work and Milwaukee in router table. I want a small on for trim work....most likely a festool version.

[Derek Stockley]

I have three, and most of the time, I use two - 2 1/4hp hitachi dedicated to the table, 3hp hitachi for hand held plunging and mortising, and an old dw610 that doesn't get a lot of use, but is handy to have when I want to do an extra setup without tearing down the first two. I'm quite happy with this arrangement.

[bob cohen]

Festool 2200 (my hands down fav)
Dewalt 2 hp (dedicated to Leigh FMT)
Two Bosch 2 hp (both with plunge and fixed bases)
Porter cable 2 hp (least fav)
Porter cable 3 hp (dedicated to router table)
Makita laminate trimmer.

I guess that makes 7. If I was starting over, I'd keep the porter cable for the router table, and get the full line of festool routers, starting with the 2200. For me the festool routers are worth the money for their superior dust collection, accessories, and ease of switching from one mode of operation to the next.

[Brian Philumalee]

7 but I think I done. Smoking deals off CL, basically new set-ups that were had for someone else's Xmas or Birthdays that they never used...my general rule is pay nothing over $75...and it works. All Bosch except one Dewalt and one Freud plunge.

[John Piwaron]

I currently have 5 routers. Last summer I sold the first one I ever bought, a Sears Craftsman machine. I had been using it as a special purpose machine. It was setup to cut dovetails. That dropped me back to 4.

The remaining 4 are a Makita 3601B, a Bosch 1617EVS, a PC 7539 plunger, and a PC 890 series with plunge and fixed base.

Due to it's knuckle busting collet the Makita is now my dovetail router. That means 1/2" 1/2 blind dovetails using the Sears dovetail template. Great for drawers. The motor from the Bosch is now in a lift in my router table.

I recently acquired a Festool OF 2200 to take the place of the PC 7539. The issue there is that the base on the 7539 is not centered on the collet and it has no provision to adjust it to be. That makes using a guide collar with it a big problem. Since I couldn't know with any certainty where the bit was going to come down while using a guide collar I got the Festool router. Festool's sales literature claims that when you use an accessory guide collar with it that it is automatically centered. After using it that way, I'd say that claim is probably true enough.

At this time I don't know what I'm going to do with that PC 7539. Except for that guide collar issue it's a good router.

You might note that there's a theme with my router acquisitions. Each one, at the time, was bought to fill a then current need. Each one had a needed improvement over the previous machine or provided a needed capability the current one didn't have.

[John Piwaron]

If I catch them, noone will ever know. :D

Sounds like a job for a 5hp Hobart food waste disposer.

People that break into homes and businesses have about the most dangerous occupation possible. They don't tell anyone where they're going. They are were they shouldn't be. If something happens to them, no one that looks for them will be able to find them if they go missing.

[Leo Graywacz]

It was only a matter of time......

Good one. :cool:

Me, I've concluded I'm under routered, and I'm embarking on a mission to correct that.

This will be a multi year endeavor. But I will eventually achieve routerness.

Is there public funding for this?

Well you know what they say. "There's a wiseguy in every group"

And guess what?

THAT'S ME !!

[Rick Potter]

Ahhh, there is a very slight possibility I may have undercounted, but I will never tell.

The fantum.

[Jerry Olexa]

Six..I've sold a few over the years...Need all 6 remaining!!

[J D Thomas]

Eight total, including the PC 7518 in my table. I have to keep restraining myself whenever a good deal pops up on craigslist. Is 8 really enough?? (Hmm, sounds like a TV show)

[Fred Voorhees]

I have three or four.

[Kelly Colin Mark]

2 x PC 7519, but one is not working right now (does that count?), one in Jessem table
1 PC 690 router - mounted in Incra table
1 Freud FT2000VCE (IIRC), came with a second Incra top that I haven't actually setup yet.
Festool OF2200, OF1400, and OF1000

[Joe Shinall]

Sounds like a job for a 5hp Hobart food waste disposer.

People that break into homes and businesses have about the most dangerous occupation possible. They don't tell anyone where they're going. They are were they shouldn't be. If something happens to them, no one that looks for them will be able to find them if they go missing.

:cool:

I know some people that know some people...

[Joe Shinall]

So the longer this thread gets, the more I see I am under powered in the router department. I'm going to be watching craigslist like a hawk. Not just for my stuff, but for some nice routers too!

[johnny means]

These, plus a new Bosch. I like routers a lot.

[Chris Friesen]

I've got two Bosch 1617EVSPK, one of them with the fence. Normally one lives in the router table and the other does handheld stuff.

[Erik Christensen]

I am feeling like such a luzor - I only have 3 - DW618 for the Leigh jig and Festool 1010 & 2200 for everything else (no router table as I have a shaper)

I must have more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[David Weaver]

Four. And I am a hand tool woodworker and rarely use them.

[Gordon Eyre]

I have two, one in my router table and one smaller one for hand routing. Both accomodate a 1/2 inch router bit.

[Art Mann]

Two in router tables, one for hand and plunge routing and a trim router. Looking to buy a bench top CNC router. Anybody got a good one for sale?

[Michael Dunn]

So the longer this thread gets, the more I see I am under powered in the router department. I'm going to be watching craigslist like a hawk. Not just for my stuff, but for some nice routers too!

I concur... CL here I come.

[Larry Prem]

I have seven. Only two see regular use.

[Denny Rice]

I now have 7 routers, and use everyone of them (just not all at one time) LOL! My PC is mounted in router table the rest of them are located togeather in the cabinet. My D handle hand held router is my favorite by far, its usually the first one I reach for.

[Mark Wooden]

Eight, if you count the lock mortiser, and three shapers.

[Jamie Lynch]

I just have one PC891. Man, do I feel insignificant! I really do need one more. It's a pain to take it out of the table any time I need to use it handheld.

[Scott Stafford]

Eight, if you count the lock mortiser, and three shapers.

oh..... nobody mentioned counting shapers. That changes everything! :O)


Scott in Montana

[hai hong]

over 150 ,I stop counting 6 month ago

[John Piwaron]

over 150 ,I stop counting 6 month ago

What does one do with 150 routers?

[Dave Cav]

oh..... nobody mentioned counting shapers. That changes everything! :O)


Scott in Montana

Yeah, now I feel inadequate. I only have two, and both of them are only Delta HDs, not a real man's shaper with a 1 1/4" arbor.

[Dave Cav]

What does one do with 150 routers?

Probably had them installed in a high rise building or campus, and had a fun time keeping them all talking to each other.

[Chris Hachet]

Four. Need four more.

I could use four more, and I have a shop that is about eighty percent hand tool.....

[Chris Hachet]

So it's looking like I'm not totally crazy by thinking I need more. The wife thinks otherwise which is why I had to justify it...

Just build nice things for the family once in awhile, works for me. Although my wife is not going to be happy with the next boxes from Festool and Lie Nielson.

[Chris Hachet]

Okay..

1. Festool 2200
2. Festool 1400
3. Festool 1010
4. Festool 700
5. Porter Cable 7518 ( Jessum lift )
6. Porter Cable 7518 ( spare )
7. Porter Cable 690 ( Jessum Lift )
8. Porter Cable 690 Spare
9. Milwaukee ( Multi Router )
10. Porter Cable Trim Router
11. Hitachi 1/4" Router JM8 ?
12. Makita 1/4" Plunge Router
13. Bosch Colt ( needs repair )

Hmm.. I might sell some routers..

Why...? your just getting started....

[Aleks Hunter]

One 7518 mounted under the TS wing
One makita 3hp in its own router table
One Sears mounted on a pantograph
One PC 694 dual base kit for dovetails and misc work.
I need at least one more.
What are people's favorites for misc work?

[Rick Fisher]

One 7518 mounted under the TS wing
One makita 3hp in its own router table
One Sears mounted on a pantograph
One PC 694 dual base kit for dovetails and misc work.
I need at least one more.
What are people's favorites for misc work?


Favorite routers are Festool .. By far.. The 1400 is probably the best size. Other routers really do pale by comparison..

[Randy Karst]

Late to the party... I have 5 powered (3-PC, 1 Bosch & 1 Hitachi; can one have too many?) and 2 hand-powered (Stanley's).

[Aaron Berk]

Hey JOE!!

I've got a buddy out here on the island with an almost PERFECTLY brand new bosch colt for $40

And to stay on topic, I've got 5 routers and a rotozip.....
But if you don't want the Colt, I'll soon have 6 LOL

[Calvin Jamison]

4, a fixed base(pc), a plunge(pc), a trim(freud), another plunge in the router table( freud), and I use them all.

[pat warner]

22 behind these (http://patwarner.com/images/rfs.jpg). It's what I do (study the buggers).

[Homer Faucett]

You can either put your money toward unusable router bit holders, or buy a router for every router bit you own. I ascribe to the second camp.

[Prashun Patel]

4 (One in table, one for hand plunging, two trim routers). I want a 3hp one for my table, though.

I think extra trim routers are a good thing. They're relatively inexpensive, and are perfect for keeping a roundover, chamfer, and even a spiral for rough mortising permanently chucked.

[Shawn Russell]

What does one do with 150 routers?

I believe he who has a 150 routers has the quickest setup. :)

I have 3x. A 3.5 horse in a router table, a 2.5 for handheld, and a trim router.

[James Fleming]

I have six, but my neighbor who has a one-man cabinetry business has these:
Bear with me, this it the first time I've posted a picture.
266109

[Mark Blatter]

So I finally broke down and counted. I have seven powered and one hand (Stanley). Plus I am holding one for my daughter until she finishes up college and is ready to start her own collection....errrr shop.

[Jeff Monson]

Only 3 for me, I recently sold a Milwaukee that I never used.

[Kevin Nathanson]

1. Festool 2200 (for really big stuff)
2. Festool 1400 (for really medium stuff)
3. Bosch 1617 (for Leigh stuff)
4. PC 690 (for stuff that needs PC accessories)
5. Bosch Colt (for scribing built-in stuff)
6. DeWalt 611 (for small stuff)
7. PC 7518 (for router table stuff)
8. PC 7518 (for future vertical router table stuff)
9. PC 7518 (Because I bought it with the other two PC7518s as part of a box marked "Router Stuff" at an auction for $40 total. True stuff!)

K

[Nick Christensen]

This is really sad, but I currently also own 13 routers, and a CNC machine with a spindle. Part of the reason I own so many is that I had smaller CNC machines that used the smaller routers, I had to have several for backups. I do have a professional shop so I guess I can somewhat justify these.

[Bernie May]

I have three.
I have 3. A 3.25 horse PC in a router table, a 2.5 Ridgid for handheld, and a Ridgid trim router.

[Mark Carlson]

I wasn't even sure and had to check. PC 7518 in router table, PC 7529 (dont use), 2 PC 690s for akeda jig, Festool 1400 and Festool MFK 700. I mostly use the PC 7518 in the router table and the Festool 1400. I regret not buying a PC 310 trim router when still available. Note: I do have Pat Warner bases on every router I can get one for.

[Steven Green]

Five including one edge trimmer. One in the table, one in the portable table and one in a plunge base. The other one is just handy

[phil harold]

Not enough!

[Tai Fu]

I have a Jepson lam trimmer (a Taiwanese brand) and a Triton 2 1/2 HP router. I am getting another one (possibly a Dewalt) because I got a binding jig from Luthiertools and I found that the holes on my existing laminate trimmer is slightly off from this jig... otherwise I would have just bought another base rather than a router. I realize I can drill the jig to accept different routers but I rather not turn such a nice jig into a swiss cheese.

[Zach Dillinger]

84. Ok, not really :)

[Phillip Gregory]

I currently have just one (PC 890) but I can easily see how somebody might want at least three of them- a dedicated handheld unit, a plunge unit, and a big one under the table. I have a pretty small shop and a pretty small budget so it's just one so far...