Trevanion wrote:It depends on what you plan on using it for I suppose, I often reach for the 1/4" router as it's easier to handle and gutsy enough for most tasks and any large moulding work I use the spindle moulder. The 1/2" router is possibly one of the least used tools in the workshop
, with the exception of staircase trenching and housing lock keeps into door frames. I've got a Makita RP2301FCXK 1/2 router which is a delight to use when it gets used, soft start, work light, very powerful, braked... It's a good machine.
That said, if you plan on having a router table set up and you plan on running heavier mouldings and rebates, the extra power is nice. Also, accessibility is a huge bonus in a table setup if you can get it and that's where some routers like the Tritons with their through-base adjustments really shine. I've got an old 3HP Ryobi Industrial RE-601 Router with fine adjustment set up in a table and it does pretty much anything you throw at it, doesn't miss a beat and was cheap as chips.
Can't fault the above. Agree 100% especially re how much use the 1/2" gets. Also if you do go down that route then soft start when hand held use is essential IMO.
Actually thinking back a bit over the years I've had in the workshop at one time six routers
And I'll take back a bit of what I said about reliable makes....
Triton...I had one mounted in my router table. I liked the way you could wind it up to do above table bit changes BUT I found that the mechanism for winding up/down soon got graunched up with dust etc and became a right PITA to use. I was glad to sell it.
Trend ...a small 1/4" one. Soon after purchase the top bearing seized and it had to go back for a warranty repair. The fine adjuster is nice though. But now, the switch on the side is sticking and has to be pushed back in to turn the router off. Not ideal. Guess I could dismantle it to clean it out but FFS why should I have to ? It's not had that much use.
So...bottom line...not so keen on Triton or Trend for the above reasons.
My DW625 sits happily in my router table. Never let me down. But a bit of a thug handheld.
Ditto a 1/2" Makita ...heavily used before I got it for £25 in a car boot sale. Again, bit of a thug handheld.
I still have my first 1/4" Makita but not used it for a while as it's not got a softstart or fine adjuster.
Of course, all three are OLD...as in 10 - 15 years old. So in the intervening years we have the introduction of Made in China which can and does dent quality sometimes and so modern DeWalts or Makitas might be just as duff as the rest.
If opportunity doesn't knock, build a door.