If you’d asked me a year ago I would have told you one router is all you need. If you’d asked me yesterday I would have told you two should do it – one for a bench and one for hand held work. After reading a recent thread in WoodNet today well it looks like two is just the beginning…
From reading through the thread it appears that the more seasoned woodworkers use multiple routers because they don’t like the setup and break down time if you’re using lots of different setups/jigs in your woodworking. Ultimately this is the sort of thing you learn with time.
Here’s the original question…WoodNetter photog says “I have a Hitachi M12V in the table and a Dewalt 618 3 pack.. The D-handle sits on an offset base, the fixed base is good and the plunge base according to Pat Warner “Obviates the DW621”. What’s not to like here? Or more correctly, “What more do I need?”
Responses from WoodNetters:
The only reason I can come up with to get another router is to save bit changes and in particular to ease the making of through dovetails (which I do occasionally) by having the straight and dovetail bits dialed in and ready to go in separate routers.”
I own several routers and its great not have to change and adjust bits. I would never buy alot of new routers but a used router at a good price gets a look from me everytime. – Grainraiser
Over 20 here… 6 are in tables – Stwood (Pro-woodworker)
1. Milwaukee 5626 in Table
2. Dewalt 621 with Pat Warner Base – Workhorse handheld router. I use this for mortising, edge profiling (more on this later), heck…just about everything….it’s my “go to router”
3. PC 890 with Pat Warner Base- Dedicated for PC 4210 HB DT
4. PC 890 with Pat Warner Base – Dedicated for Leigh Jig Though DTs with DT Bit
5. PC 690 with Pat Warner Base – – Dedicated for Leigh Jig Though DTs with Straight Bit – loosetoeI don’t plunge alot, but it’s pretty handy to have another hand router on set up when the plunger is set up for a specific task. – knotscott
Id have to count but i have at least 8 or 9 – Dennis Thomas
Doing my kitchen remodel. I got the colt with a custom base and bottom bearing bit doing edge band trimming. I got the hand held 890 doing veneer trimming. I got the 890 that mostly sits in the table doing half-blind DT’s on the Leigh and I had to pull out the back-up vintage PC 1100 R2D2 for veneer repair work (basically inlay work). I think I need at least one more router.
Once you got a bit set up for something like a DT jig, you really don’t want to change it during a project. – Mr_Mike
Gee, I thought I had a lot at 15. – EightFingers
If you value your time, and your accuracy, multiple routers is a necessity. I am self-employed and find that I still don’t have enough sometimes, even though I have 6 full-size and 4 trim size routers. – Sassafrasman
Milwaulkee 5625 in a table
Bosch Colt for small tasks. Think there’s a small round over bit that’s been in there for a while and used frequently.
PC690 I use strictly for PC4212 jig
Milwaulkee 5616 is my go to router for handheld work when a plunge isn’t needed.
Freud FT2200 – my latest addition for plunging as I really didn’t like the PC690 as a plunger. – JTS
Go read the whole WoodNet thread here if you like: Own Two Handheld Routers? Why?
Other Router Resources:
Best Router for Beginning Woodworker?
A Router Buying Guide for the First Time Router Buyer
Router Woodworking (Pat Warner’s router site)
