Need a cheap router

hilstep2000

My partner is really into DIY and wants a Router for Xmas. Must be the plunge type. Seen one in Wickes for £25, anyone know of anything better? Thanks.

Pink.

hilstep,

You may get more replies on the In My Home board, so I hope that you don't mind if I move your thread over there.

Pink

weekendwarrior

Hi,

I would ony buy him a wickes router if you don't like him as their power tools are pretty naff!!!

A half decent cheap make is a Ryobi like this one on ebay-
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/RYOBI-1150W-1-4-3-8-1-2-ROUTER-FOR-WOODWORKING-BNIB_W0QQitemZ5998274472QQcategoryZ20781QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

You pay a lot more for one that accepts 1/2 inch collets, the one above is very good value for money and will far outlast a wickes router!

newfunk

Id go for the Ryobi one too, as Wickes power tools are !!!!!!!!

Try looking on screwfix's website. Ferm may do a cheap router, which will come with a 3 year warranty! i have a couple of Ferm tools and they are far better than I ever thought possible....

YorkshireBoy

Bosch every time for me.

I have the POF500A model, but I believe they have replaced this with a new model now. The new one "looks" superb but I don't know how it performs.

How much do you love him?... because the high-end amateur Bosch routers are probably around £65-70. However, it's not uncommon for B&Q, and Homebase especially, to have a crazy sale at this time of year - so maybe buy it early and send it to Santa!

Malestrom

I bought a cheapish router from B&Q a few years ago, its one of their Performance Pro or Power Pro models, or whatever their own stuff is called. Wish i'd bought a named one like YorkshireBoy because this thing is total pants. As some others have suggested, don't buy a Homebase/Wickes/B&Q 'own' model as its likely to be fairly rubbish, go for a good brand.

Also, don't forget that a router is useless without a large selection of cutters!

paul_h

The Ryobi one on eBay is a bit low on wattage for a 1/2 inch model, but the price is that weekendwarrior find for you really is good - I doubt you will find one as good for this price.

That said, it will outlast any of the cheap own brand (chinese) models and will be fine for most purposes, unless he's intending to use it for really heavy work like cutting kitchen worktops all day - industrial models cost a lot more pennies...

paul_h

I've had a look at the Ryobi, despite the eBay listing saying it is 1/2 inch collet, you can see here that it is only a 3/8 inch, which explains the low wattage.

Also, it's available cheaper at Screwfix for £49.99 including delivery. The eBay guy wants £12 shipping... :rolleyes:

Click here

A 3/8 inch model will be no good if you think he might want to replace your kitchen worktops though...

weekendwarrior

Hi Paul h,

I bought one of these routers off ebay about a year ago and it stated that it accepted 1/2 inch shank cutters. On the box and in the literature it said that it was a 3/8 inch collet but it actually is an half inch. It even says 3/8 inch on the box but beleive me it accepts my half inch cutters.

Not used it all that much yet as I have been too busy, it also came with a table which is useful.

Can't understand why it is advertised as a 3/8 inch model and marketed as such when it actually is a 1/2 inch model????

I agree about the low wattage, but for the cost it seems like a good piece of kit. If I ever intend doing serious routing then I'll be getting a bosch.

newfunk

I had a Ryobi router once which I had for 4 years, and I really did abuse it! It was mainly used for routing staircase strings with dovetail cutter, it served me really well for ages, until one day it just died on me! Then Got a Makita router (who's tools I think are the dogs whatsits), it wasnt half as good as the ryobi..

I have a Bosch 1/4" shank router now which is really good as the plunge is so smooth and its easy to use and not to heavy for site work..

paul_h

weekendwarrior wrote:

Can't understand why it is advertised as a 3/8 inch model and marketed as such when it actually is a 1/2 inch model????

I agree about the low wattage, but for the cost it seems like a good piece of kit. If I ever intend doing serious routing then I'll be getting a bosch.

Very strange indeed...

If the Ryobi router takes a 1/2 inch collet, then it's a fine buy at £50 delivered, the Ryobi is a decent router and will perform better than the 1/2 inch chinese rubbish rated at 1600W+, despite only being rated at 1150W.

...and the bearings won't drop to bits in 12 months.

Incidentally, I've got a small 1/4 inch Bosch POF500, a cheap Ferm (Screwfix), and a monster 2000W Freud - which is still my favourite out of the lot despite it being a bit big and heavy.