powerful and european style router ...

[seb87]

i'm looking for an high power and decent quality router for a trouter table ( only for this use , i've a festool 1400 for the other works )

my dream is an incra master lift 2 + an milwaukee 3,5hp router but her ein italy i can't use it with my voltage ( 230v )...

so i've found some product

a mafell 2600 router ( too expensive to use only under bench )
the 2200 festol ( too expensive like mafell )
the dw626 ( 2300w ) used at 270€
the classic triton ( here in italy distribuited by CMT , with 2400w )

and other ? for you , which is the best one for only bench works... ?

the only one with the engine in a circlular block , which can be used with the incra master lift is the , AEG 1400W ?


thanks

 

[Ali]

i totally understand your problems. I really wanted a nice Router lift and router combo - but finding the right router to match with my ideal router lift is very difficult.

Have you seen peter Sefton's site with the incra router tables? http://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/epages ... 0Tables%22

Try contact them and ask if they can supply you with the master lift 2. The problem with those american made lifts are that they only really work on american router models. This will probably mean you don't get to buy the best router for your needs but will be limited to what fits.

Alternatives are a Triton router which can be mounted into a router plate and has a lift device integrated in it. Or a router raizer, or alternatives like the router boss.

Another alternative is the UKJ router lift system from Axminster. I have this but it is expensive, but a very nice lift. However it only accepts a limited amount of routers - most of which are older router models. A real shame but you are lucky if you don't own a router yet and can put a system together.

 

[RogerP]

Alternatives are a Triton router which can be mounted into a router plate and has a lift device integrated in it.

... that's the way I went. Perfect!

 

[Ali]

The simplest answer is often the most correct one Roger 8)

 

[DennisCA]

European routers seem to be quite lacking in proper design IMO. I want the US style cylindrical bodied ones that you can swap out bases for, or use the router in the table with only the cylindrical body.

There are two I've found that meet my requirements, the Bosch GMF 1400/1600CE and the AEG MF 1400 KE. Both have cylindrical bodies. Both are out of my price range so I am making do with an 8mm Lidl router, I am building Matthias Wandels tilting router lift which IMO blows all other router lifts out of the water. Almost done with it, have had to modify it to fit this crappy plunge router design.

If I was satisfied with just up / down movement I'd buy a triton though.

 

[Ed Bray]

I've had quite a few routers over the years and used many of them in a table but I have to say that for me the Triton TRA001 is the best of the bunch. Height adjustment from above the table, plenty of power, auto locking shaft for bit changes (when you raise the router fully up the shaft locks), I also like the fact that you cannot turn the router on with the shaft locked (there is a mechanical interlock to prevent this). And the best part is it is one of the cheapest quality 1/2" routers available.

No brainer really.

 

[shed9]

An INCRA JessEm Mast-R-Lift II from here;

http://www.fine-tools.com/oberfraesenlift.html

and an AEG MF 1400 from the same site:

http://www.fine-tools.com/oberfraese.html#ziel351150

will get you what you want.

 

[sploo]

I've had quite a few routers over the years and used many of them in a table but I have to say that for me the Triton TRA001 is the best of the bunch. Height adjustment from above the table, plenty of power, auto locking shaft for bit changes (when you raise the router fully up the shaft locks), I also like the fact that you cannot turn the router on with the shaft locked (there is a mechanical interlock to prevent this). And the best part is it is one of the cheapest quality 1/2" routers available.

No brainer really.

Ed - I've seen the TRA001 criticised for not being height adjustable above the table (unlike the Trend T11EK). I'm guessing that's unfounded then (i.e. you can do it).

Have you used the T11EK for comparison? They're the main two I'm considering, but I've not yet found a stockist that has both so I can compare in the flesh, so to speak.

 

[RogerP]

Old information.

The early TRA001 routers did not have the above-the-table-height-adjustment-with-a-crank-handle facility but since about 2010 they do.

If you are offered a new one without then it must be very old stock.

 

[Ed Bray]

I've had quite a few routers over the years and used many of them in a table but I have to say that for me the Triton TRA001 is the best of the bunch. Height adjustment from above the table, plenty of power, auto locking shaft for bit changes (when you raise the router fully up the shaft locks), I also like the fact that you cannot turn the router on with the shaft locked (there is a mechanical interlock to prevent this). And the best part is it is one of the cheapest quality 1/2" routers available.

No brainer really.

Ed - I've seen the TRA001 criticised for not being height adjustable above the table (unlike the Trend T11EK). I'm guessing that's unfounded then (i.e. you can do it).

Definitely, see Roger's post above. It also has a facility to remove the plunge spring to make above the table adjustment even easier, The above table single spanner bit change really makes a big difference. Struggling under a table trying to get a spanner onto a nut for a bit change can be a little trying to say the least.

Have you used the T11EK for comparison? They're the main two I'm considering, but I've not yet found a stockist that has both so I can compare in the flesh, so to speak.

No, I haven't had the Trend but it is based on the ELU177E that I have had, I had an ELU 177E in the 90s which was fantastic, really well built and bulletproof (sold it to a friend who is still using it today), I replaced this with a 1/2" Bosch, wasn't as good and I never really felt the love. This was replaced when it gave up the ghost with a cheapy 1/2" router (can't remember the make but it was rubbish, I wasn't doing much woodworking then though), then I bought a Dewalt 625E as it was the replacement for the ELU177E and it was a shadow of the former tool in terms of quality and feel (and I suspect the Trend is similar although I'm not speaking from experience of it but have seen reports that there are areas of the build that are not great quality), sent it back after a couple of weeks when it failed and bought another cheapy 1/2" router which I used occasionally until buying the Triton last year.

I still have an original ELU 96E, an old Dewalt DW620 (both of these I use with my Leigh Jig) and a Ryobi ERT1400RV which I picked up for £65, brilliant little router for the money.

 

[DennisCA]

I thought the TRB001 is the one you want nowadays?

 

[RogerP]

TRB001 and TRA001 No difference. Just marketed in different the countries

 

[Ed Bray]

Not 100% sure but I seem to remember the TRB001 is only 2000w whereas the TRA001 is 2400w. Both were available in the UK in 2009.

 

[RogerP]

Not 100% sure but I seem to remember the TRB001 is only 2000w whereas the TRA001 is 2400w. Both were available in the UK in 2009.

It's all very confusing isn't it. But I've had both and they were identical except for the collets that they came with - even though any collet would fit either machine. The TRB001 originally came from New Zealand (brought back by a brother-in-law) so maybe that makes a difference?

 

[DennisCA]

I rembered reading somewhere the TRA001 was older and discontinued and the TRB001 was the current model, it is all very confusing.

 

[Ed Bray]

http://www.dm-tools.co.uk/product.php/s ... MYlibnyHIU

http://www.tool-net.co.uk/p-346553/trit ... tAodTk4Akg

I rest my case your honours!

 

[RogerP]

Indeed, BUT if you read through this ... http://www.tritontools.uk.com/routers.html ... you can see there must have been some confusion as is says

Key features range from a powerful 2000W( UK version is not 2400W)

then again

Power 2000W (UK Version is not 2400w please be aware)

Dunno

 

[Ed Bray]

Ah well, it seems that it doesn't matter what the model numbers are and that the TRA001 and TRB001 are pretty much one and the same and according to that both are 2000 watts in the UK. Just depends where you buy it as to the model number.

Still a great router for the router table though and at a great price.

 

[DennisCA]

I wonder why the americans get a massive 2400W and only 2000W here?

But to be honest it seems alot of the high quality counterparts are rated at 1400 and 1600 watts so perhaps it's not all about the wattage.

 

[heimlaga]

I wonder why the americans get a massive 2400W and only 2000W here?

But to be honest it seems alot of the high quality counterparts are rated at 1400 and 1600 watts so perhaps it's not all about the wattage.

I think it is because Americans rarely use spindle moulders even in small scale professional workshops. A 2,4kW high quality router becomes both expensive and cumbersome to use hand held so I think it would be mostly used together with a very sturdy router table. A little more money and you have a spindle moulder which is totally another world when it comes to versatility and efficiency.