Replies

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 14, 2009 05:39am | #1

   You can't beat it in a router table, as long as you can reach under to adjust the height. Adjustment are easy, bit changes are even easier (auto spindle lock, one wrench). I don't think I've heard anything negative about it at all from users.

   Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com
   (soon to be www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

2. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 14, 2009 08:35pm | #2

   They are made in Asia and they have some real quirks. The lift mechanism is made of nylon and I have stripped the gears on one after less than a year's use. I called Triton and they sent me the part,but I had to disassemble the whole router. When something spins at 25,000 rpms, I felt like I better get this thing back together correctly. With that clamshell design you have to take the whole thing apart. If I was not handy I would not even attempted it. I bought it because FWW rated it #1. I would say #4 from my 2 years of experience with it. I would say for 3 1/4HP, Milwaukee, Bosch, Dewalt and Triton in that order.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 14, 2009 08:52pm | #3

   Terry,Good to hear some balanced feedback. By the way, what isn't made in Asia these days? Tolerances are more important than country of origin. Nylon does seem to be a knock against the Triton. What year did you buy your Triton? I haven't had any problems so far. Maybe they've re-engineered it? I'm surprised that Triton sent you a part to install yourself. Sounds like taking the router apart is a "authorized service center" job that doing yourself would void the warranty. How were they dealing with your issue?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   RalphBarker | Jan 14, 2009 09:16pm | #4

   While I still prefer to buy "Made in USA", I tend to agree. Factory workers in Asia are just as capable as those in America, except they get by with 1/10 the hourly wage. If that Triton router were made by the UAW ($70+/hr average wage), it would cost $19,999 instead of $199.99.The key is good design and proper monitoring of the manufacturing process.

1. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 15, 2009 05:56am | #6

   Ralph,

   You better check you price catalog again.  The 3 1/4 HP is $269 at Amazon.  I didn't check the price at Woodcraft, but it must be on sale if you say it is $199.  I know the 2 1/4 HP is $199, but I paid more then that at Woodcraft.  The Milwaukee sells for $295.  The Milwaukee has a 5-year warranty as well.

   The problem is with the Aussie engineers not the Taiwanese assemblers.  That screw should be tougher or a better design.  That is the last time I am going to take the advice of a magazine without asking people on this forum as well.  Nobody had them when I bought mine so it probably would not have helped anyway. 

1. 
   heartwould | Jan 16, 2009 02:08am | #8

   Both the 2 1/4 and the 3 1/4 Triton routers are currently on sale at Woodcraft for $199.  Their ad says that the smaller one is $20 off and the other is $30 off their regular price.

2. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 15, 2009 05:31am | #5

   Chris,

   My router is two years old and the height adjustment screw stripped at about a year and some months.  I called the service dept. and they didn't even ask how old it was.  I told them I would crank up the bit to a certain height and it would just hop up and down.  I could push it up from the bottom so I knew it had to be the adjustment screw.  They said the screw is stripped and sent me a new one for nothing and sent some lame instructions on how to install it.  Then at the end told me to refer to some figure in the owner's manual that did not exist.  I should have bought the Milwaukee like the service guy at Jessem told me too.

   Terry

3. 
   rshelly | Jan 15, 2009 03:38pm | #7

   I purchased this recently at Woodcraft and installed it in a router table wih a lift. It works great, but I've only had it for a few months. If you're using it in a router table with a lift, I assume the plastic gears are not an issue. The salesman at Woodcraft said they haven't had any problems with this router.

   Randy.

1. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 16, 2009 04:23pm | #9

   Randy,

   If you are using a lift mechanism instead of the router crank you will have no issues.  I use the above the table crank supplied with router and that is where my problems began.  Triton designed a lock mechanism on that router for a reason.  It backs out while you are routing if you don't lock it in place.  The first time I used it, the bit dropped about a 1/16" during a couple of test cuts.  Then I locked it down and solved my problem,but created another.  If you do not unlock the lever before you attempt to adjust the height it will strip that plastic part right now.  Now I have a sign right on the table to unlock all the time, if I remember.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jan 17, 2009 07:13am | #10

   Terry,Can you clarify what you said? Is the lock only used if you are adjusting from above the table? I always adjust my router from below and don't think I've ever locked it. In fact, I had to think if my router has a lock lever (yes, it does).Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com(soon to be http://www.flairwoodworks.com)

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   terrylee86 | Jan 17, 2009 04:53pm | #11

   Chris,

   I use the lock because the bit would drop during routing on occasion.  The vibration would cause it to back down, so I started locking it down during use.  When you use the crank above the table it is just like turning that black knob below the table.  If I can't find my crank fast enough I just turn that black knob to adjust the height.