Pianist93

I was just wondering if, in general, a 1.75 horse router is enough for most things. I've been looking at the Milwaukee multi-base set. I'm liking the price especially for a fixed and plunge base. Any comments?
Thanks -pianist93

TomC

Its big enough for anything you are going hand route. If using in a table I believe it would be too small for the large bit needed for the panel in a raised panel door.
Tom

Pianist93

So it would be good enough for roundovers, flushcuts, pattern bits, rabbits and stuff? Would it do slots? You're saying that it wouldn't be good enough for like say a molding bit that is really tall?
Thanks -Gabe

rrbrown

I have a two 1 3/4 hp PC routers and I have used one in a table even with raised panel bits. I make 2-3 passes with the bigger bits but I wouldn't try a single pass even with the 2 1/2 hp Dewalt I now have for the table. Not sure about the router you mentioned but I would think it is comparable.

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firehawkmph

I have a 1 3/4hp milwaukee. It is a very nice hand held router. I have it's bigger brother, a 3 1/2hp for my table. I think it works fine with all normal sized bits. I wouldn't use it with a big panel raising bit unless I absolutely had too. No sense in abusing it. You have to decide what you are going to be using your router for. Hard to have only one, even with the extra bases. I like leaving my table router in the table and not having to change bases to hand route. I just picked up earlier in the year a bosch colt, small hand held trim router. It's great for one handed routing for small edgings, roundovers, etc. I like the way milwaukee routers slide out of their bases for easy bit changes.
Mike Hawkins

knotscott

The MW 5615 is a tough value to beat at recent pricing (~ $100-$150). The Body Grip features is great IMHO, as is the plunge base, it's extremely well built, and the motor runs strong for it's amp rating. It's capable of all hand work, and many router table tasks, but it's has single speed. For spinning large panel raisers, you need to reduce the RPM for safety....an aftermarket outboard speed controller can be added to the 5615 if needed, but most wwers find it useful to have a separate hand router (or 3 ), and a dedicated table router, since the desirable features for both applications tend to be very different.

Another possibility in the same price range is the Hitachi M12VC (fixed base only) or KM12VC (fixed and plunge bases). It's about the same amp rating as the 5615 (HP ratings don't mean much...amp ratings are a more consistent indicator of usable power), but it has variable speed which makes it a bit more condusive for table use, though a bigger 15 amp router is better yet for heavy duty table use. The M12VC is light, quiet, and well balanced.

The Freud FT1700 kit is available as a recon for ~ $150...great table router with easy above table bit changes, good hand router. Strong 13 amp motor w/vs speed.

I have all three of these and like them all for different reasons. They all have 1/4" and 1/2" collets, and both accept the standard 1 -3/16" PC style guide bushings. Use 1/2" router bit shafts whenever feasible, as they're stronger and tend to have less vibration.

knotscott

Gabe - If you catch this in time, Tyler Tool is having a half off selected items, and the MW5615-24 kit is included...$107 w/free shipping. The discount code is "tt100909".

clarionflyer

I'm certainly not trying to talk you out of Milwaukee. They make a great machine.
But don't forget about this:

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...inate+Trimmers

Lots of folks laugh at Craftsman, but I've run this one a while now. It works great and sets up fast. Not one complaint.
I've got 2 routers, but never use my spare. Quickly slides off the table (fixed base) and into the plunge base - takes less than a minute.

adpanko

a 1.75 hp router will be adequate for virtually everything a diy'er or woodworking hobbyist will need. When hand routing, you'll easily be able to to roundovers, dados, rabbets, slot cutting, etc. However, if you're using bits that have a large cut, you will likely need to do multiple progressively deeper passes, instead of one pass, especially in hardwoods.

Where a 1.75hp router will struggle is if you put in in a table, and use a large diameter raised panel bit. A) that is a lot of metal and carbide to spin and B) its large cutting area wants to eat a lot of wood if you allow it too. So you'll have to do many passes, to the point that it will be greatly frustrating. I have a 2.25 hp router in my table, and raised panel bit cuts bog it down even with three or four passes.

But unless you are a production door making shop, I wouldn't worry about the few occasions where you'll wish you had a large hp router. 1.75 will do you just fine, especially at the price you can get that Milwaukee set at.

Pianist93

Knotscott,
Thanks alot for the coupon code but I just now saw it and the website says taht it expired. Rats!!! Should have checked back to this post sooner!
-Gabe

Pianist93

I'm kinda thinking that I might just go with a 2 1/4 hp. Are those still small enough to easily use by hand?
Thanks -Gabe

knotscott

Should be no problem....not much weight difference between the 5615 and the 5616, but there's a significant price shift! The 5615-24 is at $130 shipped from Amazon, $235 for the 5616-24 ($210 shipped from CPOMW). The Hitachi kit is $162 from Amz.

Pianist93

I really like Milwaukee, but they don't have a speed adjustment. I like Bosch too; and Makita; but those might be even more expensive.

knotscott

The 5616 has a variable speed.