Which router should I buy

sinsin | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on November 17, 2009 09:42am

I have an ELU model 3338 plunge router – 1/2 collett – variable speed 8 to 20,000. It works great as a table mounted router but is a little on the heavy side for hand held plunge routing. Probably 85% of my plunge routing is for mortises using a jig to hold the router – – but the critical routing is for a groove to accept pre-woven rattan and the spline. Again, I use a jig for guiding the router but have had my problems with the router shifting on me and messing up the groove. I’m thinking a smaller router would be easier to control. It MUST, however be a 1/2 ” collett. (I had a bad experience with a 1/4″ collett and a wing cutter!!!) What would you recommend.
I’m putting another post in General Discussions regarding Hide Glue – – you may have insight.

Replies

scooter1 | Nov 18, 2009 04:29am | #1
DeWalt bought the Elu Brand, but I don't like their router base. I like round bases, so I would go with Porter Cable.

Regards, Scooter "I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow." WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934
roc | Nov 18, 2009 07:11am | #2
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=52609&cat=1,41182,48945

: )

roc

Give me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

CooperDBM | Nov 18, 2009 05:03pm | #4
I'm tired of the batteries giving out on cordless tools like this.
SARGEgrinder47 | Nov 20, 2009 06:14pm | #14
Does Lee Valley include instructions with the router plane you posted on how to cut the 85% of his work MORTISES that sinsin states he needs it for? You don't have to answer that as I will assume you just didn't carefully read the requirements or is there something I don't know about that router plane? ha..ha..

Have a good day Roc... Sarge..

Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia

SimplyShaker | Nov 20, 2009 11:22pm | #15
Since you like your DW625 (Elu equivalent), how about the DW621. It is actually very light, supports both 1/4" and 1/2" bits and has exceptional dust collection. And with the money you save over the Festool, you can also buy the Lee Valley cordless router :-)
roc | Nov 30, 2009 07:48am | #16
>85% of his work MORTISES<Oops. It might take a while to do it with the Veritas.rocGive me six hours to chop down a tree and I will spend the first four sharpening the axe. Abraham Lincoln ( 54° shaves )

James R. | Nov 18, 2009 07:52am | #3
If funds are not the paramount decider I would buy the festool 1400. It weighs less than ten pounds and is an amazing router. I use it often. The Festool 1010 is smaller, lighter and easier to handle, however it is a 1/4" collet. A lot of woodworkers are using the 1010 as their go to router because it's so light and functional. It can be used one handed. They are quite comfortable with the smaller collet.

The 1010 is my next buy.

Good luck with your purchase.

Jim

bones | Nov 19, 2009 03:24am | #5
You beat me to the puch, I would also reccomend the OF1400. .....Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off , painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth – lyrics from the song wear sunscreen

James R. | Nov 19, 2009 05:38am | #6
Bones:I'm usually the slowest responder so I must be improving.It's a great router but I am looking forward to getting the 1010. I haven't even discovered all of the 1400's uses as yet, but I'm working on it.Jim

bones | Nov 19, 2009 04:14pm | #8
When you get it let me know what it has advantages over the 1400. When I looked at both, the only real diff I noticed was the 8mm/1/4 .vs. 1/2". I'd love to know that you think of if after its arrival!

View Image View Image...Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off , painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth – lyrics from the song wear sunscreen

James R. | Nov 19, 2009 08:27pm | #10
Bones:It looks as though you're using the guide rails in the same manner as the MFS multi-routing template. Do you have the second guide clamped and if so do you have to place supports under it since it does not have the supports the table came with? I have everything I see in the pictures, however I have not thought of using them in that manner. Is it pretty stable and does it hold the router steady as you're using it?You've got my interest.Jim
bones | Nov 19, 2009 11:04pm | #11
I have the MFT3 it is fixed (and I love it), the second is the rail from TS55. I bought them as a combo to save a few bucks. The second (one from the ts550 is just sitting on the wood. Once you have the primary set (via the mft3) the second is held in place with gravity. To be honest I had to do it that way because the standard way of just droping the plastic scale from the side of the of1400 would not work due to the legs on the wine cabinet pictured. I noticed the router rail guide's second piece had a groove for the rail and just decided to throw the second on it to span the legs. I love it though. Once I set the dept its just push it through! Having the stop on the MFT3 also was a great help in putting that groove in the exact same place on all 4 pieces.

View Image

View Image

...Advice is a form of nostalgia. Dispensing it is a way of fishing the past from the disposal, wiping it off , painting over the ugly parts, and recycling it for more than it’s worth – lyrics from the song wear sunscreen
James R. | Nov 19, 2009 11:57pm | #12
I have the original MFT. I'm going to try that setup just to see how it'll work. From the looks of the way you've set it up it should still work on my older MFT.Thanks for the info.Jim

Jammersix | Nov 19, 2009 05:56am | #7
About twenty years ago, I went exclusively to Porter Cable for routers.

I used them professionally, and I used them hard.

Now all my jigs are for the PC 630, and I have a small flock of them, with a larger herd of bases, plunge and fixed, and a bunch of shop-built stuff for them.

They're what I'd recommend.
Don01 | Nov 19, 2009 05:29pm | #9
Probably the best advise would be to get over to the biggest router distributer and put your hands on as many different types as you can.
Most 1/2" collets are apart of more robust unit which is simply more weight.

Don
SARGEgrinder47 | Nov 20, 2009 06:06pm | #13
I will recommend the Milwaukee 5614-24 2 1/4 HP at 13 amp. I weights 12 lbs. as I just weighed mine. I sold a Bosch.. DW 621 to get it and have had PC's in the past. This is the most power-ful and best balanced router I have held in my hand in actual use and will be my last plunge router.

I see several recommend the Festool at 10 lbs. and 11 amps but have not actually used it. I have held it several times. For me personally I cannot detect any great advantage of that router which is $470 over the Milwaukee 5614-24 Combo kit at around $270 (I have seen it on sale for $229) which also includes a fixed Body Grip base sleeve for non-plunge cuts hand held as well.

Perhaps those that have them can explain why the FT 1400 router that does not have a fixed base included is worth twice the price? I absolutely love this Milwaukee router and have run it's big brother 5625 3 1/2 HP in a table for almost 10 years. Both are hoss'es IMO as I have run over 70,000 linear feet of stock for molding on the table mount and have not even had to change brushes at this point. I have a set on hand as eventually I know they will wear down with extensive use.

With that said... I don't know what you Elu weights but.. about any router with a 1/2" collect capability is going to weight 10 pounds up loaded. I don't like the base on Elu's personally but if I had one (the DW 621 had the Elu base) I would replace it with a base as Pat Warner makes for it. But.. that would probably interfere with your guides as it is somewhat larger.

Good luck...

Sarge..

Woodworkers' Guild of Georgia