Router and Router table

[Ash Parikh]

I am in market to buy a router table. But before I do that I want to replace my 25 year old Craftsman Router. I am a moderate woodworker with better than average skill and week end user but believe in precision. Budget $400 for both.

[kenny from Sundre]

Ken Guenther said:

Hello Ash ;
There are a number of good routers on the market today, the hottest and newest is the Bosch MRC23EVSK. Take a close look at this one, it looks like a super tool. Saw a video where they set the tool, with no bit, on a bench top and let it run at full speed for over 3 minutes. It never moved.
kenny in Sundre, AB.

[kenny from Sundre]

Hello Ash;

 I guess I am a bit of a turn coat because I just bought an M12VE Hitachi Router. While I think the new BOSCH router is the greatest, when I compared the $390.00 / $420.00 price tag against KMS's price tag of $229.00 on the Hitachi it wasn't much of a contest! I have a corded Hitachi D10VH 3/8" drill, a DS18DL cordless drill, and a C10FHS SCMS, all of which have given me reall good service.

kenny at Sundre

[John Schaben]

Hi Ken - nuthin at all wrong with Hitachi stuff. I have their M12VC and it's one sweet little unit. I also have several of their nail guns and just reluctantly upgraded from their 10" compound miter saw. I only upgraded as I needed a slider and got a deal on the new Triton.

Incidentally, I read your previous post about the Bosch running untouched for 3 minutes with no vibration. So happens my new Freud 3000 arrived the next day so I tried that with the 3 1/4 HP Freud and had the same result.  Downside is it won't fit under my benchtop router table so gotta build or buy a new table.

Ken Guenther said:

Hello Ash;

 I guess I am a bit of a turn coat because I just bought an M12VE Hitachi Router. While I think the new BOSCH router is the greatest, when I compared the $390.00 / $420.00 price tag against KMS's price tag of $229.00 on the Hitachi it wasn't much of a contest! I have a corded Hitachi D10VH 3/8" drill, a DS18DL cordless drill, and a C10FHS SCMS, all of which have given me reall good service.

kenny at Sundre

[Ash Parikh]

Thanks for all the discussion. I have settled for MLCS Router table and the Dewalt VS Combo for under $400. I am in process of putting everything together.

[John Schaben]

Hi Ash - Good Luck, I've been using the little MLCS benchtop portable table (the one with folding legs) for nearly two years now. Did make a couple of modifications to the fence but other than that it has worked well for me. Good Luck

Ash Parikh said:

Thanks for all the discussion. I have settled for MLCS Router table and the Dewalt VS Combo for under $400. I am in process of putting everything together.