Trim Router Advice

[Charlie Plesums]

I need to fix a mess up... and the easiest way seems to be a pattern bit in a router... but I need to get into a corner (or darn close). So small router, i.e. trim router, comes to mind.

Searching the vendors on the internet suggests that I will have to spend $100 for a basic unit (PC, DeWalt, Bosch, Ridgid) or up to $200 with accessories. Bosch drops off the list because I haven't found a local dealer. DeWalt loses points because my regular DeWalt router died recently - after having already been rebuilt for the cost of a new unit.

Since this isn't the last project (or my last screw up), if I am going to have to spend $200, is it worth jumping to $500 for the Festool MFK700? Or will I find a $100-200 unit sufficient?

[Mike Heidrick]

Amazon is always local - as close as your front door. Get the Bosch colt variable speed. Do it right the first time.

[Vince Shriver]

The Colt is an excellent little router. However, to use Porter Cable pattern guides you will need an adaptor - or you can use Bosch guides; just check into it before hand - so no last minute surprses.

[Dan Clark]

Charlie,

I've been thinking about getting a trim router to augment my Triton router and my Festool OF1400. I looked into the MFK700 and the Bosch Colt.

If I was going to use a trim router day in and day out, I'd get the MFK700. However, I'm probably going to get a Bosch Colt because of it's flexibility.

The MFK700 is a great trim router, but I'm not sure if it will get as close to a corner as you'd like to mee your needs.

I think the Bosch Colt Installers Kit might be the best choice for you because it includes an offset base. (http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVSNK-Installers-Horsepower-Variable/dp/B000EJX202). Here's a review of the Colt that describes the Offset Base in detail: http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/bcoltkitrvu.html.

One downside of the Colt is that some people have reported that it the height adjustment can slip. That's hearsay because I don't own one.

Regards,

Dan.

[Dewey Torres]

Another vote for the COLT but...

There is some new competition on the block. My one complaint about the Colt is there is no plunge or no easy/cheap way to get one. Trend makes a new trim router called the T-4 for $99 with variable speed and plunge.

As much I love my Colt, if I had to do it today I would be considering the T4. One drawback is that it is so new I am not sure you will find many folks to ask how it performs.

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=153-875&gclid=CNLarpC08ZYCFSCcnAodLzwtYQ

[Jason Yeager]

Hello Charlie,

Unfortunately, I can't give you any advice on the Festool, but have some experience with some other trim routers. I had a Bosch Colt, and so did another trim carpenter I know, which had problems with the depth adjustment staying put. Cost my buddy quite a bit because it slipped during a critical cut and ruined his job. I favor the Bosch's ergonomics and controls, just haven't had one that locked down well. Others swear by them, though. The porter cable is a good little router for the money, maybe a bit clunky, but have never had any problems with it.

[Doug Shepard]

I've got the DeWalt lam trimmer kit which has the offset base very similar to the Bosch one that Dan linked to. It's come in very handy more than once for getting into some tight spots. So far I've never found a use for the tilt base though which looks like Bosch also has in their kit. Don't know if it comes out cheaper buying the whole kit or just the extra offset base from DW/Bosch. No problems with the DW after maybe 15 years except needing to replace a worn collet at one point. The Bosch unit would be on my short list too if I were buying now though. The VS might be nice.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Hello,

but I need to get into a corner (or darn close). So small router, i.e. trim router, comes to mind.
I ran into a situation a few weeks ago - enlarging the opening for a kitchen sink - where I needed to get into the two back corners near the the wall/back splash.
(I ended up nibbling it away w/a Roto-Zip & a Dremel - long - dusty and tedious)

I was thinking one of those Fein MultiMaster would have been perfect for the task, but @ well >$300.00, well out of my price range.

I see now where both Dremel and Bosch have their own versions now that the patent has run out.
Any thoughts on using something like that as opposed to the trim router?

[Doug Shepard]

I just happened to get a discount code email from CPO Bosch about 10 minutes ago so looked to see what their price for the Installer kit was
http://bosch.cpotools.com/routers/palm_routers/pr20evsnk.html
$199.95
http://www.cpotools.com/mkt/nl/nl20081106.html?ref=nl20081106HTML
$15 off orders over $150

Dont know how competitive that price is though.

[Dick Bringhurst]

You need to get a Makita 3705. It has an offset base that is adjustable. A PC 7301 with a PC 7311 offset base is also available. I have the Colt kit that comes with the offset base BUT it is not adjustable for depth. Dick B.

[Prashun Patel]

Have heard fantastic things about the Colt. However, for as much as I reach for my trim router, you might consider getting two Grizzly trim routers ($40) and keeping certain bits permanently chucked...

[Tom Clark FL]

Have heard fantastic things about the Colt. However, for as much as I reach for my trim router, you might consider getting two Grizzly trim routers ($40) and keeping certain bits permanently chucked...

Admittedly, I'm just a hobby woodworker so I don't run my tools long and hard, but I have five routers, including the 20 year old one in my router table, and I reach for the trim routers 10 to 1 over the others. One has a 1/4" round-over more or less permanently in the chuck. It is a 20 year old $79 Ryobi and has been used thousands of times. Still works like new. The other, a $40 Grizzly, has a 45 degree chamfer bit that is used a lot. Sure worth far more than I paid for it.

I find the less than professional grade tools serve me just fine. (The other two are Porter-Cables and a Makita.

[Dan Lee]

One downside of the Colt is that some people have reported that it the height adjustment can slip. That's hearsay because I don't own one.

Regards,

Dan.

I have the Colt and really like it. I had the height slip problem until I read the manual (duh) that you need to twist the motor in the base which locks it into the threads of the fine adjust mechanism.

[Bill Arnold]

Harbor Freight has a good trim router. Probably doesn't cost enough for some folks, but it'll do the job. Here it is (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914).

I have two of them and reach for them a lot more often than my PC. I've seen them in use in commercial shops also.

[Dave Sweeney]

Harbor Freight has a good trim router. Probably doesn't cost enough for some folks, but it'll do the job. Here it is (http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=44914).


+1 (10 characters)

[Bill Dunn jr]

I have the Rigid trim router and have been very happy with it. It comes with several bases and a case. The variable speed and slow start features are nice. I think it still sells for around $100.

[Charlie Plesums]

Thanks for all your suggestions... I spent a good deal of time today checking out the sparse selection available locally. I finally understood that I needed a router with offset base to do probably 90% of the job. A plain trim router (whether Bosch or Ridgid or Festool or Harbor Freight) would only do, perhaps 60%. Nobody locally had a trim router with offset base in stock.

First describing the problem in more detail ... an inside corner of cantilever shelves of 3/4 inch plywood, with another 3/4 in the middle, for various braces and wiring, and a 1/4 inch bottom. The bottom wasn't even with the primary shelf (oops) so the unit wouldn't fit together.

Therefore I did 30% with a regular router (guided on the primary shelf), then attacked the remaining 70% with bare hacksaw blade, Japanese saw, sandpaper, and chisels. A couple hours later it was all together. I figure that with the trim router, it would have been a few minute job, rather than miserable hours. The furniture will be delivered tomorrow.

Since the immediate problem is solved, my wife is always frantic for Christmas gift ideas, and was pleased to get the specs for the Bosch Colt Installer's kit.

Thanks for your help and suggestions.

[Steve Kohn]

I have the Colt and really like it. I had the height slip problem until I read the manual (duh) that you need to twist the motor in the base which locks it into the threads of the fine adjust mechanism.


+1, especially the part about twisting the motor to engage the mechanism. BTW, I learned that trick not from the manual but from this forum. Thanks guys, I was about ready to throw out the Bosch. Now I love it and use it the most of the 7 routers I have.

[Joe Vincent]

+1, especially the part about twisting the motor to engage the mechanism. BTW, I learned that trick not from the manual but from this forum. Thanks guys, I was about ready to throw out the Bosch. Now I love it and use it the most of the 7 routers I have.

Yep. Glad I read about that issue before I bought my Colt so I didn't go through that frustration. And it's always good that this is explained in posts in which folks recommend the Colt so the new user is clued in from the get go.

[Kevin Groenke]

Another vote for the COLT but...

There is some new competition on the block. My one complaint about the Colt is there is no plunge or no easy/cheap way to get one. Trend makes a new trim router called the T-4 for $99 with variable speed and plunge.

As much I love my Colt, if I had to do it today I would be considering the T4. One drawback is that it is so new I am not sure you will find many folks to ask how it performs.

http://woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=153-875&gclid=CNLarpC08ZYCFSCcnAodLzwtYQ

That Trend trimmer looks A LOT like a Freud that I bought a few years back. The standard base on that trimmer is NOT square and never locks effectively without a pliers, the plunge base is sloppier than a ____ in a ______. This thing makes a racket like a weasel and a mongoose in a hamster wheel with a bunch of marbles. There is a reason it is no longer sold by Freud, who is Trend? Where is that bad tools thread?

I bought a Colt a couple months back and it's LIGHT YEARS ahead of the Freud (Trend?) as far as build quality, design, engineering and ergonomics. I'll probably buy a couple more Colts to replace the other trimmers in the shop that are inferior. Haven't used the offset base yet, but it looks good, and I haven't heard anything bad about it, which you would think you would with all the glowing reports.

-kg

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/71HS4BFP2YL._SS500_.gif

[Dewey Torres]

That Trend trimmer looks A LOT like a Freud that I bought a few years back. The standard base on that trimmer is NOT square and never locks effectively without a pliers, the plunge base is sloppier than a ____ in a ______. This thing makes a racket like a weasel and a mongoose in a hamster wheel with a bunch of marbles. There is a reason it is no longer sold by Freud, who is Trend? Where is that bad tools thread?

I bought a Colt a couple months back and it's LIGHT YEARS ahead of the Freud (Trend?) as far as build quality, design, engineering and ergonomics. I'll probably buy a couple more Colts to replace the other trimmers in the shop that are inferior. Haven't used the offset base yet, but it looks good, and I haven't heard anything bad about it, which you would think you would with all the glowing reports.

-kg



Kevin,
I am not knocking the Colt. I bought a reconditioned unit from CPO Bosch and I love that thing:D. Very interesting picture. You are right, it looks like the same router.
I just saw the first advertisement in a WW magazine recently. Trend (I think) is the same company that makes those high quality face shields for turners/WWs. Making a face shield and a router may be a bit like saying “I am a woodworker but working on your car should be too much of a problem”.
I will be interested to see the reviews that will inevitably start rolling in once folks realize they are touting to have the only trim router with a standard plunge base. As I have said I wish there was one available from Bosch. There is one retro out there but it costs as much a the router itself:eek:!
If this T4 is a POS, someone will write more about it soon.

Anyone Creekers out there have one yet???

[Neal Clayton]

+1, especially the part about twisting the motor to engage the mechanism. BTW, I learned that trick not from the manual but from this forum. Thanks guys, I was about ready to throw out the Bosch. Now I love it and use it the most of the 7 routers I have.

was just about to post the same thing ;). i have a colt and figured that out as well. my helper actually pointed the gear thing out to me, as i was about to toss mine too, heh.

[Art Moore]

I have the Rigid trim router and have been very happy with it. It comes with several bases and a case. The variable speed and slow start features are nice. I think it still sells for around $100.

+1 to the Ridgid. I have two, one for freehand work and the other "permanently" attached to a circle cutting jig. The only thing I'd like to see added is an offset base.

[Charlie Plesums]

I just happened to get a discount code email from CPO Bosch about 10 minutes ago so looked to see what their price for the Installer kit was
http://bosch.cpotools.com/routers/palm_routers/pr20evsnk.html
$199.95
http://www.cpotools.com/mkt/nl/nl20081106.html?ref=nl20081106HTML
$15 off orders over $150

Dont know how competitive that price is though.

Amazon with free shipping was cheaper than CPO Bosch with the sale and coupons. (it appears we are on the same junk mail list - my discount code arrived at the same time)

After Christmas, when I presume I will get the Colt, I may need to get additional units from Harbor Freight so I can be like Norm Abrams - have you ever seen him change a router bit?

[Dan Cameron]

A while ago I needed to rout close to an inside corner, and I rigged up a "homemade" router using a $10 H.F. die grinder. Since the die grinder has a small diameter you can get very close to a corner.