Hi, I'm looking at treating myself to a router, I've not got any certain projects in mind but I'm thinking about learning to do butt and scribes, bits of furniture, etc, I'm guessing for worktops a 1/2" would be best suited? All of my kit is Bosch so I'd probably stick with that , the 2 I've been looking at are the GOF 1600 CE and the GMF 1600 , don't really know much about routers but ones a plunge cutter and the other is a multifunction router. What's the difference? Cheers
Look at the Hitachi ( renamed Hikoki now) M12VE, great router,I have it's predecessor, better than the Bosch. https://www.toolstop.co.uk/hitachi-m12ve-electronic-router-1-2-inch-12mm-240v-p59226
Looking at them, very little difference. Also bloody silly money for what they are, I’d take KIABs advice or get yourself Dewalts DW625 model, based on the old Elu design.
Ok I'll look into them, are they new/newish? Probably want to go with something quite recent if possible
And the Bosch router if it's like their GKF600 palm router, a nightmare with guide bushes,need adaptor for using Bosch bushes.
I’ve got their palm router but it’s set up exclusively for hinge recesses, so I’ve not really experienced any grief with it as it’s use is very one dimensional. Was thrilled to pick up the plunge base about a year ago in Screwfix for half price, as it had been a customer returned item so they were doing it for thirty seven quid, absolute bargain I thought but it’s been sat in the damn garage for all this time unused.
Got rid of my GKF 600,hated it, couldn't use my threaded guide bushes,unless you used a uni base or buy adaptor Bosch RA1100 for them,you also then needed RA1129 adaptor as well,either to use other adaptor or Bosch's own bushes,got Katsu setup for hinges,can use threaded bushes with no hassle.
In my opinion the DW625 is a bit big for some jobs - it's a 2000W (~3hp) beast (I have the near identical trend T11 in a table). Personally I prefer about 13-1500W for hand-held work - easily enough for worktops. I had a 1/2" ryobi 1300W I used for years until the bearings went, and replaced with a festool OF1400 (I know!! ££) which is really nice to use.
I purchased the Trend T10, which is near to the Dewalt 625. Bought it second hand had los of power. Ended up selling this as used fir a worktop. It was a 110v version and needes a 5kva transformer. I have a Dewalt 621 router, which is lighter and does most jobs except worktops.
All 2000+ Watt 110v routers need a 5Kva transformer, that's why none of them come with a plug. In fact, if you are using dust extraction as well, you need 2 transformers. If i was in the market for a new router, i would almost certainly end up with the Makita RP2301FCXK. It's probably one of, if not the best, built routers on the market at the moment. Maybe not quite as good as the Festool, but at half the price is much better value for money.
The DW621 is a lovely little router with good dust extraction built in. I also have the original Elu version - the OF97e. Having a pair set up with with different cutters can be really helpful on some projects - no swapping cutters and resetting depths all the time - just swap over the extraction and carry on. Edit: 'little router' is probably misleading now that palm routers are the 'in thing'.
That's one other reason I sold it, when I used it on a the smaller transformer. it would feel underpowered. I struggle carrying a 2.2kva transformer, so wouldn't dare to think what a 5kva must be like