Recommend a router?

[kaseryn]

Can someone recommend an affordable router for general use? What features should i be looking for? I'm thinking sub £100 range..

 

[big-all]

you have a definate allergy to anything over a ton

for worktops you need half inch router minimum 1400w otherwise you will have to make twice as many passes for the depth

if you are planning on lighter work like moldings and rebates 1/4" is fine

i have several routers from a 400w b&d thats over 20 years old to a 1850w hitachi m12v that spends most of its time in the table

i decided i needed an intermediate router to do some of the heavier work withought the hassle of de-mounting the green beasty
because my secondery kit is ryobi i decided on this 1150w ryobi 1/4" router for £45 to the door a very good price
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=120128539664

and not only did it have a free 8 piece router kit it was also 1/2"

but strangley no spanner will have to ask if its missing

 

[2scoops0406]

You don't mention the power devil

 

[big-all]

You don't mention the power devil

what this one
http://i21.photobucket.com/albums/b270/bigall2005/workshop008.jpg

funny enough the power devil was exactly the same price at £45 but that was around 10 years ago
shows you how prices have come down at the lower end

 

[kaseryn]

you have a definate allergy to anything over a ton

Hah! Well thing is i just blew 150 odd notes on a Makita chopsaw and 100 on that hitachi drill.. and it'd be pretty occasional use probably. If it will still do worktops albeit having to go slow.. all the better!.. However, i did see this one from Axminster.. care to confer your judgement? It's 1/2", does it have anything apart from that over the Ryobi one you've linked?

http://www.axminster.co.uk/product-Axminster-AW127R-1-2-Router-21362.htm



Related query.. one of the jobs i want it for is an idea for a floating shelf in an alcove. I wanted to route 2 grooves in the sides and get some sort of fitting for the walls that would slide in nicely.. perhaps metal and rounded edges.. any idea's? Guess plastic would be fine too..

 

[Deluks]

I have the Axminster, good value for money and will cope with worktops. Not really up there with the big names but one of the better ones for under £100.

 

[kaseryn]

Sounds good then.. it being a 1/2", can i still use 1/4" collets? Is that just the width of the shank, or the actual cutting pieces themselves.. also can you recommend a good starter kit of tools for it?

 

[big-all]

all half inch routers will have either collet inserts or sleeves to reduce the size to 8mm and 1/4"

this set will cover most normal things http://www.screwfix.com/app/sfd/cat...499&destination=/app/sfd/cat/pro.jsp?id=12890

i wouldnt realy consider the ryobi sutable for more than say 1 worktop a year as thats how long it will take to cut one with 1050w thats assuming thats the input power

also wont be realy sutable for larger cutter like panel or dado cutters

 

[kaseryn]

lol guess i'll go for the Axminster then.. thanks for the set link. Any idea's on a fitting i could use on a routed groove for the shelf idea? Also, how hard is it to put edge details in work and such without a router table.. do you need one as such?

 

[big-all]

you can easily mould timber router matt and cutters with bearing wheels

or on end with a batton each side to give a larger work area and the fence keeping in mind you will have to move the clamp for the fence to pass

 

[kaseryn]

Umm.. soz, didn't really understand much of that at all

 

[Scrit]

you can easily mould timber router matt and cutters with bearing wheels

Translation: You can easily edge-mould timber using a router mat ("sticky" rubber mat on which the workpiece is positioned - it's anti-slip properties act in a similar way tpo clamping the work down) using bearing guided cutters

or on end with a batton each side to give a larger work area and the fence keeping in mind you will have to move the clamp for the fence to pass

Translation: Edge moulding (e.g. grooving, etc) can be achieved by clamping the work upright in something like a Workmate then clamping a piece of material either side of the workpiece to give a wider surface area for the base of the router to ride on (the edge of an 18mm board is difficult to route as the router tends to tip from side to side), however the router fence will foul the clamps holding the support strips at the start and end of the cut and they will need to be moved to allow the start and end of any cuts to be made

Scrit

 

[kaseryn]

I am quite certain i'd never have decoded that on my own.. thank you both! It all makes sense now.

 

[big-all]

I am quite certain i'd never have decoded that on my own.. thank you both! It all makes sense now.

yeh sorry about that

thanks for that scrit even i understand it now

 

[kaseryn]

no problem! what are bearing guided cutters?