Has anyone tried their routers? Saw a 2 1/4 hp plunge setup at Lowes for $175. Tool crib has it for $179 with a free palm 1/4 sheet sander, find another $20 in goodies and get $25 off. They have the 3 1/4 for $159. I may be converting a bunch of plywood to slatwall (bring on the ez router guide) and was wondering.
I read the Amazon reviews and the only one that was not super was from a guy who did not buy one.
Edited 3/20/2005 3:20 pm ET by RASCONC
Replies
I am a casual user and have the Hitachi M12V (3-1/4 HP). I think it is a fine machine though somewhat heavy. I have used it in a table and hand-held. I did buy a Bosch 2-1/4 HP for hand-held use. It is a lot lighter. I think both are great machines.
The "Router Workshop" (TV show) guys used it (M12V) for a few years before they got financial support from other manufacturers and changed their tools to suit.
Brian
Edited 3/20/2005 3:21 pm ET by x372sailor
Thanks, they look good to me. The 3 1/4 does sort of look like it was chiseled out of stone but brutes should be. The 2 1/4 looks like a racehorse.
I have been watching that one for a few months.
When I looked at it at Lowes recently I was a bit disappointed, but it might have been that particular one.
I took the body out of the fixed base and dropped it in the plunge. You have to push the thumb lever practically all the way down to get it to drop, and then it jumps like mad when it springs up. Im not sure if that is adjustable, but I was bummed.
If anyone has the 2 1/4, Id also like to hear about it.
Ras, as for their motors and the 3 1/2, they make a great machine, I just think they have to get the bugs out of this model.
-zen
Same story here. I haven't tried the 2-1/4 , but I bought the 3-1/2 a few months ago. It's a decent router, plenty of power for cutting out windows 'n stuff during framing. I especially like th 'soft start" feature, but I understand that is getting to be pretty much a standard feature in most brands. I think if I needed a smaller router for light duty trim work, I would probably go ahead and get the 2-1/4.
Thanks.
I tried to reply earlier and had wierd stuff happen. I have two Craftsman 8 amp routers and was afraid that the project at hand would use them up. The t-slot cutter does a 1 1/16 by 5/16 lower and 3/8 outer slot. Need to put about 250 feet of this through 3/4 birch (not baltic) ply.
Edited 3/22/2005 8:20 pm ET by RASCONC