Replies

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Jul 06, 2003 05:19am | #1

   Stan

      If you use it for tthe table, it is execellent. Plenty of power and soft start. Variable speed. The price was right before the Lowe's clearance.

      Now the cons. Not the absolute smoothest plunge if you use it above the table. Table mounted, you will need to purchase the angled wrench from CMT to help change bits in the table. They are a bear with the stock wrench.

      If you want a hoss for the table at a very cheap price, the Hitachi is the candidate. I had one mounted, but just replaced it with a Milwaukee 5625 3 1/2 HP because it has an on-board adjuster that gives you excess to height adjustment from above the table. I'm giving the Hitachi to my BIL who is a machinist. He's got interested in WW and does me a lot of favors with assist on maching things for my shop.

   Best of Luck...

   sarge..jt

1. 
   smijal | Jul 06, 2003 04:58pm | #4

   Thanks for the input Sarge, it always helps to hear from those who have owned and worked with the tool. The router came with an adjuster stem for under table adjusting, but I've seen the Milwaukee and it is indeed nice. 

    Not completely sure if I will keep or return it. Sometimes a "deal" totals out to more $$ when you end up replacing it for  the one you eventually  want!. But then again us tool junkies enjoy giving our tools "company"!

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Jul 06, 2003 09:49pm | #7

   Stan

      If you're going table, keep it. The height adjustment from underneath is a minor thing when you consider the price. The Hitachi Sales and Service is about 7 miles from my house here in the Atlanta area. Those folks have been extremely helpful every time I drop by. I have the router, a SCMS I bought at Lowe's on close-out and a 1/2" drill with a ton of torque. I am satisfied with all the Hitachi I have.

      The plunge is not the smoothest in the world. If you're using it for a table, that will not interfere. Take a look at what kind of router they usually use to cut mortices at the next WW show you go to. Marc Sommerfield at Sommerfields Tools for Wood (CMT) swears by it. They have the angle wrench an a rubber collect guard to keep saw-dust out of the housing when it's upside down in the table.

      Just a few thoughts. Yep, you can take it back. I'm sure someone is hoping you do at that price. My experience is they clear what they have in a particular store. Once it's gone, it's gone for good at that store.

      I don't know why I bought the 5th router. The Hitachi would still be in my table, but I knew my BIL needed a router. He changed brake pads, master cylinder and turned rotors on my wife's car. I owed him one. We trade off like that. It was just a win-win for me.

   http://www.sommerfieldtools.com

   sarge..jt

1. 
   smijal | Jul 07, 2003 03:46am | #8

   Decided to keep it after all. I know about the clearanced out items at Lowe.s, once they are gone, thats it. I've learned to purchase first if I have any possible intention of keeping it. If you wait an hour, it will probably be too late.

   Got a nice double steel insulated door with semi circle lights with beveled glass and brass came--someone special ordered it and did not take it. They wanted it out of the backroom , so for $90 my buddy has the classiest set of entry doors for a garden shed anyone has seen!

1. 
   RANGERP75R | Jul 07, 2003 04:08am | #9

      I thought you might. I need a new rear entry door off my back deck. I never run into those kind of deals till just after I paid retail and it just got installed.

      I think they hide in bushes in the back of my home and watch me install. When they see it nailed, they rush back and mail the clearance fliers.

   Good thing I have a sense of humor. ha..ha..

   sarge..jt

2. 
   jtandrews | Jul 07, 2003 04:09am | #10

   I purchased the same router this spring, and I plan to set it up in the table.  On the advice of a friend, I purchasaed a Router Raizer as well.  The $80 price tag seems high for such a simple device.  But if it works, I'll forget about what I spent on it.

   Before I purchased anything, I found the following link was quite helpful:        http://www.woodshopdemos.com/cmt-jr6.htm

   He has three different articles on using th M12V- all of them are loaded with photos of the modifications he has done.

   I have yet to put my new router into serious service.  So I can offer no real critique.  But, I am very happy with the my purchases, and I am sure they serve me well for years to come.

   Good Luck.

   Jeff

3. 
   smijal | Jul 07, 2003 03:01pm | #11

   Thanks for the link---I'll have to save it. Right now to busy finishing up the area for the new shop.

2. 
   Telemike | Jul 06, 2003 07:32am | #2

   I have an older one (9 years) that I bought for big molding cuts on gazebo posts.  It works OK.  But, it's not variable speed so it is not very good for a table.  I just bought the Triton and put it into the table - variable speed, soft start, coarse and fine height adjust under the table, built in dust collection, one wrench bit changes, and change the bit above the table.  In a year or two, all the brands will offer a router like this!

   I use the hitachi for bull jobs with not too big bits.  It makes a good plunge router.

   
   

   ---

   Edited 7/6/2003 12:36:43 AM ET by telemiketoo

1. 
   smijal | Jul 06, 2003 04:52pm | #3

   This one has electronic variable speeds, so thats a plus.  I picked it up, but still may return it based on opinions here. thanks

   Stan

1. 
   bill_1010 | Jul 06, 2003 07:32pm | #6

   The router is worth to keep.  Are the better, yes, are there worse? Yes.   Overall the hitachi is a good router.  Ill be picking one up at lowes shortly since i too saw they were on clearance.  

3. 
   stevemorris | Jul 06, 2003 06:39pm | #5

   i have the hitachi 3 horse router

   great machine in general, lots of power, variable speed, soft start

   great in a router table

   downsides?, one handle broke after a week, they're always loosening, and the plunge mechanism sticks a lot

   caulking is not a piece of trim