Routers

Jeff Greef Woodworking
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Scroll down to see the routers for sale.

You've got a few decisions to make when you buy a router. Most are about 1-1/2 horsepower, some are around 3. Some routers take only 1/4" shank bits, others take 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" shanks. There are fixed base and plunge base routers as well.

Forget the 3 horsepower models unless you are doing a lot of panel raising or other big cuts. Get a router that takes 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2" shank bits for versatility and because 1/4" bit shanks are hard to tighten well and sometimes loosen, altering your setup. 3/8 and 1/2" shanks are far less likely to do this. Plunge routers are great for plunge cuts such as mortising and other things, but they are harder to adjust in a router table.

I prefer having at least two routers, so that if one is set up in a table or elsewhere I have another to use. Below you'll see the Porter Cable set with one motor and two bases- a fixed and a plunge. It's nice to have two bases but if you don't have two motors to go in them you're stuck when you need a second. If you get the set with two bases and one motor, then also get one fixed base router, you'll have two motors and three bases, two fixed bases and one plunge. This way you can leave one fixed base in your router table, and still have a fixed and plunge base to work with.

But that's expensive. If you're just starting out with routers and plan to use a router table a lot get a single fixed base router. Only get a plunge router for your first router if you know you will need the plunge capability for a project you have in mind. Later you can get a plunge base or plunge router to supplement your initial fixed base model.

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Porter Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router
High quality basic machine
with fixed base.

Porter Cable 6931 Plunge Router Base for 693
Base only- any Porter Cable 690 series motor fits it.

Porter Cable 693PK 1-1/2 Horsepower Router Kit
One motor, two bases, a fixed and a plunge.

Makita Router Kit. One motor, two bases (one plunge) and 6 bits.

Skil 1823 1-1/2 Horsepower Plunge Router
Very inexpensive plunge router. Takes 1/4 and 3/8" shank bits. Perhaps a good choice if you won't use it a great deal.

Porter Cable 7539 3-1/4 Horsepower Speedmatic (tm) 5-Speed Plunge Router
Powerful, quality multispeed plunge router

Porter-Cable 42000 9-Piece Template Guide Set

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