For all-around shop use, midsize routers make sense. At 2 hp to 2-1/4 hp, they have enough testosterone to handle most cuts without the bulk that can make bigger versions a chore to run freehand. I gathered all of the midsize fixed-base routers on the market and tested them in the Fine Woodworking shop. The test had three main parts. First, I considered the ergonomics of the routers, using them by hand and in a router table. Then I checked them for noise, runout, and vibration. And finally, I gave them a handheld run to see how effectively they plowed through wood.

Handle comfort is okay on the Milwaukee 5682, but it has a small opening in the subbase and the highest runout. The machine is a little noisier than most and doesn’t offer variable speed. Black graduations on a black background make it hard to read.

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