Best router for use in a table?

[Dissolve]

Hello,

I'm just building my new router table and I think I might as well keep my DW625 for hand use and buy one with more features suitable for table mounting.

I'm looking for a router with above table plunge adjustment and the ability to change bits above the table height once the bit is rasied.

I've heard Triton routers would make a good candidate but I'm not sure which in their range have the above table adjustment/cutter change? I find that the 2000W DeWalt is extremely powerful and I'm not sure how big I really need to go in regards to power?

Can anyone offer some advice?

 

[Mike Wingate]

Get another DW. Same jigs, same parts and spanners, collets etc.

 

[Dissolve]

Get another DW. Same jigs, same parts and spanners, collets etc.

Do any of the DW range have above the table adjustment? I have a small Elu for my handheld routing so I'm only really looking for a router that is ideal for table routing.

 

[LJM]

I can recommend the Freud, with Router Raizer (sp) fitted; this gives you all that you want (2Kw, above table height adjustment and above table bit change) and can be picked up for very little money, second hand. Mine was £30, used perhaps once! At that price, I have no qualms about permanently mounting it in the table. It is a bit top heavy for hand held use (I used it for fitting one kitchen, and it did fine), so the table's the best place for it and would compliment what you have.

 

[RogerP]

I've heard Triton routers would make a good candidate but I'm not sure which in their range have the above table adjustment/cutter change?

The 1400w and the 2000w certainly do have both.

I had a DW625 which is a fine router but when in a table the cutter could not come up high enough to make changing easy. The Tritons do raise the nut very high and make cutter changing straightforward.

 

[Dissolve]

I've heard Triton routers would make a good candidate but I'm not sure which in their range have the above table adjustment/cutter change?

The 1400w and the 2000w certainly do have both.

I had a DW625 which is a fine router but when in a table the cutter could not come up high enough to make changing easy. The Tritons do raise the nut very high and make cutter changing straightforward.

That's brilliant, I seem to find conflicting info on whether either the 1400w or 2000w comes with the table winder, any chance someone can help me out with this? I can see the winder in the £40 accessory pack but that's a bit steep. Considering selling the DeWalt to buy this one for now as I'm not sure I'll have any use for it.

 

[giantbeat]

I've heard Triton routers would make a good candidate but I'm not sure which in their range have the above table adjustment/cutter change?

The 1400w and the 2000w certainly do have both.

I had a DW625 which is a fine router but when in a table the cutter could not come up high enough to make changing easy. The Tritons do raise the nut very high and make cutter changing straightforward.

That's brilliant, I seem to find conflicting info on whether either the 1400w or 2000w comes with the table winder, any chance someone can help me out with this? I can see the winder in the £40 accessory pack but that's a bit steep. Considering selling the DeWalt to buy this one for now as I'm not sure I'll have any use for it.

i had the same issue, some places include it some dont, i also had trouble getting exact info on what collets are included.

in the end i bought from Dennis here - http://www.tritontools.uk.com he includes the wibder as std with his rounters & is custtomer servoce & support were excellent, its nice buyying tools from a guy who knows everything about them, he answered loads of questions & from the perspective of somone who has used the tools he is selling.

 

[Dissolve]

Thanks for that, I have actually decided to sell the DeWalt and buy the 1400w MOF001. I have found the winder for £6 seperately so I think I'll be buying it locally, but it's good to know there are other options!

In another thread people are saying Triton sent them out replacement collets free of charge but I'm not sure how/why, are they labelled as having both 1/4 and 1/2 collets on the box or something?

 

[JJ1]

The Triton TRA001 I bought a few months ago comes with the height adjustment winder. It also came with a 1/2" collet and a 12mm collet, but not a 1/4" one. I purchased that separately.
Above the table adjustment and bit changes are no problem at all, even with the router mounted to 18mm MDF.

 

[Dissolve]

The Triton TRA001 I bought a few months ago comes with the height adjustment winder. It also came with a 1/2" collet and a 12mm collet, but not a 1/4" one. I purchased that separately.
Above the table adjustment and bit changes are no problem at all, even with the router mounted to 18mm MDF.

Thank you, out of interest, where did you buy it from? I'm torn between the MOF001 and TRA001, i'm not sure I need the extra power of the 2000W router.

 

[RogerP]

I've had a MOF001 for quite a while mounted in my table and never found in wanting in power. They're £170 at Argos at he moment. Can't really fault the machine at all.

 

[JJ1]

Thank you, out of interest, where did you buy it from?

I bought it from Toolstation. The price was £180 for the TRA001 which was the cheapest I could find by quite a bit.

 

[dm65]

TRA001 covers all your requirements - mine has the winder and a 1/4 collet reducer, not a proper collet unfortunately but then, so far, I've only used 1/2 bits

You CANNOT have enough power in a table - all that extra power will come in handy one day - for the bigger bits or tougher wood for example - and getting it now will be cheaper than finding you need to upgrade later

I also own the DW625 which, for a table, isn't as good as the Triton, but I do prefer it out of the table

 

[Dissolve]

Thank you, out of interest, where did you buy it from?

I bought it from Toolstation. The price was £180 for the TRA001 which was the cheapest I could find by quite a bit.

Thanks for that, Just had a look and it's out of stock now apparently! Rubbish. Would have definiutely snapped one up for that price!

 

[Dissolve]

TRA001 covers all your requirements - mine has the winder and a 1/4 collet reducer, not a proper collet unfortunately but then, so far, I've only used 1/2 bits

You CANNOT have enough power in a table - all that extra power will come in handy one day - for the bigger bits or tougher wood for example - and getting it now will be cheaper than finding you need to upgrade later

I also own the DW625 which, for a table, isn't as good as the Triton, but I do prefer it out of the table

That's interesting, What are the drawbacks of using a reducer as opposed to a seperate collet? I have a variety of different template/roundover bits that have both 1/2 and 1/4 inch shanks so I'm looking to get a triton with both the winder and 1/4 collet too. It seems the TRA001 is the best option but I can't find it in stock anywhere for £180 as mentioned!

 

[RogerP]

MOF001 collet assemblies are available for 1/4", 6mm, 8mm 12mm and 1/2"

You may have to do some searching but they are made.

http://www.tritontools.uk.com/mof001sparesprice.html

 

[Dissolve]

Thanks! I managed to find a toolstation with the 2000w model in stock. It's a TRB001 instead of a TRA001 though.. Are they the same router?

It came with the table winder and half inch collect. Apparently they don't make 1/4" collets for this model so I'm buying a reducer Steve which should work fine.

Can anyone tell me, when mounting to my router insert plate, should I be removing the plastic base plate before mounting? And can I use the screws that are currently holding the bass plate on?..so in effect, replacing the plastic base plate for my router table insert plate?

 

[JJ1]

Yes, the TRB001 and the TRA001 is exactly the same router.
A 1/4" collet is a better option than the reducer. I bought mine from the link mentioned above.

I removed the plastic base from mine. You also need to remove the two winged bolts that hold the fence in place and also the plunge spring.

The screws that hold the base plate on are only really ideal for that thickness of material. Your table insert will likely be thicker so you'll need some longer screws. The thread needed is 1/4" UNC

 

[dm65]

Hope you like your purchase

Don't forget to remove the plunge springs

 

[Dissolve]

Hope you like your purchase

Don't forget to remove the plunge springs

By removing the plunge springs, is it necessary to use the locking lever on the router once setting the height via the table winder? I can see that being a pain if I need to get underneath and lock the depth every time I change the height above the table!

A 1/4" collet is a better option than the reducer. I bought mine from the link mentioned above.

The link above is for the MOF001 2400w model. Does the 1/4" collet for that router work with the TRB001?

Under the TRA001/TRB001 spare parts I can only find a 1/2" to 1/4" reducer.I'd like to buy a 1/4" collet if theres one compatible with my TRB001?