Advice on plunge routers

[Zac]

Hi All,

Armed with Saints great book I am about to start building my first cab. The one tool I haven't got but from reading a lot of the posts on here realise I need is a router.

I can get this one from ebay
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=020&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=300074480746&rd=1&rd=1

or a Black & Decker KW850E for around the same money
http://www.sales-services.co.uk/html/black___decker_kw850e_router.html

Which one do you think would be best for making a cab?

Thanks for your help

[acevedor2]

You don't want a plungs router for your first cab.  You need a standard fixed based router.  I am in the process of building my first cab as well and I can tell you that my Ryobi Laminate router ($119.00) has been awesome!  It will do laminate trimming, template routing, and slot cutting.  Plenty of power for all of that.

You can get routers cheaper that will definitely do the job, I just got tired of getting cheap stuff that worked like crap and often messsed up my work.  Regardless, you want a standard base, not a plunge router.
Cheers.

[Dervacumen]

Welcome and sorry to you for getting hooked up in this never ending cycle of cabinet building.

I don't see any reason to shy away from a plunge router, but you should practice, practice, practice!  A plunge router will give you more options in the future and is much more versatile.
I've got both a fixed base router and a plunge router and you'll always find a little more versatility with the plunge router.

[Zac]

Thanks for the answers, had a further look around and it seems that fixed base only routers are hard to come by here in the UK anyway, so it looks as though I will be going for a plunge router.

As I've never used one do you think that I should try a budget one first like the two at the start of this thread and would they cope with the work on a cab?
Or should I look to something like the Bosch POF1100 or (with a bit of saving) a Trend T5?

[ScottS]

For most of the hand-held work required for a cabinet, you don't need a plunge router and you don't need much horsepower. I find that plunge routers are more difficult to deal with than fixed-base or D-handle routers. My Festool OF1000 is probably the only exception to this rule... but then again it cost a small fortune, even with the huge discount I got.

I'd suggest looking for a laminate trimmer, like the one suggested by acevedor2. If you have to have a router, buy a small one. Say something in the 1000w range, if possible. They're much easier to control for hand-held work than a larger 1500w or 2000w router. If you were in the U.S., I'd tell you to look at Bosch, DeWalt, or Porter-Cable routers. In the U.K., I'm not sure which brands would be available or your best bet. In general, I'd probably try to stay away from the very cheapest routers. With many tools, you get what you pay for. A cheap router may have little power, a collet that makes it difficult to secure bits, lots of vibration (= bad cuts), or a lot of run-out as the bits spin (= bad cuts).

[NiteWalker]

The best plunge router out there. Smooth routing, lightweight, plenty powerful. Festools are nice but wayyyy overrated/priced IMHO. If you can have only 1 router make it a plunge router.

[flyguy1821]

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BOSCH-GOF900-CE-900W-230V-ROUTER_W0QQitemZ160081100738QQihZ006QQcategoryZ122829QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you are wanting a router for simple cuts, i.e. slot cut, get a laminate trimmer.  I say this because they are easier to control for small stuff.  A regular router, fixed based or plunge will also make these cuts and more, but they are obviously heavier.  I personally would buy a plunge router like the one linked to this.  Stay away from the no-name stuff, it is junk.  Just think, that bit is rotating in excess of 10,000 RPM!!! I don't want crap holding that piece of steel.

[NiteWalker]

I personally wouldn't turn a slotting cutter in a lam trimmer. If you want the best palm router out there, here you go. I use this for routing joystick recesses and trimming laminate. Works great. This would probably spin a slot cutter fine as well, but I can't test it as my slot cutter has a 1/2" shank and the bosch plam router only takes 1/4" bits.

[acevedor2]

That's the one I have - cuts slots perfectly!