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https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl DIY Forum >> Carpentry Questions >> Which Router?? https://www.askthetrades.co.uk/cgi-bin/yabb/YaBB.pl?num=1177596910 Message started by Sandy on Apr 26^th, 2007, 3:15pm

Title: Which Router??
Post by Sandy on Apr 26^th, 2007, 3:15pm

Hi All,

I'm after some sound advice before I send some hard earned money.

I've got to the point of having to upgrade my router to a decent one, around the 2000W region and I've narrowed my options down to 3. 1st is the Makita 3612Cx, 2nd is the DeWalt DW325EK and 3rd (and possibly my choice, unless otherwise convinced) is the Trend T11EK. I have found all 3 online for around the same price and all the specs are fairly similar. Out of the 3, I've only used the Makita which I thought was ok, but, didn't really do it for me. I will primarily use it for hand routing and occasionally in a table which the Trend will be of great use, given that it has a height adjuster that can be access upside down.

Does anyone have experience of any/all of the machines that can pass on their experience of?

Many thanks in advance.

Alex.

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by WOLF on Apr 26^th, 2007, 4:22pm

Personnally i would go for the DW625EK, but if used for a lot of hand work, then it may be best for the T11..as it is a fairly heavy beast!

but for sheer effort and known longevity of a product, then the DW...

i have 2 , and a T11,(amongst other routers!) one of the DW's i have had since it original launch well over 10-12 years now, and still going strong!!!! and trust me when i say it has done some work!!!

( ok ok.. had lots of pure abuse!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!)

no doubt other Chippies/Joiners will give there 10 peneth worth too!

but like i said i would go for the DW any day!!!!

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by woodsmith on Apr 26^th, 2007, 6:02pm

I too have two, DW625EK's that is.

I have one in a router table and one set up in a mortiser, so most of my day to day hand routing is done with a ¼" DW621 because the 625 is just too heavy to use for any length of time.

Another consideration is that the DW621 has one of the best dust extraction set ups, which may be important to you.

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by mailee on Apr 26^th, 2007, 8:57pm

Another vote here for the De Walt 625EK. I have had one for over a year now and it is going great and taken some stick. I also have the De Walt 615 and find this just as good quality. I bought one of the Freud 2000 routers and although a good machine I still use the De Walt for most jobs. ;)

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by WOLF on Apr 26^th, 2007, 10:15pm

one thing to bare in mind Sandy, is that a lot of other companies do "copies" of the 625, such as CMT, and the previous Trend router was a 625 in Trend colours...

which must mean that Dewalt, got things about right!!!

nuff said!

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by Dewy on Apr 26^th, 2007, 10:23pm

Hi Matt.
Long time since I have been here.
The Trend T11 is made by DeWalt as an upgrade of the DW625.
The upgrade makes it ideal for table use because of the increased cutter diameter capacity and the height can be adjusted from both top and bottom with just a hole needed in the router table to access the height adjuster.

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by WOLF on Apr 27^th, 2007, 1:04am

YO!!!! the main man!! hows it going!!!!!

and very good to hear from you!!!!!!!!!!!

and thanks for that snippet of info!!!

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by Scrit on Apr 29^th, 2007, 2:54pm

Another vote for the DW625 here, especially as it can be had for about £200 or so (incl. VAT) if you really look around. The DW625 started life in about 1983 as the Elu MOF177e and I had a Typ 1 (i.e the original orange handled models) until about 2 years back - it didn't die, though, somebody nicked it! The MOF177e I still use is a 1997 model (black with blue plastic bits) and the DW625 I have is now about 5 years old as well. They last! As Dewy said the T11 is a modified DW625, but note that the T10 is the DW625 in Trend colours and the CMT1850 is an orange badged DW625. As Woodsmith points out, though, they ain't the lightest bits of kit and the dust extraction, as with so many big routers, is nothing to write home about.

Scrit

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by jasonB on Apr 30^th, 2007, 5:30pm

I still use an Elu MOF177E from 97/98, must look after my tools more than the others ;)

The other thing with the Trend/Dewalt/ CMT pattern is that all the trend accesories will fit it and because it uses the old design body they are able to retail a switch that locks in the on position.

Jason

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by Scrit on May 1^st, 2007, 5:50pm

wrote on Apr 30^th, 2007, 5:30pm:

....and because it uses the old design body they are able to retail a switch that locks in the on position.

Which makes the machine better for use in a router table

Scrit

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by Sandy on May 8^th, 2007, 9:49pm

Bl@@dy 'ell!!! Extraction, that's a good point. I do use my extractor as often as possible, but it's not something I'd considered when looking for a new piece of kit.

It appears that the DW gets the nod then.

Now all I need is to buy it and keep it hidden until I've done a few jobs and when the wife questions the new item, I can use use her excuse, "Oh, no dear, it's not new. You've just not seen it before. Look, it's even got a bit of wear on it"

Thanks for the advice.

Sandy.

Title: Re: Which Router??
Post by WOLF on May 9^th, 2007, 12:16am

No NO Sandy.... just make sure the first job for the new router, is something the missus, asked you to do... then go for the line... Well YOU wanted the job done, so "I" had to INVEST in the correct kit for it to be done!!! as YOU asked!!!!!! ;D ;D ;D