Router confusion

Hi,

I'm looking for a good router and getting a little lost. Was thinking DeWalt given its reputation.

I do quite a few things, mostly random instrument building. So anything from hand instruments, to primarily cigar box guitars/violins and I have some piano / cabinet sized instruments planned as well

I also want to be able to build some basic furniture / cabinets, smaller jewelry type boxes and also things like picture frames, beveling it and routing out grooves for glass/perspex.

From what I read, probably a mid sized plunge router would be best? Then use jigs/templates. Though I keep on hearing a table router may be more useful. Also collet size 1/2 1/4 I'm torn about as well.

Atm I'm thinking maybe something like the DeWalt DW621K or DW622K or perhaps something like the D26204K combination seems a good thing, but thinking dedicated tools for the job will be better. I'm tempted by something like the the real big ones but I dont know if its just too powerful for making say a picture frame.

It sounds like I could get away with a plunge then maybe get a table one in the future, just not sure.

Problem is I have no experience with routers so was hoping someone with some experience could give me a little direction.

Thanks,
Jon

1/2" under a table
and 1/4" for hand held
i have the dewalt duel base and i love the quality and ease off use [axminster around £225]
i have the hitachi m12v under a table and several other routers for different tasks [ffx £150]

the actual routers are less than half the set up cost with table big cutters and specialist cutters other equipment add to the cost
idealy 3 routers
a lighweight 400-800w a medium 900-1400w and a table 1600+w

if funds allow check out the festool range.
the best in the business.
even if it means buying 1 from ebay you wont be disappointed.
ive had my 1 (1/4)for around 20 years now and it amazes me how easy it is to use,you hold it like a sander.

I have a DW622 as my regular site router. It is definitely more useful to have the 1/2in collet than a 1/4in one or even an 8mm one, especially if you intend doing any amount of copy routing (as I'd expect an instrument maker to do). The big plus point of the DW622 and DW621 over most other routers is the good quality dust extraction (a must for MDF and hardwoods) -from a coupole of years use I can state that it really is on a par with the much more expensive Festool OF1400 in that respect. Personally I couldn't recommend the Festool OF1010 (only 8mm collet, not enough power for heavy copy work) or the Festool OF1400 which I found awkward to use (and which is why I replaced it with the DW622)

The most recent router I bought was a Bosch palm router (GKF600) with which I've been very pleased. It comes with a number of bases, which makes for a very adaptable tool. You can convert it from a fixed-base to a plunging router, at a price.

I have a number of other 1/4" routers, most of them Elu MOF96, which I've bought secondhand. For 1/2" routers I use an Elu MOF177 and a CMT router (which uses the same design). I tend to reach for the Bosch palm router most times now because it is so easy to handle and has plenty of power for most light routing jobs. Bit changing is easy, and visibility quite good.

Why not just go for 1/2" and then if you need to go smaller use an adapter?

Gibbo84 said:

Why not just go for 1/2" and then if you need to go smaller use an adapter?

Click to expand...

Any decent 1/2in router will come with a 1/4in collet and nut in any case