palm routers

[bird]

Hey folks,
I'm thinking about buying a palm router  (1 11/2 HP.  Does anyone have any direction? ...  dewalt, craftsman, grizzly, porter cable, bosch?  I've used my friends dewalt before and liked it.  Does anyone have any advice/
cheers
bird

[Jim C.]

I have a Bosch model #1608 trim router.  I've had it for 20 years and can't say enough good things about it.  I think Bosch makes pretty good hand held power tools.  I've had a Bosch hammer drill for several years too.  It's also been a very reliable tool.

Jim C.

[bird]

The bosch model is almost twice as much as some other models that are on sale right now-- craftsman professional, dewalt, . Oh, that's not true.  It's about the same price as dewalt and rigid.  I was looking at the model that had a plunge router base included.  Do you think I need that?  I already ahve a 3 1/2 horse power milwakee (with optional plunge base).  It pretty much stays in the router table. ... that's one of the reasons I'd like a seperate, smaller router.
Maybe I'm out of the loop, but I just realized rigid has a lifetime warranty....  including the origanal batteries it comes with!!!!  I didn't know that!  So, do you have an opinion about rigid?
cheers,
bird

[Jim C.]

I don't really know about the Rigid router.  I don't have any experience using Rigid power tools.  Just to be sure, we're talking about a small router than can be held and operated with one hand, right?  My Bosch trim router does not have a plunge base.  The base is manually adjustable, up and down, via a screw mechanism.  You mentioned batteries in your last post, but unfortunately I can't comment on the sufficiency of a battery powered router because I've never used one.  My Bosch trim router is electric.  I really like the Bosch, but again, I've had it for about twenty years.  I don't know if the current Bosch trim routers are as good as they were twenty years ago or not.  I don't use mine too often, but when I do, it has performed very well and provided nice results.

Jim C.       

[BruceS]

Without a doubt I would go for the DeWalt  DWP611PK.     Mainly because I am a very big fan of plunge routers,  especially in you are into using templates or lettering templates.

[Nolatoolguy]

I have a bosch colt variable speed one, as my palm router. Its a 1/4" collet. I also two large bosch routers, with 1/2" collets.  One has a plunge base one stationary base. Then I have large craftsman router that's broken and ive yet to look at.

All 3 of the bosch routers I have are great and functioned flawlessly. I accidently knocked the larger bosch with a plunge base off the table(it was off) and no damage was done to the base. I was worried the base would be bent or something but it was fine.

One thing to be aware is the shank size on the router bit. I know my large bosch router is different then my bosch colt. So keep in mind not just do you have the purchase cost of the rotuer but also different size bits. I have more money spent on router bits an templates then I do the routers themselves.

The one below is the kit I bought, it also comes individually with just one base or you can buy a kit with a plunge base an stationary base.

 http://www.boschtools.com/Products/Tools/Pages/BoschProductDetail.aspx?pid=PR20EVSNK#benefits

[bird]

hey guys, thanks for the help...  I was curious about the rigid tools and made the mistake of folks thinking I was looking at a cordless router.  (I was just excited about the battery warrant for other tools!!!)  Do they make a cordless router??
It sounds like you folks are bosch fans....  I've never gone wrong with their tools before.  (I've never bought one, but have successfully stolen my fathers jigsaw.... a story for another time!)  I have a dewalt 13  1/2 planer which I love !!!  It's a serious HOSS!!!!  All of the lumber I use is either reclaimed or local that has been air dried for a few years. So, all of it has to go through the jointer and then planer......   Oh, my joiner...  how I love it!  It's a grizzly, 9"  with a 76 inch bed. I don't have much to bragg about... had to get that out there!!!
Thanks for the help. Although, I think that purchase will be put on the back burner because someone just called to see if I would be interested in his grandfathers collection of tools...... I should have said no  (due to overwhelming gap in my wallet!)  But, what can I say?
cheers,
bird.

[Bill Houghton]

Although, I think that purchase will be put on the back burner because someone just called to see if I would be interested in his grandfathers collection of tools...... I should have said no  (due to overwhelming gap in my wallet!)  But, what can I say?
cheers,
bird.

What can you say?  You can say, "how do I get to your place and can I stop over right this minute?"