Laminate Trim Router.... Which one?

Stuart Ablett

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Tokyo Japan
This last set of cabinets I did, with the prospects for more of the same coming, I'm looking at a trim router. I have lots of large routers, but I think one of these trim routers might be nice to add to the arsenal.


Is there one that stands out?


Cheers!
 
I have a PC trim router that cost about $100 when I bought it about 11 years ago. It works great, but I had to try one of the HF orange units that was $20 a year or so later. The HF worked great, so I bought another as did a couple of other guys in a commercial shop. It is now black, but the structure looks the same.
 
One word for me. Bosch Colt variable speed. Best second to my heavy weight Milwaukee 3HP router I own. Wish it had been my first router. Its an amazing little machine and its so comfy to hold. Great cord, great cord length. Really nice adjustment. One wrench tool tightening. And for $74 recond or $115 new , its well worth the money. BUy two.


http://www.cpotools.com/factory-reconditioned-bosch-pr20evsk-rt-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit/bshrpr20evsk-rt,default,pd.html?cgid=bosch-reconditioned-routers

[url]http://www.cpotools.com/bosch-pr20evsk-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit/bshnpr20evsk,default,pd.html?cgid=bosch-reconditioned-routershttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecpotools%2ecom%2fbosch-pr20evsk-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit%2fbshnpr20evsk%2cdefault%2cpd%2ehtml%3fcgid%3dbosch-reconditioned-routers

[/URL]
 
One word for me. Bosch Colt variable speed. Best second to my heavy weight Milwaukee 3HP router I own. Wish it had been my first router. Its an amazing little machine and its so comfy to hold. Great cord, great cord length. Really nice adjustment. One wrench tool tightening. And for $74 recond or $115 new , its well worth the money. BUy two.


http://www.cpotools.com/factory-reconditioned-bosch-pr20evsk-rt-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit/bshrpr20evsk-rt,default,pd.html?cgid=bosch-reconditioned-routers

[url]http://www.cpotools.com/bosch-pr20evsk-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit/bshnpr20evsk,default,pd.html?cgid=bosch-reconditioned-routershttp%3a%2f%2fwww%2ecpotools%2ecom%2fbosch-pr20evsk-colt-variable-speed-palm-router-kit%2fbshnpr20evsk%2cdefault%2cpd%2ehtml%3fcgid%3dbosch-reconditioned-routers

[/URL]

+1. I would recommend the Bosch Colt, but I would also go for the plunge option...CLICK HERE. Trend, Porter Cable, and DeWalt also have plunge options.


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Another vote for the Bosch Colt PR20EVS - I bought mine as the installer kit "just in case."

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVS...2&keywords=bosch+colt+pr20evsk#productDetails

I don't know if I have actually used the funny adapters that are part of the kit in production, although I have played with them. The basic idea is to be able to trim closer to the edge and corner of an installation (and I haven't done a Formica project in many years).

The basic Colt router is a joy to use for more than just trimming - light and powerful. Only has a 1/4 inch collet so I cannot use many of the router bits in my collection.
 
Another vote for the Bosch Colt PR20EVS - I bought mine as the installer kit "just in case."

http://www.amazon.com/Bosch-PR20EVS...2&keywords=bosch+colt+pr20evsk#productDetails

I don't know if I have actually used the funny adapters that are part of the kit in production, although I have played with them. The basic idea is to be able to trim closer to the edge and corner of an installation (and I haven't done a Formica project in many years).

The basic Colt router is a joy to use for more than just trimming - light and powerful. Only has a 1/4 inch collet so I cannot use many of the router bits in my collection.

Thanks guys!

yeah the Bosch looks good, about $250 shipped with import duty to my door..... :)
 
Stu just what sort of duty are you paying as a percentage of the price. Note often the courier companies or any other for that matter charge handling fees for bond and storage etc during importation. I am just curious to know what the duty element is on the items you import in percentage terms. I get ill just seeing what you paying for things. I have read all the motivations but man it sure puts Japan in a questionable position to compete. The odd thing many do not know is that many of the Japanese companies sell their products at a higher price in Japan to what the foreign market gets it at. But with WTO I am wondering if Japan can still get away with protectionist tariffs given brands like Makita etc. Not that I would think they have those units made in Japan. My own prior dealings with Japanese companies is that they very nationalistic/protectionist to the point of being darn right silly about it economically.
 
Another VS Colt owner here. When the plunge base came out I picked one up right away. This is the base the Colt should have come with. For real laminate trimming jobs though the standard base options are better.
 
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I second Larry the pc310! Its a real workhorse and solidly built. I have had one for several years and about 5 years ago I broke the collet (over tightened it). I went to pick up a replacement and my supplier had to order it. I bought a bosch colt that he had on sale to keep the job going and was/ still am, very disappointed in it. It is very unstable in the base the tightening bolt would either be too loose where as the depth would change as I was routing or in order to lock it in it would have to be tightened to the point I would need a tool to loosen it.
I use my 310 for a lot of operations and picked up a wider base for it from Woodhaven along with some hinge templates and I can cut hinge mortises all day without worry of it getting sloppy.
My colt pretty much sits in a corner gathering dust... I think bosch, like dewalt is very inconsistent in their builds and throughout their product lines.
 
I second Larry the pc310! Its a real workhorse and solidly built. I have had one for several years and about 5 years ago I broke the collet (over tightened it). I went to pick up a replacement and my supplier had to order it. I bought a bosch colt that he had on sale to keep the job going and was/ still am, very disappointed in it. It is very unstable in the base the tightening bolt would either be too loose where as the depth would change as I was routing or in order to lock it in it would have to be tightened to the point I would need a tool to loosen it.
I use my 310 for a lot of operations and picked up a wider base for it from Woodhaven along with some hinge templates and I can cut hinge mortises all day without worry of it getting sloppy.
My colt pretty much sits in a corner gathering dust... I think bosch, like dewalt is very inconsistent in their builds and throughout their product lines.

For general light wood profiling and laminate trimming, I've been using PC 309's since the 70's and they still work.


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