Router Reviews

A router is a woodworking tool and used to hollow out an area in the piece of wood. The basic concept is that the interchangeable cutting bits are mounted on the shaft of motor having high speed, so that bigger tasks can be possible.

Wood routers are the most versatile workshop tool. These are used to round or smooth edges, cut simple hinge mortises and make grooves, also these are useful in millwork or imitation lathe turnings and cutting complicated joints. Also using routers you can turn a plain piece of wood into picture frame moldings or tongue and groove flooring with other projects. Here we present information about types of wood routers, wood routers reviews and the comparisons of various wood routers available in the market.

Wood routers have become easier to use since from past few years with self release collets, precise depth adjustment mechanisms, spindle locks to change bits easily and better dust control. Soft-start motors with electronic variable speed are used to eliminate the jerking of routers and to keep the selected speed constant even the load changes. Also wood routers can cut and shape the soft metals like wood.

Wood Router Types
Depending on how the motor is attached to the base, there are following basic types of wood routers:

• Fixed-base routers
• Trim or Palm routers
• Plunge routers

By lowering or raising the motor on the base, fixed base routers lock in the depth of cut. Trim or palm routers are the smaller versions of fixed base routers. These types of routers use bits with quarter-inch shanks which are powered by smaller motors of 1-hp. In plunge routers motor is attached to a spring loaded base, so that you can change the depth safely in the middle of the work.

Fixed base routers are very easy to learn and use with various templates and jigs, that’s why it is recommended by new users. If you are going to do trimming, rounding corners and cutting mortises for hinges then prefer trim or palm routers. When you are not actually cutting plunge routers keep the sharp cutting bit above the base, so these types of routers are considered to be safer than others. Using plunge router you can make a deep groove because you are able to change the depth of motor turned on.

The 3.5 horsepower Milwaukee fixed base router’s maximum depth is an inch less than the Bosch 1619EVS plunge router, and lacks in dust control. However, more reviews says that the using a Milwaukee woodworking router is more convenient when mounted on a table, because it offers convenient controls and electronic variable speed with long five year warranty.

The 3.25 horsepower Bosch wood router is ranking at the top because of its soft-start variable speed motor, self releasing collets and dust control features. Though it weighs 13.3 pound it can be handled by freehanded users conveniently, also it works well when mounted on a round table. It is versatile because like plunge router it can cut or groove safely in the middle of board. Because of the 2.56 inch maximum depth and large base opening it is usable with large bits. This router comes with one year warranty.

The single speed 1.75 hp Milwaukee wood router is recommended as an excellent choice as a first router in various reviews and it has its own releasing collets to change bits easily, but it lacks in dust control. Its weight is 8.8 pounds, so easy to hold it in a hand. Height adjustment is easy when it is mounted on a table. Like other Milwaukee tools it also has five year warranty.

There is a woodworking router combo kit is available in the market which combines one motor with two bases. A plunge base is for cutting grooves in the middle of work piece and a fixed base for trimming work as well as table mounted work. The 2.25hp DeWalt router comes with three year warranty and some features like depth adjustment, dust control and adjustment and bit changes. The maximum depth of 2.25hp DeWalt router is 2.5 inches, too deep for a mid sized router.

The new Bosch Colt Palm Router is also called as a laminating trimmer, gets high praise than the other woodworking trim router in many reviews. Its weight is only 3.3 pound and easily holds by one hand even by left hand for lefties. It has one year warranty and comes with several features like, variable speed with electronic speed control, self-releasing quarter-inch collet, two stage depth adjustments.