How many routers do you have and how many do I need?

[Peter Gregory]

I put up a dust collection system, with metal pipes and soon found that every drill in my shop had a different bit or driver head in it. Total number of drills and drivers is 5.

I only have one router. It is a Dewalt 621, that is an early model and has no dust collection. I find myself moving it from place to place, hand held, router table, and jigs. Just realized, I really want as many routers as Norm, say 10 to 20. I'm sure I can find room on the birthday list for one, but then, how many do I really need?

One for each fancy jig, one in the router table, one for hand? How many do you have?

[James Hart]

Trim router, big one in the table, plunge router, normal size for hand-held, then about 4 more for no apparent reason.

Jim

[John Jendro]

One for every router bit you have is best.

I have one that stays in a table. Three handheld, one is a fixed base, one plunge and a laminate trimmer. Could probably get by with two if you want to leave one table mounted.

John

[Mike Henderson]

One table, one hand held, two trim routers.

Mike

[Don Abele]

OK, let's see...

Bosch Colt, 1 HP, 1/4" Collet: Really light work like laminate trimming and hinge mortising.

Craftsman, 1 1/2 HP, 1/4" Collet: Dedicated for dovetail jig (dovetail bit) - this is my first purchased router over 15 years ago).

Porter Cable 690, 1 3/4 HP, 1/2" Collet: Light hand-held work.

Craftsman, 2 HP, 1/2" Collet: Dedicated for dovetail jig (straight cutter) - this was my second purchased router about 10 years ago.

Porter Cable 7518, 3 1/4 HP, 1/2" Collet: Heavy duty hand-held work.

Porter Cable 7538 Plunge, 3 1/4 HP, 1/2" Collet: All my plunge work.

Hitachi M12V Plunge, 3 1/4 HP, 1/2" Collet: Permanently mounted in router table with a Woodpeckers Plunge Lift.

Well, that's my round up of routers.

Be well,

Doc

[Neal Clayton]

one 3.5 hp fixed, one 2.5 hp plunge, one small trim router. will probably add a 4th for dedicated use on my moulding machine's router attachment.

[Steve Flavin001]

tasks such as 1/8 and 3/16 roundover of stock to illustrate.... to avoid constant changing of bits, each dedicated to that function.

One dedicated to router table because changing back and forth is excessive, depending on how you value your time and use of that time.

Also, if possible stay with one brand for commonality of parts, accessories, and bit installation, as well as the "look and feel."

[Dewey Torres]

Well... if you would rather go minimal instead of one per router bit

I would suggest 3:

1) Router table set up
2) Hand held
3) Palm router (Bosch Colt is about the best)

Since you are already using Dewalt, stay with them and get your next one with the kit that has 2 bases. This will allow you to change the motors out with the bases or table as you see fit and effectively give you the feel that you have more than 3. I don't see a good way to skip the palm/trim router. I use mine almost more than the others.

My .02

Dewey

[Robin Cruz]

3.
2ea 3hp Hitachi M12 for table and for mortizing and other handheld use.
1 small handheld that I rarely use with 1/4 bits.

I bout the Hitachi M12V2 but it turned out to be of such poor quality and had several defects I returned it without ever cutting wood. I was lucky to find another M12 locally. I see them on Amazon for $500. I guess they are sought after

[scott spencer]

I've currently got 4, but could live with two...one for table, one for handuse.

- Milwauke 5625 - table
- Freud FT1700 - table or plunge
- Hitachi M12VC - hand use, templates, etc.
- Craftsman 8 amp - some hand use

Have also owned and liked the MW5615, FT2000E, and Bosch 1617.

[Ron Dunn]

Have: 2
Use: 1
Need: Debatable between 0 and 1

[Doug Shepard]

5: DW621, DW625, DW lam trimmer, PC7518, Festool OF1400
7 of you count the Dremel and Ryobi Dremel-clone
9 if you count the LV and Stanley Neander tools

[George Sanders]

Four. Two Craftsman.(never used anymore) Two Porter-Cable 690s. One stays in the table and one for use with a plunge base or a standard base with edge guide. I do need a trim router.

[Rick Gooden]

Freud FT1700 in table 1
Freud FT2000 in table 2
PC 690, fixed and plunge bases, hand held
Bosch Colt for everything else

[Chris Kennedy]

I'm starting to feel router envy. I have two, well, two and half.

Ryobi handheld 1 1/2 hp, 1/4" collet (wedding present from my father-in-law). Just fine for light work.

Porter Cable 890 with two bases. The fixed base stays in the table for the most part, and I use the plunge base out of the table. I just move the motor in and out as I need to.

Cheers,

Chris