Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Bro, you're question is next to impossible. My advice is simply: buy the best you can afford both in money and patience.

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Bro, you're question is next to impossible. My advice is simply: buy the best you can afford both in money and patience.

hmmmmmmm I will try to keep it below 15K i was thinking 9 K is the most reasonable but i dont think i can get a makita at that price.

I shall keep you guys posted 🙂

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

for 15K you can get the makita 3612, its not vs but a great router as well. I really can't advice much on the choices offered locally, they are either very expensive or not well performing. terrible options...
if you can order within asia you might be able to find 220 volt ones, but the prices for variable speed routers are really heavy to begin with....
I would suggest you go to Mayon, run the 3612 and then try the 3612C... scratch your head then save some more for the latter... hahaha, it is just worlds apart...

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Seems like router choices really are limited in this part of the world. The 3612C was WAY TOO expensive and i wouldnt feel good even if it was a gift to me.

From my other post. I decided to go with a Maxsell plunge VS that can take both 1/4 and 1/2 collets. Inc66 was right .. its not 9k ... its 6K something. I still havent gotten it yet. Will post reactions once i get it. Will mainly use it as a jointer and thickness planer. And you were right TImber, the damn tubular aluminiums bend and are not perfectly squared on. I am now just using it as a sled with guide rails and i got much better results.

After planing i just need to pass it with a palm sand a couple of times... makes me wanna buy an orbital sander...hmmmm

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

please do post how you find the Maxell router. I read once that they were made by the ELU (makers of some of the best routers worldwide) and that certain models were made by them. unfortunately, those models were not found locally.
as for buying other tools, well, they just don't end... lol

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Here are some pics... medyo panget lang kuha.

the only complain i have here is that it does not have a permanent ON switch.

Router table is still an option but will have to make some clamping on the hand switch for it to work.

I am planning a seperate router for my future router table anyway. This thing is mainly for jointing and thickness planing. i got it for 7,200 pesos.

I think Inc66 is right about the Aussie overruns having a bit more quality. But i am abit OC on warranties 🙂

The VS at settings 1 - 2 doesnt make the thing run. has to be abit over 2.5 This is normal right? i also get this effect with drills of the well known brands.

comes with a decent assortment of bits , and alot of ball bearing bits too. I am pretty surprised.

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Don't really know Bee if the router I saw comes with bits or not but if it does not then that explains the price difference.

Yeah, I've seen clunky VS controls often in these 2nd and 3rd tier routers. Aside from this, these routers also sometime have a flaky soft-start. One router I have in fact doesn't start till after a few 2 or 3 seconds which is honestly a bit unsettling but I don't complain since I'm pretty sure I paid something like P1k for it.

From the picture, it looks like your router is a cousin of one of mine. This often is the case. Anyway, I want to mention that if you use it under a router table, you'll fine it a lot easier to use if you remove the spring that pushes the router up. As for the lack of a "keep on" switch, you could make a lever of sorts to hold the on switch. Another way is to use a cable tie to keep the switch always depressed and use a second switch alongside the table, or maybe even a foot switch. Timber has a nice arrangement if I remember correctly.

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

I used my maxsell router today. Pretty solid and steady, used the laminate trimmer bit to clean out some plywood backing on a quick shelf i made.

The soft start is smooth. the variable speed seems ok. except for what i mentioned before that any setting under 2.5 the router wont spin.

plunge lock feels like it doesnt lock in as hard as i want it to, but works nonetheless.

i'd still usemy gmr 1 more often because of it being alot less cumbersome but it doesnt mean the maxsell is cumbersome, the handles are quite comfy.

now.... will assemble the jet table saw... i dont think its healthy for me to be doing all this with a fever 🙂

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

... i dont think its healthy for me to be doing all this with a fever 🙂

wanna bet?

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

I ran the Maxsell again today inspected the laminate trim i did on an ongoing project.
The trim wasnt as smooth as i thought it was. Then when i inspected the spin of the bit. It was wobbling! ( whats with all these wobbling jinx on my tools!)

I am sending it back. It may just be the nut thing thats not ok. I ran the router without the nut, it looked ok.

The VS is working well even at setting 1. It may have been that it needed some lubricating and when i ran it, it self lubricated.

Well its for my planing jig only anyway. 🙂

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Wobbling? I sometimes get that with 3-jaw drill chucks but never with any of my routers. Router chucks have very little clearance when released since router bits are either 1/4" or 1/2". I honestly can't imagine how you could get wobble on your router from the chuck. Could the bit's carbide cutters be mismounted?

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

its not literally wobbling. its an alignment issue hence when it runs it makes a wobble effect 🙁

I swear the big brands should bring in more plunge router models

I am looking at tools from us AEG power tools. i wonder if anyone has tried any of em before

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

Tools From Us used to have branch near me so I use to window shop there ... just window shop ... well most of the time anyway - I bought my John Benzen router from them. AEG surely makes great tools. I think Tools From Us also carries the Powercraft brand.

Re: whats a good VS plunge router ( for all around use)

its not literally wobbling. its an alignment issue hence when it runs it makes a wobble effect 🙁
I swear the big brands should bring in more plunge router models
I am looking at tools from us AEG power tools. i wonder if anyone has tried any of em before

Metabo has a small router that I wanted and still want so much. but only runs on 1/4" bits and has a built in dial gauge for depth adjustment. cost as much as my Makita 3612C though and if I'm not mistaken made by ELU for metabo.
With all the things happening to your tools, Bee, I suggest you look at the performing brands and models and get them. headaches and downtime are not worth the trouble. I know how hard it is to spend big bucks on tools, I often feel bad letting go of my hard earn money on them. but when I was buying the cheap ones and throw them after a while of use, I find it more a waste of the hard earned money.
I do hope you find ways and remedies to your tools dilemma and get them to peak performance again... cheers