Freud FT2000E 3-1/4-Horsepower Electronic Variable Speed Plunge Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I have an almost exactly opposite experience with Freud as that mentioned in the above review. I am on my second FT2000 and have always received great customer service the few times I needed service. I just sent it to Freud USA and they fixed it within a week, only charging me once for a repair. It's a great router: quiet and powerful with easy to reach controls. As a professional woodworker, I recommend it without reservation.

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The Freud 3-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Plunge Router can serve as a handheld router, or, when mounted under a table, it can take the place of a more expensive spindle shaper. The powerful 3-1/4 HP 15 Amp motor with electronic speed control provides a soft-start feature that lets you choose how fast you want to go--from 8,000-to-22,000 RPM. It also maintains a constant torque and RPM. The included micro-adjustable depth control makes accurate vertical settings quick and easy. Other features include a sliding shaft lock, a convenient plunge lock, a quick-release depth stop, a 1/2-inch collet with a 1/4-inch collet reducer, and a four-position depth-stop turret. The unit comes with a 1-year limited manufacturer's warranty.

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Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router Kit Review

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(More customer reviews)I needed a new router (or two), so I could keep my old router hooked up to a jig all the time. I was looking for a powerful and compact plunge router and a D-handle router in a combination kit with ¼ and ½ inch collets, and variable speed. I could not find any such kits.
In the past, the only corded tools I would purchase were Milwaukee or Porter Cable brands, but the Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router kit changed that.
Formerly, I used Makita brand for cordless tools exclusively. I have a Makita 9.6v drill that I used professionally, every day for two years and never had a problem. That drill is was purchased in the spring of 1986, and still works fine. It is now part of my collection of many Makita cordless tools, all of which are professional quality tools.
Since Makita offered a 2-¼ Router kit that has enough power to handle most of the bigger bits I use, and Milwaukee and Porter Cable didn't, it was an easy choice, but I still wanted a D-handle router.
Makita's Parts suppliers also offer a RD1101 2-1/4 HP D-Handle Router base that works fine with the RF1101 kit. The base is pricey, but not as bad as purchasing another router. **For safety reasons, it is advisable that you shorten the router power cord, or buy the cord for the rd110. This cord plugs into the D-handle base (Makita D-handle power supply cord AWG#16-3-0.7 - Part Number: 565055-7). This cord costs less than an average 25ft extension cord.
With the d-handle base added to the router kit, I now have three bases and don't have to spend the money for three different routers. The standard router base resides in my router table all the time. The D-handle is used for all fixed base routing, as well as a remote switch for the router table (until I purchase a bump type). The plunge base for plunge type work like mortises, stop dados.
The 1100 and 1101 series routers are very well built. The collets swap out quickly and also make stuck router bit shanks a thing of the past. You do need to use two wrenches that are provided to change bits and collets. I see this as a plus. A spindle lock or shaft lock type bit changing setup (what I had on my old router), puts too much stress on the router's shaft or arbor, which can weaken the shaft.
Other positives:
* This router has it is quiet for a router in it's amperage range.
* The kit comes with an extra clear base plate; I use it as a template to make other base plates.
* The dust collection is as good as it gets for a router. Although the dust collection attachment is clear, it does make it hard to see what happening around the bit. I hook it up to my Fein vacuum that automatically starts up with the tool, and it does pickup a large amount of saw dust, especially with upward spiral bits.
* The base uses standard Porter-Cable style template guides and is compact, but stable.
* An edge guide is also provided
* The soft start feature is a luxury that stops me from flinching and putting a death grip on the handles every time I start up.
* The router is light but solid, with out a lot of plastic.
* The plunge base has a turret style stop that allows plunges to be done incrementally in three steps.
I am so pleased with this router, that I have purchased other Makita corded power tools (LS1010 sliding compound miter saw, and four different sanders), all of which are top quality professional tools.

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The Makita 2-1/4 HP Variable Speed Plunge Router Kit features an ultra-quiet motor along with convenient fixed and plunge bases. It also has a variable speed control dial of 8,000 to 24,000 RPM, matching the speed to the materials. This router sports aluminum motor housing with a slender 3-1/4-inch diameter for easy handling, and a durable flat top design that allows stability when changing bits. For longer life, it has all ball bearing construction, and for convenience, it boasts externally accessible carbon brushes. Even better, the soft start allows smooth and safe start-ups. A fixed base, plunge base, and multiple wrenches come included with this router kit. Includes plunge base assembly, 1/2-inch collet, 1/4-inch collet, 2 No. 27 wrenches, wrench No. 8, and No. 4 hex wrench

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Triton TRA001/TRC001 3-1/4-Horsepower Precision Router Review

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(More customer reviews)I bought this router, based on a FineWoodworking review, to use in my router table. The appeal was: #1)being able to change bits from above the table (and NOT having to remove the router), #2)being able to adjust the bit height from above the table and #3)being able to do these without investing in an expensive router lift. It works as advertised - easy to adjust bit height, (mostly) easy to change bits from above the table. I am impressed that the collet rises well above table. Kudos as well to a well-designed, heavy-duty, plated, cast wrench. Nice collet lock (automatically engages when the collet is raised to full height). Smooth and powerful. It is mounted to my table, I located where to drill the hole for the adjusting lever (some sort of template would have helped...), and it seems to work well.
As regards router table use, the only goofy thing to me is the on/off switch. You have to push back a safety cover before depressing the switch - in free hand use I think this would be an annoying extra step. In the table the annoyance is that I normally leave the router switch on, plug it into an outlet in my table, and operate it from an external switch - not a problem until it is time to change bits. Raising the collet above the table is supposed to engage a lockout (that little cover) so that you won't accidentally turn on the router while changing a bit. However if the switch is already turned on the collet won't raise all the way until you reach under the table and turn it off - and that's a little clumsy because it is on the backside. Then, of course, you have to turn it back on (clumsy) before starting out again. If you followed that - not a big deal, and I suppose it is a reasonable safety trade-off. I'll get used to it. One more thing that is a little odd is the plunge mechanism - I'm not sure why one would need more than a spring and a locking lever on a smooth set of plunge rods, but Triton seems to think so - there is an odd knob with a push button in the middle (and a locking lever). In the little bit I handled it free hand I didn't quite figure it out (I had to read the instructions for cryin' out loud!). This would only be an issue for me if I was using it free hand, and I'm not - my reliable Bosch routers do that for me comfortably.
So, for router table: pretty great, especially for the price (less than most router lifts alone). For free hand use I don't think I'd pick it over the more conventional fare - Bosch, Porter-Cable, Dewalt, Makita, etc. It does come with quite a collection of extras for free hand use though, so you might want to handle it and compare prices.

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Worlds best router has just gotten better. Here are the new and improved features that make us no. 1 in the woodworking shop. Changing from free plunge to rack and pinion mode as become even easier with just a push of a button. Our switch is now fully sealed in a rubber boot to ensure dust free operation. The plunge handle components have also been updated to metal gears for smoother operation and extended life. Our improved ¼-inch collet reducer makes changing to ¼-inch bit safer and easier. The Triton Router is the only router in the world where the full plunge depth brings the collet well past the base of the router and up through the table. With the collet freely exposed and an automatic spindle lock engaged you need only one wrenchabove the table to make effortless bit changes. This means an end to bruised knuckles while fumbling around between plunge posts with two collet wrenches. With the new plunge handle, its just as simple as pressing the button located in the middle of the handle, disables the rack and pinion mechanism, locks the handle and permits a conventional free plunge. For fine depth adjustment theres a micro winder, which is accessible throughout the full plunge range. The Triton Router can be plunged through its entire range on the micro adjuster alone. adjustments are instantaneous and precise; furthermore they stay that way. Fully enclosed front and rear safety shields with a very effective dust extraction port. Fully enclosed automatic power switch lock-out during bit changes to prevent accidental starting. A new collet design for securing and changing bits, which can be done with ease from above the table. powerful 3.25-horsepower motor with "soft start" function. Electronic variable speed (8,000 to 20,000 rpm) with speed maintenance under load.

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