Routers – Big or Small

I’m looking at getting a router but having a tough time deciding on what size. I’m looking at getting a Bosch but can’t decide between the Colt or the 1617EVS Model. I would be using it for edging and a few times on cut outs, mainly on 3/4″ plywood. Any help?

The colt will have plenty of power for edging and some cutouts.  From my experience power doesn’t become an issue larger bits like surfacing bits although I have almost exclusively used smaller routers so maybe I just don’t know what I’m missing.

Depends on how much you’ll use a router too, the colt accepts 1/4″ shank where bigger routers will take larger shanks.

Jimbo

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if your going to invest in a router to do more than one thing then invest in one that can do more than one thing. A bigger router can always do smaller jobs but not all smaller routers can do bigger jobs……

comp56 wrote:

if your going to invest in a router to do more than one thing then invest in one that can do more than one thing. A bigger router can always do smaller jobs but not all smaller routers can do bigger jobs……

Or you can just buy 2 or 3 routers…

Jimbo

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I had a bulky craftsman with fixed base, plunge base and a router table. Rarely used it. Kind of awkward for the things I was using it for. I got the colt last week and love it. I’ll be using it more often for

Sure.

I’m gonna pick up a Colt today,  thanks guys! 

JimboS1ice wrote:

19 hours ago, JimboS1ice said:

Or you can just buy 2 or 3 routers…

Jimbo

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Now yer talkin!

The Colt is a pretty badass smaller router. Its been on my list for some time now.  Freud makes alot of 1/4″ shank router bits that seem easy to find and work well.

On my short list is a small router… Either the Colt or the wee Makita.

I love my makita compact router. check to see if the $20 off $100 sale for bosch and makita. makita is cheaper. 

I have several routers (makita and a couple PC), but the one I use the most is the $20 trim router from Harbor Freight. It has done everything I needed it do and you can buy 5 for the price of the next cheapest. I use it for flush cut on 1/4″ or paneling and edging pine and plywood. Buying multiple routers is the only way to go in my book, a compact router is worth its weight in gold if you have small jobs or lighter material, but if you want to cut 3/4″ on a regular basis you will want a full size.

If you’re going to have one router I would get the bigger one because down the road you can do more things where if you get a small router you might eventually have to buy another one to do bigger jobs

Logan p wrote:

4 hours ago, Logan p said:

If you’re going to have one router I would get the bigger one because down the road you can do more thing where if you get a small router you might eventually have to buy another one to do bigger jobs

I don’t see this as a problem 😉

I used the Colt for the first time last night on some 3/4″ plywood and I love it (keeping in mind this is my first router). I bought a cheapo set of bits (Ryobi) and I wasn’t impressed with the cuts (alot of tear out) so I went back to HD and got a Freud bit and it made a world of difference.

TheRLB wrote:

 

I don’t see this as a problem [emoji6]

 

I used the Colt for the first time last night on some 3/4″ plywood and I love it (keeping in mind this is my first router). I bought a cheapo set of bits (Ryobi) and I wasn’t impressed with the cuts (alot of tear out) so I went back to HD and got a Freud bit and it made a world of difference.

Frueds are amazing bits, I have some garbage ones too but I don’t use those unless it’s for something where precision doesn’t matter

Jimbo

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TheRLB wrote:

3 hours ago, TheRLB said:

 

I don’t see this as a problem 😉

 

I used the Colt for the first time last night on some 3/4″ plywood and I love it (keeping in mind this is my first router). I bought a cheapo set of bits (Ryobi) and I wasn’t impressed with the cuts (alot of tear out) so I went back to HD and got a Freud bit and it made a world of difference.

Changing bits on routers can make a big difference but there are just some jobs small routers are not the best for every with good bits

Just going by the question you asked I would say go with the small combo router (DeWalt makes a good one as well) that way you would have a plunge too. You can always get a large one if you want to go with a router table at some point.