AAAAAAA

iTrader: (7)

I am about to buy a router, mostely for speaker building.

I don't know how much use it will get so I am trying to keep it cheep. Would like your input between these 2 I have found.

1st up

Mastercraft 10A Plunge Router with Table

Sale: $119.99
Reg: $199.99

Product #54-6904-6

Router features: 10A motor with electronic variable speed
Plunge action; clear sub-base, rubber overmoulded handles and low center of gravity design
Trigger switch with lock-on button; solid, die-cast and precision machined base
Ball bearing construction, four-position adjustable turret stop and spindle lock
Table features: precision ground die cast aluminum table top
over 334 square inches of smooth work piece (600 mm x 360 mm)
Three different-sized table top inserts; 2½" dust port ; clear guard; mitre gauge adjusts 0-60° for angle feeding
Multi-functional fence; jointer pocket fence
Easy clamp-down leg design

Actual plunge router not shown in the picture.

The other one doesn't come with a table but can use both 1\4 inch and 1\2 inch and seems more powerfull, more features.

Router RONA
1/2 in. and 1/4 in. 12 A. 8,000/26,000 RPM. Electric supply. Magnesium-alloy construction. Plunge base for day-to-day jobs including rabbeting, decorative edges and trimming. Fixed base comes in handy when used with a router table. Soft start limits start-up speed even when the tool is under load. Continuous speed control even when the tool is not used at full capacity. Micrometric depth adjustment allows precise depth settings to be made. 2-in. plunge capacity for a large range of applications. Full rubber over-moulded handles. 8-position turret stop assists when cutting deep recesses by allowing gradual selections in the cutting depth. Includes: parallel guide, template guide and wrench. 3-year warranty.


What would you choose and why?

Dukk

Sort of depends how important a table is to you. IMO make your own and get the RONA one. 1/2" bits are nice for flush trim and having both bases doubles the usefulness of the router.

If you want another option - check out the CanTire plunge router that goes on sale for $59 all the time. I have one in my circle jig and it's been flawless. It's obviously not as beef as the RONA but for the same $$ as the Craftsman you can get 3 of them.

AAAAAAA

iTrader: (7)

Thanks for the tip. I got the rona one.
It doesn't come with a carying case but I suppose I can do without.

Now all I need is a jasper jig or something like that.

methodman0666

the routers that have been described here arent bad..... but there a light duty router with minimal options

At our shop we also have a full cabinet shop ( for doing kitchens and basicly and tyep of wood working ) we did a bunch of research and the router of choice for me is the festool of 2000 there's tons of options and electronic variabal speed also anti jolt when you start it up. A MUST IF YOUR DOING SMALL PIECES ! i loveit ! heres the site read for your self
Festool - Product Details

zzzzzzz

iTrader: (5)

i would go with the bigges motor and highest amps .the toy you can get if you need them later
it will **** you off when you are working and your tool is a crapy tool .if the tool can not keep up to what you are doing ,why do you have it

Brad-S.A.

iTrader: (35)

I have found Porter Cable to be one of the best routers IMO to use. Versitile and parts and attachments can be found np.

AAAAAAA

iTrader: (7)

Well thanks for the tips guys, especially since I already purchased it and that it's to late to do anything about it.


Also, no way I was going to spend anywhere near 400$ for a router that may not get much use. I do understand that what I got was very low end. But it seems to be decent in features among the low end contenders.

Dukk

It's not low end. It's not industrial duty but it's a perfectly capable router. I use a router a *lot* for a 'regular consumer' and I have yet to step to the PorterCable. It damn nice but it's money and the three routers I have now (Craftsman, Mastercraft, and Black & Decker) refuse to die.