Plunge router recommedations

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k1w1k1d

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#235970 11-May-2018 18:25

Hi folks, looking at buying a 1/2" plunge router for up to about $200. That rules out most of the big brands, Dewalt, Makita, etc.

The Tool Shed has a 1/2" 1800W Arges on special for $179, normally $239.

Bunnings have a Ryobi for $147.

Has anyone got either of these, or another option?

Cheers.

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#2014256 11-May-2018 18:47

I have the ryobi. Not really used it for plunge much, mainly just a roundover that my battery ryobi trim router struggled with. They do not sell an 8mm collet here so I will eventually order one from europe to use some of my bits in it.

It seems OK, wrenches supplied for it are trash, and I had to grind down a proper one to be able to fit into the collet area, the arm to hold it parallel to a side is not that smoothly made but I am sure it would polish up ok.

Richard rich.ms

mdf

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#2014265 11-May-2018 18:57

I've used the arges one (but don't own it). I was really impressed with it and will likely be buying one at some point. I've already got a good 1/4 inch router at the moment and cannot justify having two. Yet.

Zippity

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#2014270 11-May-2018 19:07

Just this afternoon, I bought myself the Ryobi 1600 Plunge Router - it has both 1/4" and 1/2" bits

$179 from Bunnings.

The Bosch 1200 is $1 cheaper but only comes with 1/4"

k1w1k1d

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#2014289 11-May-2018 19:42

Thanks guys. No horror stories. Will have to spend some time having a look at both before taking the plunge.

larknz

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#2014293 11-May-2018 19:51

Make sure you get a 1/2 inch router, most come with a collet to use smaller bits. But a smaller router can never use the bigger bits. The 1/2 " router will also have more power.

Bung

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#2014401 11-May-2018 21:30

mdf: I've used the arges one (but don't own it). I was really impressed with it and will likely be buying one at some point. I've already got a good 1/4 inch router at the moment and cannot justify having two. Yet.

It may seem like doubling up but don't make the same mistake I nearly made. I was overusing my good 1/4" on exterior projects. To replace that would take a lot more than $150.

Zippity: your Bunning price is out of step with their advertised price???

Zippity

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#2014405 11-May-2018 21:35

You are right - $147.

Don't know where I got the higher figure from

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mdf

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#2014494 12-May-2018 08:23

Bung: It may seem like doubling up but don't make the same mistake I nearly made. I was overusing my good 1/4" on exterior projects. To replace that would take a lot more than $150.

You make an *excellent* point. If I can get you to contact Mrs MDF and convince her of that...? 😀

k1w1k1d

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#2014509 12-May-2018 08:54

I haven't told MrsKK about this intended purchase yet. She normally doesn't mind when parcels arrive from Aliexpress, or I buy the odd "toy", as long as it is not too expensive. Putting a daughter through Otago Uni is a drag on the finances, so don't have too much free cash. My excuse is that I am slowly setting up my workshop for my retirement now that I have turned 60.

Once I have a router there will probably be a need for different bits etc.

wazzageek

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#2014623 12-May-2018 13:51

I recently purchased a Bosch 1200W plunge router - I took advantage of the mitre10 beat by 15% offer.

It's got a 6 to 8mm collet, so only 1/4".

Bunnings ($146) - https://www.bunnings.co.nz/bosch-pof-1200-ae-1200-watt-router_p00344614

Mitre10 ($147) - https://www.mitre10.co.nz/shop/bosch-green-1200-watt-router-1200-watt-green/p/267216

So managed to get the router for $124. If you were able to drop to a 1/4" collet, then this could be an option.

Hope that helps!

k1w1k1d

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#2014827 12-May-2018 16:59

That was a good saving. M10 are now advertising it at $149 while Bunnings have it at $147. I wonder how many people take advantage of this offer?

I discounted that router because it was only 1/4". The 1/2" ones have more options for bits, and more power.

neb

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#2014845 12-May-2018 17:47

wazzageek:
I recently purchased a Bosch 1200W plunge router - I took advantage of the mitre10 beat by 15% offer.

That's awesome, I hadn't thought of that (meaning I wasn't aware that M10 also do the 15% thing that Bunnings does). That means I should be able to get the Bosch drill press I've been drooling over, which M10 has for $479 and the Bunnings right next door has for $414, for $351 from M10. Or is there some special-terms-and-conditions opt-out thing I'm missing?

mdf

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#2014860 12-May-2018 18:01

neb:
wazzageek:

I recently purchased a Bosch 1200W plunge router - I took advantage of the mitre10 beat by 15% offer.

That's awesome, I hadn't thought of that (meaning I wasn't aware that M10 also do the 15% thing that Bunnings does). That means I should be able to get the Bosch drill press I've been drooling over, which M10 has for $479 and the Bunnings right next door has for $414, for $351 from M10. Or is there some special-terms-and-conditions opt-out thing I'm missing?

Jesus Rollerblading Christ! That's brilliant! The green one with the wheel? I seriously want it too and have been saving my pennies for ever!

I've had issues with the price match thing before. The product codes have to be identical and they seem to have a scheme where both stores stock identical products but made "exclusively" for than chain - e.g. product 123456BUN is "different" to product 123456M10.

But I've just checked the websites and both have the identical product and model number 0603B07040 / PBD 40. You should be sweet.

neb

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#2014864 12-May-2018 18:28

mdf:
Jesus Rollerblading Christ! That's brilliant! The green one with the wheel? I seriously want it too and have been saving my pennies for ever!

Isn't it cool? Electronic linear speed control instead of having to change belts around every time you switch materials, and the only (lower-priced) drill press I've ever seen that at least has a passable table rather than some piece of junk whose only purpose is to bolt a real table to it. I'm not thrilled about the wheel rather than a standard pull handle (what were they thinking?), but apart from that it's finally a drill press that's escaped from the 1920s. Just the electronic speed control alone makes it worth the extra cost, I usually end up drilling at some one-size-misfits-all speed because I don't want to spend more time messing with the mechanism than actually drilling.

Bung

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#2014865 12-May-2018 18:29

mdf:
Bung: It may seem like doubling up but don't make the same mistake I nearly made. I was overusing my good 1/4" on exterior projects. To replace that would take a lot more than $150.

You make an *excellent* point. If I can get you to contact Mrs MDF and convince her of that...? 😀

I have a project coming up that will have a materials cost of about $2500, I should be able to bury a $150 tool in that no trouble. I realised that if I burnt out the very good small router doing heavy work it would cost around $700 to get the current model. Then I'd be stuck with using a cheap one from then on. So long as you're building something Mrs MDF wants I don't see a major problem.

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