Are Wood routers and Plunge routers the same thing?

[Hoagie_one]

Checkin around for prices and I see em both ways.  Just want to be sure they are the same thing.

[BobA]

Plunge routers allow the whole motor to move up and down to engage the cutting bit.  They are basically a router with this added feature.

Fixed base routers are cheaper then plunge routers.  The plunge routers can be used to make some cuts that a fixed base router cannot easily do.  For example a keyhole slot.  Plunge routers are much better for sign making or removing material in multiple passes or dado making.

You can do everything that is required to make a cabinet with a simple fixed base router.

BObA

[Spaced Invader]

Well...remember your S.A.T.'s? All holes are circles but not all circles are holes? It's kinda like that!  

Confused?  

Ok, here's what I mean...all the routers you are looking at are wood routers (probably), but not all of them are plunge routers. There are basically two types of router...the fixed base router and the plunge router (network routers don't count). Either will work for cutting your T-Moulding channels. But a plunge router is more versatile (if slightly less stable (according to some)). It will allow you to plunge into the wood (hence the name) and carve out a space in the middle of a board. For instance you want to mount a pair of joysticks with short handles and a CP with 3/4" MDF. You could use a plunge router to hollow out an area for the sticks and avoid having to use a metal mounting plate. And lots of other cool stuffage.

So, get a plunge router...opinions may vary...  

OOPS...BobA already answered...! still say get a plunge router!
Cheap...Link...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=103&pricetype=

[BobA]

You do not require a plunge router to cut an area for your joystick.  If you drill the 1 1/8 hole first then you place your regular router bit in this starting hole.

Specifically you would want a plunge router to do the following
A plunge router is worth the extra money if you want to:

Make stopped flutes and dadoes.
Cut mortises with a router.
Use keyhole slots in your projects.
Routinely rout deep slots requiring several progressively deeper cuts.
Create signs with recessed letters.
Add an inexpensive through-the-table lift to your router.
Buy only one router

Spaced Invader is probably suggesting a plunge router because of the last point.  It will do it all not just the 80% a fixed router will do. But if you are on a budget my original recommendation still stands.  

BobA

[Hoagie_one]

$30 is a good Amount, that router will do nicely.  MUHAHAHAHAHAHHA

[Spaced Invader]

You do not require a plunge router to cut an area for your joystick.  If you drill the 1 1/8 hole first then you place your regular router bit in this starting hole.
--snip--

You're right of course, thanks for clarifying! Been up for 30 hours (night shift) needing some sleep!  

[grafixmonkey]

(network routers don't count).

Why can't you use a network router to cut a cab?
 

[grafixmonkey]

I really liked having the plunging ability on my router when I was working.  It made some things go a lot quicker.  That might just be my lack of router experience though.  I may have been doing things that other people didn't do on their cabs too, like recessing joysticks in the top of the wood panel.

[RedSquirrel]

I hammered and chisoled (sp) out my holes for the joysticks! Cheaper than me buying a router for the job!

[grafixmonkey]

eeew, hand tools.   Those aren't lazy!!  

[said7]

I was in the same predicament last week. I went ahead and got a $99 plunge router.

A decicing factor for me was that i think i will use the router in the future. Plus the visibility was much better on this model.

[allroy1975]

Cheap...Link...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=103&pricetype=

Anyone have this router?  I'd love to get one, and there's a Harbor Freight here in St. Louis, but for $30 it seems REALLY cheap.  anyone have any idea?

Thanks
Matt

[Spaced Invader]

Cheap...Link...
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Category.taf?CategoryID=103&pricetype=

Anyone have this router?  I'd love to get one, and there's a Harbor Freight here in St. Louis, but for $30 it seems REALLY cheap.  anyone have any idea?

Thanks
Matt

I was hoping YOU would buy it and let ME know!  

Failing that, I'm gonna get one next week to start my T-moulding...if we get no reply I'LL let YOU know then. I figure for 30 bucks I can handle any dissapointment it sends my way...but if it'll cut my t-slots I'll be happy...I'm so easy to please.

[grafixmonkey]

oooh, shiny...    is 1HP enough?  I see lots of the others have more.  When I go home today I'll check mine out and see what kind of power it has, because mine worked very nicely.

[Sasquatch!]

I may have been doing things that other people didn't do on their cabs too, like recessing joysticks in the top of the wood panel.

So wait, do you need a plunge router in order to make the joystick recesses, or can you do it with a non-plunge router?

[grafixmonkey]

I used the plunge router's ability to raise and lower the bit to get this to happen.  But, there could very well be a way to do it without.  You just have to find a bit that gives you the perfect type of cut.  (in the plunge router, the square bit can do almost everything, long as it's not a curved bezel or a slot.)

[u_rebelscum]

do you need a plunge router in order to make the joystick recesses, or can you do it with a non-plunge router?

You could drill the hole for the stick handle, and start routing from there with a non-plunge router.

[Sasquatch!]

You could drill the hole for the stick handle, and start routing from there with a non-plunge router.

Yikes, why didn't I think of that?  Thanks!