Since any power tool tends to be costly, buying them is always challenging. Especially, the market is overwhelmed with lots of models, and almost all the manufacturers are trying to use the best marketing policy to make their product look like “the best” of all. But with the modern technology is being developed, new scientific inventions have made things very much user specific. The best product for you might be just useless for me. So what most important is, you should know your requirements properly and know about the features of the product. If they are compatible enough, then you should go for that product. You will have lots of information here online so that you can make a wise decision. But spending so much time online researching to find the best tools is not always interesting. Here, we are making it simpler for you. Our experts are making reviews of power tools those are necessary for your home, lawn, and garden. As the title refers, here in this article, we will be talking about some best wood router in the market, their features, and specifications.
You must have heard about this, but you might not be very conscious, that it is better to spend bit more for a power tool from a well-known brand. This is pretty obvious, you will see, two models from different brands, with almost equal specifications, may vary the price, since the well-known brand charges more for their product. I always encourage our clients to purchase from a popular brand, especially when the product is a power tool. All the times the construction and the mechanism is way more solid, the performance is far better and the longevity is unparalleled.
Best Wood Router Reviews
DeWalt DWP611PK
Compared to all models of wood routers available in the market, DeWalt DWP611PK is the best wood router for small home woodworking projects. The reason behind its rating is the price. DeWalt is a very well-known and popular brand for power tools, so the construction of the wood router is obviously solid and sturdy. There comes the obvious question, why DeWalt offers this at a cheap rate? As we have mentioned earlier, this is the best wood router for home projects. So you will not need massive power like you need for commercial projects. This wood router is a smaller one and compact, so the power is less than others in our list. So this is cheaper than others models of best wood routers from other popular brands. Why will you spend money for some fancy features that are not going to be used at all? DeWalt DWP611PK gives you the best value for the money. But of course if you are looking for something to make deep cuts into hardwoods, this one probably is not the best choice, find something more powerful.
We will discuss 9 more wood routers; there you will find more powerful tools. But for now, we will talk about this particular model of wood router. Since this is a compact model, this is very easy to handle. If you are a new user and prefer handling smaller tools, this one is for you. This model can be used in both ways, both as a fixed base router and a plunged router. This makes it a versatile tool, you can use for precision cutting and also you have the option of a multifunctional plunged router. Plunged vs. Fixed base is a very popular debate, you may like to read more articles on it. Since it is offering you both options, let us not argue about it here.
The main reason people like the fixed base router is the precision cutting. Here in DeWalt DWP611PK, the base is pretty clear and it features powerful LED light for clear vision. This makes sure that you are watching what you are doing and ensures accurate cutting. Also when you use it as a plunged router, you will find 2” depth travel for the bit, which is pretty awesome for a router of this size. The plunge base is large and assures proper stability. For any compact wood router, this is a challenge to give a large base, but the base area of this wood router is really large and helps to improve the accuracy. Changing in between two types is simplified by the spring-loaded release tabs.
1.25 HP soft star motor, I will not say very powerful, but for the size of the router, the motor is powerful enough to deal with all small-scale projects that you will need to do at your home garage, even in any professional workshops. Adjustable speed option gives you more control over the tool and the motor uses electronic feedback so that you can maintain the constant speed while cutting. It comes with a 12 position spindle lock with a large button. The handle is ergonomically designed and made of rubber, which gives you a comfortable grip and excellent control.
Since the tool comes with the name of DeWalt on it, it is pretty obvious that the overall construction is solid. The motor housing and the plunge base are made of aluminum. The depth adjustment rod is also made of aluminum. If you wanna know about the drawbacks, as we told earlier, this is not for the professional workshops. So if you are an advanced level user and you need to perform big scale projects, you will need something more powerful. The Overall impression is, if you are looking for a compact wood router with the best value of price, DeWalt DWP611PK is the best recommendation we have for you.
Triton TRA001
Like we discussed the last one, the best compact wood router is DeWalt DWP611PK. But when it comes to incredible power and amazing performance, Triton TRA001 is the best wood router for you. With the easiest dual mode operation, this one is the ultimate wood router any craftsman likes to have. How we define “easiest dual mode operation”? Well, you don’t need to change the bases at all. But as expected, this amazing wood router will cost you more than the previous one. Spending few more bucks will bring you more than twice as much power, 3.25 HP. The soft start motor comes with a variable speed of 8,000 to 21,000 RPM. No matter how hard the workpiece is, you won’t be restricted by the depth of cut or size of bit.
If you want to use it as a table router, just go for it. Unlike the DeWalt DWP611PK, this Triton TRA001 is designed to be used as a table router. This comes with a cable winder and a rack & pinion height adjustment. The adjustment is very easy and you can make the adjustment from top of the table. Is also comes with an easy-to-remove plunge spring that makes the bit adjustment very easy. When we use a table router in the inverted position, the airflow to the motor might get disturbed. But in this wood router, the air vents are beside the machine, unlike the typical design where air vents are positioned on the top. This is one of the many simply changed designs that have made using Triton TRA001 an amazing experience.
It comes with a depth range of 0-68 MM, that’s a maximum depth of 2.68”. As we said, you don’t need to change the base, to convert to a fixed base router; you need to press a simple switch. To assure the perfect accuracy it comes with a rack & pinion height adjustment system for the fixed base operation mode. Depth adjustment is very precise and easy to handle. A micro winder helps to make fine adjustments through the entire plunge depth range.
Versatility is one of the major features that buyers look for in a power tool. The Triton TRA001 is one of the most versatile wood routers that you will find in the market. The mode change is very easy, an adjustment is the easiest. The collet of the wood router is larger than most of the machines, 12 MM, that allows the user to use a greater variety of bits. Changing the bits is very easy, just with a single wrench you can change the bit, without pressing and holding down any locking button.
It comes with a smart spindle lock that automatically engages when we close the power switch cover. By engaging this spindle lock only when the switch is covered, we can have an extra benefit. This makes sure that we don’t accidentally switch the router off while changing the bits. This does not only assure enhanced safety, this also allows an effective dust extraction. It comes with a dust collection port that most of the other wood routers don’t have. That has made it very easy to maintain.
The overall impression is this is the best wood router available in the market if you are not restricted to the budget. This incredibly multi-functioned wood router comes with lots of accessories that allow the user to perform a lot of operations. If you are a professional, this will be an amazing addition to your existing tool rack, the most versatile wood router.
Bosch 1617EVSPK
Bosch has been a very popular name in the household and in workshops. The Swiss ingenuity and solid construction have been offering the world with lots of amazing tools. Many woodworkers trust this brand blindfolded. We are no exception. The brand value costs you a bit more than other regular brands, but the performance and the construction of the wood router are worth the money. But this is not as expensive as the Triton TRA001, so not as powerful and as versatile as that. This is a large wood router and more powerful than many wood routers. This is a combination of both the fixed base and the plunge wood router. When you are ready to spend more bucks, you will get more features, but our target is to find you something that gives you the best value of your money, Bosch 1617EVSPK is the one for you.
The 2.25 Hp soft start motor comes with a variable speed control, from 8,000 to 25,000 RPM. The smooth control over the tool with enough horsepower helps you to cut through most hardwoods at a good depth, even while using a wide bit. It comes with Constant Response Circuitry that keeps the motor speed level stable, even when the workpiece is in touch. To make sure that you can use any type bit, it comes with both ¼” and ½” collet. Bosch 1617EVSPK has a plunge depth of 2 ¼”. The separate fixed base attachment with handles provides an excellent gripping position.
The plunged base comes with hardwood handles so that you can have enhanced control over the tool. This is very much comfortable to handle. Both the plunged and fixed base has depth setting rods so that you can work accurately without much worrying about the measurement. This uses micro-fine twist knob for greater control.
This is a large tool, as said earlier, so this is not the lightest one in the market. But it is pretty easy to maneuver. The weight might be a drawback, if so, go for the DeWalt DEP611PK. But we don’t believe this can be a deal breaker. While checking the customer feedbacks, there were very few complaints. But most of them were about that particular unit of wood router they have, like switch failure and stuff. But those problems were quickly resolved by the amazing after-sale customer service of Bosch. The real drawback kinda issues are not available for this wood router. But of course, if you need to move the tool around very often, you should go for a lighter one.
Makita RP2301FC
Like the models we already discussed, Makita is another popular name. The popularity of the brand did not come at once. The long legacy of quality construction and solid performance gradually build the goodwill. Makita tools are particularly well-known for delivering perfect results even under high stress. Like all other tools of Makita product line, RP2301FC is no exception. This is an amazing wood router and in no way less amazing than any of the wood routers those we already covered.
The 3.25 HP motor is as powerful as the Triton TRA001. This is a soft start motor, with a variable speed range from 9,000 to 22,000 RPM. The powerful speed management control is very efficient and makes sure that the speed is constant in any working condition. It comes with an electric brake that assures that you don’t need to wait for the bit to stop spinning when you are done working. The speed control trigger has a locking mechanism and that assures the highest comfort while operating the machine and also it assures the safety of the user.
This is a plunge base wood router; it has no fix based operating system. The micro adjustment system for the depth pre-set is very easy and accurate, which is one good reason why it is one of the best wood router models in the market. The depth scale is very easy to follow and this makes sure that you make the adjustment accurately for the best result.
It comes with both ¼” and ½” collet, which means, it can use any size of the bit. This is the reason why we call it a versatile wood router; it allows you use a wide variety of options without worrying much about it. The tool-free template guise system has made it very easy to operate, another fantastic feature. When you go to change the bit, the task is very easy; just it needs a single wrench operation.
For any power tool these days, the topmost features are the ease of use and the versatility. Any high-end tools have these features both. You just need to know the proper use of it to enhance your efficiency. Working with any Makita tool is a dream to me. The construction is solid, the durability is world-class. The design is so good and the materials they used, easily makes this one of the best wood routers in the whole world. The perfectly shaped handle is ergonomically designed and each part of it is properly placed, just awesome.
Types of Wood Router
Usually, you will find three types of wood routers in the market. This differentiation is based on the “base” of the wood router. The first one is the Fixed-Base wood router. This one is used fitting to a router table. When you need precisely straight-cutting, edge-cutting or molding, this one is the right choice for you. Also, for the beginner level users, they should go for this type of wood routers. The blade is fixed, so you cannot adjust the blade height during the operation, you need to set the height before start using that. But in recent times there are many models those allow to adjust the bit vertically.
The second type is the Plunge-Base wood router. Their spring-loaded bases allow the user to maneuver down the router bit into the wood. The base can be locked in a particular height depending on the need of the user. The depth control can be unlocked and then the bit depth can be changed during the operation. When you need to cut the wood from the center of the piece, the plunge-base wood router is the best wood router for you. The versatility of this type of wood-router is amazing. Since they offer you more versatility and more control, they come costlier and operating them can be a bit more complex than Fixed-Base wood routers.
The third type of wood router has an interchangeable base. These models allow the user to change the bases according to the needs of the user. This gives the user an expanded opportunity to design and execute them without buying a completely new machine. The disadvantage is that you need to carry the extra weight of the other base. In some cases, you will find that it is better to have multiple wood routers instead of having one with an interchangeable base. So the choice is yours.
So What Makes the Best Wood Router?
As I said earlier, you must know the requirements of your type of projects. What will be the use of the wood router in your workshop? Knowing the answer to this question will simply put you ahead on this process of choosing the best wood router for you. The best thing is having a set of a wood router, best for different purposes, but that is not practical. That will cost you way more than you planned, so we have to ignore it now. You must choose a single wood router that is best for a wide variety of projects and comes with a reasonable price. To get the best valueforf the price is a big concern here to find the best wood router.
Here are some features that you need to consider while choosing the best wood router.
Power and Speed Control
This simply refers to how much the tool is powerful to support your purpose. A large capacity wood router will be more powerful than the compact one and obviously, if you need one for your professional workshop, you should go for a powerful one. On the other hand, a compact wood router has a motor with limited capacity. They are not designed to be cut much deeper. The motor is around ½ to 1 HP and the larger ones are of 2 ¼ to 3 HP.
Not just the capacity of the motor is the factor, the delivery process is also important. Sometimes how the power is delivered can be more important than the actual power capacity of the motor. There should be speed control for versatility. Most of the devices have soft start operation but the device mechanism should allow the user to have control over the RPM so that they can work in different conditions without any problem. So check this carefully if you have accurate control over the speed. There can be electronic torque control as well, for more perfection. Why so? You must have noticed that there are portions of different density in a log. Like, you may have knots in some workpieces. The knot is way harder than the average part of the wood and it requires more power to deal with that knot. The best wood router will have automatic torque control that will determine how much to increase the power to maintain a constant speed of job. So these 2 features are very important to find the best wood router.
Size
Size matters. The larger wood routers tend to be heavier and a bit difficult to operate. They are more powerful and are best for use on the router table. If you need to deal with larger projects in a professional workshop, then a larger wood router will be the best choice for you.
Larger ones are more expensive, so obviously they come with some handy features like variable speed control. Usually, the mid-range wood routers tend to be more versatile and they are the first choice for most of the buyers. If you are not a professional, the mid-size routers can be perfect for your type of job. And the small routers tend to be less powerful with limited capacity. They are very easy to use and the compact size makes them popular for small-scale jobs. Now you see, as I said earlier, knowing your type of job will help you to choose the best wood router from different sizes available in the market.
Base
As you know there are 2 types of wood router considering the base of the tool, fixed base and plunge base. Each has their different purpose to serve; you will have to decide which one will be your pick. Both have their own advantages and disadvantages, considering all those, you should figure out which one is best for you.
The basic distinction is that a fixed base wood router is used on a router table where the plunge base router is used for handheld projects. As the name suggests, the fixed base router is set to a specific depth and it remains constant during operation. You need to manually adjust the depth of the bit. Fixed base wood routers allow the user to change the bits easily. On the other hand, a plunge base wood router allows the motor to move up and down. There is a level lock that controls the depth of the bits. The main advantage is that this model allows the motor to achieve the desired speed before making the cut.
There are models with both the base type, plunge and fixed. The manufacturers are trying to make their tools more versatile to survive in the market competition. That is pretty great for the users, to have amazing products at a very competitive price.
Price
Finding the model within the budget might not be your priority but many of the customers have to do that. What I suggest, is, if the budget is very strict, try to be a bit flexible. It is never a great idea to spend a single buck for anything that will be of no use. Especially when it comes to a power tool, it is good to spend a bit more for something that will last long with consistent performance. So try to focus on the quality and the longevity.
If you have no budget restriction, you can feel free to spend for the best features you need. Look carefully, you spend for something you need. For any power tool, this is very easy to spend lots of more bucks for some fancy features that will be of no use in a long time. So spending money for such features will not be of any use.
You must consider your own ability and skill before making the purchasing decision. Maybe you are a beginner or maybe you have experience of few years, in either way, you must take your skill level into consideration. If you are not ready enough to handle the largest wood router with the flashy features, do not spend your hard-earned money for them.
Others
Apart from all above, there are few other certain factors that you need to keep in consideration while buying the best wood router. One of them is the bit size. You must choose something that will allow you to use the highest variety of mostly used bits. Try to find the most common bit sizes so that more range of projects can be handled without worrying much. Your own convenience is another important fact. Consider your own ability and expertise, because if you are not comfortable to handle the machine, the result will not be as expected. Choose something that is perfect for you to handle. Don’t go for a complicated one just because you have enough money to pay for that.
For any power tool, consider the safety with the highest importance. Soft start feature is a great safety feature for the wood router. The name is pretty self-explanatory, it allows the machine to start at a low speed and then increase the speed gradually to the desired speed. It prevents sudden jerk of the machine.
Mike Nikko is a blogger with over 15 years of experience. I will bring you the best product reviews and other useful life experiences, tips to increase height, tips to improve health… If you have any questions, feel free to ask Mike Nikko!