Buying Routers for router tables Part 1

Buying Routers for Woodworking Part 1

Looking to buy a new router for
your shop?

Is this your first router?

Are you going to be using it on a
router table?

These are questions that I am
going to attempt to answer using
some facts about the products
available and so good old
fashioned logic.

Basic Logic

Lets get to the logic portion of the article first so that we can build around it. Almost all the
name brand routers available are good routers to own. Some people swear by brand “x” and
some people swear by brand “y” I say, who cares, as long as you pick something that works for
you, and has a good reputation. Ask ten different people what router to buy and you will get 10
different answers.

Use this information to buy the router you think you want and can afford and go from there. Its
kind of like buying a car, some people think their brand is the best, mostly cause they own it, it’s
a sentimentality thing. We all had cars we liked and did not like. If you get one you don’t like,
sell it. Then buy or try something else. I personally do this all the time. Make the best decision
you can, and get on to the business of making sawdust.

Fixed Base verses Plunge base

There are two different types of bases available.

Fixed
Fixed base routers are just that, the height of the bit is fixed. This does not mean you can't
adjust it, you surely can. It means you can’t adjust it while your using the router. These are the
most common types for router tables. Why??? Because they are lighter. They are lighter
because they don’t have the plunge mechanism built into the router and that means the router
is lighter. So why would you care if its lighter? Well if you have your router mounted to an
insert, the heavier routers tend to make acrylic inserts sag over time if you leave them stored in
the router table. Its basic physics, weight over time usually wins. If you are smart you will store
your router out of the table. Here is an example of one of the most popular fixed base routers.

Plunge Base

Plunge base routers are very versatile in the shop. If you use your router in a hand held
application,you will want to be able to control the depth of the bit while doing your work. Plunge
routers allow you to make quick adjustments for the bit and allow you to start with the bit out the
work and plunge into it.
Can you use them in router tables, yes, Does it work good? Yes, You will still have to take the
router out of the table with the insert attached to make small adjustments to the bit height.
Having a router lift eliminates some of this. Generally its best to use a fixed base in the table
and a plunge base for hand held use.

The third option…..Combination packs.

Combo packs allow you to live in the best world since you get both fixed base and plunge
based bases in a kit. You can take the fixed base and permanently attach it to your router
insert and leave it there. You can simply then take the motor out of the plunge base and use it
in the table when need it. Then when you need it for a hand held application, you can simply
put it back in the plunge base and its like having two routers in your shop. How cool is that?

You can see some examples of Combo Packs here

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