Router Problem - What next?

[Tux]

I use a AEG semi-pro. Wonderful maschine and I've never had any trouble with it at all

[Larwyn]

I have several routers, all by different manufacturers. I still have my first one, a Black and Decker which I bought at a Kroger grocery store in the early 80's (maybe the late 70's) for around $30. It is kinds small (midsized ?), don't know the horsepower but it does not bog down when using roudover bits etc.That little router, though made mostly of orange plastic has less vibration and makes less noise than some newer and "better" routers. I seldom use it anymore, but sometimes when several different router bits are called for, I will install each one in a different router and that way only have to setup depth of cut once. That little 30 year old orange B&D holds it's own when I call on it. The base is fine, but if it needed a new one I have some 1/4" Plexiglas laying around that I could make one from.

[Wolffarmer]

When i shop for power tools the first thing i look at is the length of the power cord. If it is one of those a few inches long I pass that tool by. If they scrimped a few cents there what else did they cut corners on?

I have a Skill Router that seems to be a member of the only line they are now making. It has worked for me but I just can't recommend it. Seems to me to be to hard to set the depth. But then I haven't used any other. Also the base is plastic and i just don't like it. I would go out in the shop and get the model number for it but the shop is 100 feet from the house, it is dark out there right now and the temp is minus 10 Fahrenheit. And i am normally grumpy anyway.


Ok, complaining about the temp in a thread started by someone from Finland where it is even colder. Classic Finn. Keep up the good work, I really like your posts.

[Aaron Coffee]

I have a cheap Skill plunge router and seems to work ok for what I need it for. The only suggestion I have is to get one that takes 1/2 shank bits, mine only takes 1/4" shanks and some bits aren't available in 1/4".

[eamarquardt]

When you all say the base broke I'm not sure if you mean the aluminum casting or just the plastic piece that screws on to the aluminum. If it's just the plastic part you can replace it with another piece of plastic, phenolic (I prefer the phenonlic because it is stronger), wood, or aluminum. If you choose wisely it should be better than new. My expensive Bosch soft start base broke right away but the phenolic replacement has lasted "forever".

Fixen is better'n than buying a new one IMHO.

If the aluminum part is broken, send it to me and I'll weld it up.

Cheers,

Gus

[wannabefree]

WBF's Router Ranking, scale of 1 - 10:
1 - Porter Cable
1.1 - Bosch
5 - Makita
7 - B&D
99 - Ryobi

I actually have a 30 year old B&D that is pretty good (I'd give it a 3), but I wouldn't buy a new one.

Bosch makes a near clone of the Porter Cable 690, which is what I would recommend as the best all-around router of all time.

[Muggnz]

I used to love anything Black & Decker; but, since DeWalt bought them out, B&D seems to have become the bottom of the Dewalt line and doesn't seem to be very good anymore. ...Just one more sad merger story.

I didn't know that Skil isn't very good.

When I was looking for a new power tool last year, the salesman in the store recommended that I don't buy yellow ( DeWalt ) tools, as they were the ones that were sent in for repairs many times more than others.

david

[bobhenry]

I used to love anything Black & Decker; but, since DeWalt bought them out, B&D seems to have become the bottom of the Dewalt line and doesn't seem to be very good anymore. ...Just one more sad merger story.

I didn't know that Skil isn't very good.

When I was looking for a new power tool last year, the salesman in the store recommended that I don't buy yellow ( DeWalt ) tools, as they were the ones that were sent in for repairs many times more than others.

david

I have a dewalt drill driver , miter saw and circular saw. THEY HAVE SEEN LITERALLY 1000'S OF HOURS OF USE IN THE 10+ YEARS I HAVE OWNED THEM.
I have built close to 300 mini barns a dozen decks my own home remodeling , a 14 x 20 kitchen addition , and 4 tiny trailers.

I use construction screws only on a great deal of projects. I could not count the 10's of thousands of screws that drill has driven or the miles of lumber the saws have cut. I have replaced one cord and a couple of plug ins. They are not babied they are tossed about rather badly and have been dropped and drug about. I have 2 lowly black and decker cheapy drills that I had in high school that still work fine but they are not reversable or variable speed so they see little use now days.

I have a multitude of brands of power tools Bosch, Ryobie , porter cable . ingersol rand, Milwaukee, Craftsman , skil , Bostitch , black & Decker , Chicago electric (Cheapies) and of course my Dewalt. I own 3 circular saws and 6-8 drills and 99% of the time you will find me with the Dewalt's in my hand. Most of these tools were on sale or yard sale finds that is why there is such a variation of brands. I have not discarded a power tool in the last 20 years and mine have seen many hours of hard use.

[Classic Finn]

Just an update on routers. The neighbor found one of these demo routers on sale real cheap. as it was their last as well so that I can get it from him as he dont use it much.

Found info in English for you.

Thought maybe it would come in handy

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/det ... duct=37247

Other than that still searching for a reasonable router.

[afreegreek]

Just an update on routers. The neighbor found one of these demo routers on sale real cheap. as it was their last as well so that I can get it from him as he dont use it much.

Found info in English for you.

Thought maybe it would come in handy

http://www.lawson-his.co.uk/scripts/det ... duct=37247

Other than that still searching for a reasonable router.

the Makita 3708F in the link you provided is one of the very best trim routers out there. it even has a tilt base. however it is a 35.000 RPM trim router with a 1/4" collet.. it is not a replacement for a regular size router. 35.000 RPM is too fast for all but small diameter bits and you will quickly burn this little gem out cutting through 1/2 and 3/4" plywood. it and others like it are designed to trim plastic laminate on countertops and other light tasks like routing a 1/4" roundover.

[NathanL]

I bought a reman Festool. Great product and being a reman it was right around the price/cheaper than the other stuff.....been going strong now for years.

Just another option.