Good cheap router with 1/2" collet?

[Silver1omo]

Hi there, just as the title says, I'm looking for a cheap and reasonably good router with 1/2" collet.

Any advice will be appreciated.

[ThomasW]

Problematic to make recommendations not knowing what brands are sold where you live

[Silver1omo]

Pretty much everything. In any case a friend is in Atlanta and is willing to bring a router with him so I might buy it in the US.

[Hank]

I always recommend choosing a router with dust extraction capability such that you connect your shop vac to it. That is assuming that you'll be working with MDF.
Both my handheld routers have that: DeWalt DW621: http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW621-2...1790355&sr=1-1
Black and Decker RP200: http://www.amazon.com/Black-Decker-R...790952&sr=1-11

[Silver1omo]

I own a B&D RP250 and the collet is 1/4"
I'm looking at this:

http://bigskytool.com/Hitachi_KM12VC_2-14_Peak_HP_Variable_Speed_FixedPlunge_Base_Router_Kit___i1160.aspx

[Hdale85]

I have the Hitachi you mentioned in the other thread as well as a DW621. The DW621 is amazing at collecting dust!

[JonP]

I have the Dewalt 618, and it's OK at handling dust... :

Haven't personally tried a 621, those who have compared say it's MUCH better, but my experience is the 618 collection does a pretty good job. It might be cheaper than the 621, not sure, and would depend on how many bases you got with it. (really only need the plunge and fixed)

The 618 has both size collets, and it's smaller and more maneuverable than the 621. It has swappable bases, so it can be smaller with the fixed base, better visibility with big roundovers, for instance... and even with its plunge base, it's smaller than the plunge only 621.

Tradeoffs... flexibility vs one of the best dust collecting routers out there...

Whatever you get, see if you can find fine particle filters/bags for your shop vac... you want to breath as little of that MDF dust as possible...

[Idefixes]

First what is "cheap" for you. 1/2 collet router begin to be powerfull router and need to be well balanced. There is no place for vibration or loose parts. Try a good router and you never want to go back to low coast thing. Personnaly i have the Dewalt DW621 as many other. This router is really good and pleasent to use. I don't regret the 300€ i done for it. But it's a 1/4"collet router. If the 1/2 collet is really absolutly necessary you have the DW622. It's the same as the 621 but bigger with dust collection system...
I will never switch to a router that had a bad dust collection system, it's so pleasent and healthy to work with good one. It's undoubtly better to have dust in shop what than in your lunge or every where in the shop

Marc

[sdl2112]

The DW621 has both 1/4" and 1/2" collet capacity. I highly recommend it.

[JonMarsh]

I also highly recommend the DW621 router, it's my GP workhorse. But, Silver1omo mentioned "cheap and reasonably good", while the DW621 is not cheap and is unreasonably good!


I dont' know what the official definition of "cheap" is for a router; for me it's around $100. In that category, my favorite router is the Ryobi RE180-1PL, which is available from most but not all HD stores. It's the "cheap" router I have that I use the most; it has enough grunt to handle some bigger jobs, it is a plunge router, not fixed base, and the variable speed works OK. I could live with it as my main router if I was on a curtailed budget. It's no DW621 or Hitachi M12V (my favorite big router), but it's a solid performer in my experience.



And it is, relatively, cheap.

And in interests of full disclosure, I'm the Imelda Marcos of routers, preferring to set them up and dedicate them to specific jobs- the DW621 is always attached to my Jaspar jig, for example. The Ryobi is used for whatever comes to hand I don't have a setup for.

[Bear]

At one point, the Hitachi was available for around $100, but that was a stripped down package. I think Amazon will sell you a kit with both a plunge and a fixed base for ~$160.

[Hdale85]

I got the kit for like 130 at one point in time. The deals on those come and go, just depends on when you buy,

[Silver1omo]

I went with the Hitachi http://bigskytool.com/Hitachi_KM12V...it___i1160.aspx
As a friend made me the favor of picking it up and will bring it to Mexico.
Now I just need to wait for it.

Now I need to sell my B&D RP250

[JonMarsh]

Should work well for you. Curious, it's called a KM12V, but it's not nearly the same router as the M12V, which is a 3-1/2 HP brute that is one of the smoothest and finest balanced routers I've ever seen.



But dainty it's not!

[kvardas]

I have this model router too and it is a champ! Got it many years ago for $180.

[Silver1omo]

I got my router today and I have to say that it is a LOT better than the B&D RP250...

[JonMarsh]

Hitachi makes good stuff! :T

[Hank]

My point, once again, is that for MDF, your #1 criteria should be dust extraction (port). If you don't address that, you'll have a workshop/garage/driveway/clothes/lungs covered with MDF dust. Helluva cleanup mess and NOT healthy. Okay, I'll get off my soapbox. Time for a tequila.

[Silver1omo]

I don't have a shop vac So I'm using plywood so far. It is a PITA to clean after, but I can't afford a shop vac at this point.

What size/power is good for dust control?

[Bear]

I don't have a shop vac So I'm using plywood so far. It is a PITA to clean after, but I can't afford a shop vac at this point.

What size/power is good for dust control?

Most any decent shop vac should be able to work with one tool somewhat decently. The trouble with shop vacs is that they are LOUD. Really, really LOUD. A dedicated dust control system will have a much larger motor and impeller assembly (what moves the air), as well as the ability to work with more than one tool at a time. That being said, most good dust collection systems require 240v AC, rather than 110/120v AC. As a result, a lot of hobbyist woodworkers get by with just a shop vac.

If you think that plywood is a PITA, then do not get MDF anywhere near your router. Just the sight of a router bit will cause MDF to shed a fine layer of small dust particles all over your work area in fear. You can try sneaking up on the MDF with your router, but I've never been able to surprise it in my shop.

Oh, yeah, working with MDF: you absolutely need a dust mask -- preferably a very good one (I use a respirator for when I can't avoid MDF). Because of its construction, MDF generates fumes that are not good for you when it is cut, plus the dust it generates is very fine and will cover EVERYTHING in the same room. It is also toxic to breathe and can cause serious lung problems over time with repeated exposure.

[Hdale85]

Dust masks are useless when it comes to MDF, I'd say a full blown respirator with a decent filter is the way to go.

[Silver1omo]

Dust masks are useless when it comes to MDF, I'd say a full blown respirator with a decent filter is the way to go.

Would something like this work?

http://www.amazon.com/3M-6291-Facepiece-Respirator-Assembly/dp/B000FTEDMM/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1312229350&sr=8-6

I'm using this for ply:

http://www.amazon.com/3M-8511-Particulate-Sanding-Respirator/dp/B0002YKBV2/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1312229452&sr=8-1

[Hdale85]

Yeah those little foam type ones are junk, they have too many gaps. The first one the half face respirator should work pretty well. Much better then those paper ones.

[Hank]

Either one will work. Good brand, BTW :T

Penn State Industries has some fairly affordably dust collectors. I've got this 110-volt model: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/DC2V3.html

[Silver1omo]

Either one will work. Good brand, BTW :T

Penn State Industries has some fairly affordably dust collectors. I've got this 110-volt model: http://www.pennstateind.com/store/DC2V3.html

That looks cool, I doubt I can get that brand in Mexico.