Routers

[Hog Wild]

Which is better or more useful , Fixed Based or Plunge Router.

[halfdome, Danny]

As a Cabinetmaker I have about 12 fixed base vs one plunge router.
The choice is your's but if you were to only have one, I'd go with the plunge.
Danny

[Hog Wild]

Thanks Danny. I kinda thought that, but wasn't real sure.

[QueticoBill]

Porter Cable sells one with both bases. It was highly rated by several magazines when I purchased it probably 20 some years ago. I like having both, but use the fixed base much more than the plunge.

[booyah]

As does Bosch.

I suspect routers are kinda like potato chips though, you cant have just one.

[aggie79]

A plunge base can be fixed but a fixed base can't plunge. I think you will find applications where you need to use a plunge router.


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[Kelly'sTear]

I have a Bosch with both a plunge base and a fixed base. Love it!

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[elcam84]

If you only have one make sure you get a plunge base. My favorite is the milwaukee. I also have several of the craftsman kits that have both and they are quite good tools especially for the price though the cord is hard pvc. I'm not a fan of the bosch one as the plunge base is sloppy and all their tools use different attachment sizes and are quite pricey.
The good thing is that plunge bases are much more popular than they used to be and priced better than many years ago.

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[rainjer]

I have several fixed based and 1 plunge. I use the plunge more than the other combined. My go to is a Bosch.

Jeremy

[ssutton]

Not a direct answer to your question but I use a Bosch 1617EVS router on my CNC table. It has over 2000 hours of HARD use on it. Most (90%) of what I cut on the CNC machine is aluminum. I have had to rebuild it with new bearings one time after I crashed the CNC and it slammed the spindle into a steel clamp that was holding the material in place. Other than that the thing is totally bullet proof.

-Scott

[elcam84]

OK well I picked up the ridgid cordless router last night. Only one store here had a couple and while in there I found the last one on the clearance rack. Got it for less than the old ryobi sells for online actually. Will test it out today and see how it works. It's brushless and uses the same base as the corded one. Comes with a nice looking cast aluminum fence (corded came with a sheet metal one) and even has a 1/2x1/2 flush trim bit with it. Haven't seen a router bit with a router in a long time.

Ryobi has discontinued their old one which was really old as in it used to be sold in blue years ago... They just changed the color scheme so people would think it was new. But it is being replaced with a router similar to the ridgid and for $70 which is a good price.

Seems ryobi is dropping some of their older tools in favor of modified(slightly cheaper with less features) ridgid designs. I almost bought a ryobi kit online last month for just under $200 because it had the brad nailer in it which alone is $139. I still wouldn't use their drills and impact drivers but their other odd tools are decent and better priced to where I may be buying some in the future. This coming from one who isn't a ryobi fan...




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[edgeau]

If you are new to routers a vital safety rule is go anti clockwise along the outside edge of a workpiece, clockwise on the inside e.g. a window edge. The tool is unstable and difficult to control otherwise. I learned that the hard way!

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[elcam84]

If you are new to routers a vital safety rule is go anti clockwise along the outside edge of a workpiece, clockwise on the inside e.g. a window edge. The tool is unstable and difficult to control otherwise. I learned that the hard way!

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Yeah its funny and scary watching people climb cut with a router when they aren't used to them. In certain situations and woods climb cutting will prevent chip out. When routing western red cedar it's best to climb cut as it splits like nothing else.

I have way too many routers now oh wait you can never have too many..

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[booyah]

I always heard it as the "rule of thumb" with the router. Like the pic below.
Make an L with your right hand finger and thumb, aim your thumb into the piece of work, and your finger points the way you should move the router.

[elcam84]

That's where you start to get comfortable with it. Then you will be climb cutting end grain to prevent split out etc. And what parts to rout first. Over time you learn what works best. A climb cut will usually get you the best finish but it's only done when needed for obvious reasons.

Seems like every time I need to use a router I have to change bits in one that is set up for a specific job and I hate resetting bits. Hence why I have so many and looking at more...

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