Router Reviews

The Best Plate for your Router Table

When you’re putting together a fixed-base router and router table or you’re looking to use one for your next project you need to make sure that you have the right router table inserts, accessories, and router plates to help you along the way. After all, you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a mount plate that really isn’t going to help you, right? So, what do you do to make sure you have the right router plate? You should be looking at these to see what works best for you.

Kreg PRS3050 Twist-Loc Ring Set

Made by Kreg, this PRS3050 Twist-Loc Ring Set is pre-drilled for Triton routers. It features level-loc rings that are mounted flush with the plate surface so you don’t have any rough edges and a removable brass starting pin so you know where you’re going to get going.

You’ll be able to install this plate on your router table quickly, within just a few seconds, and it will be completely flat on the table each and every time that you do because it’s designed to get you just what you’re looking for.

It includes five rings for different size bits as well as bushings for the guides that are just where you need them to be. The thick material of the plate is also designed to withstand absolutely anything, including your heaviest router. So you can always get the job done right and quickly, without having to constantly look for new tools.

Woodpeckers Precision Woodworking Tools AITRITON Router Mounting Plate

With the AITRITON Router Mounting Plate from Woodpeckers, you get a cast aluminum plate that’s predrilled for Porter Cable routers. It’s made strong and sturdy so it stays stiff and so you don’t have any rough edges to work with.

It’s designed to sit perfectly flat and level in your router table, so you don’t have to worry about a mistake in your next cut or any angling. It has 8 top accessible leveling set screws to help with this process and all you need to do is use a pair of adjustable edge plungers to get just the fit you need.

It features multiple different starting pin locations so you’re able to arrange it just the way you want and it has 3 twist-lock rings and includes a locking wrench so you get the ideal framework for the bit that you’re working with.

Rousseau 3509 Deluxe Router Base Plate

The 3509 by Rousseau is an easily adjustable plate that features two rings for easy bit adjustment. It has snuggers to get rid of any extra play that might occur on the table and provides a shoulder pin to help you with freehand work in five different positions.

There’s a limited lifetime warranty offered, so you know you’re going to have just what you’re looking for in dependability; not to mention it’s a thick plate that can take care of any router and is built to withstand the weight of even heavier options.

When you’re ready to use this plate you’ll find that it’s great for beginning and advanced users alike as it provides a range of different features. More rings would help make it even better; however, the smooth finish and the great fit are definitely worth the money that you spend for this unit.

Bench Dog 40-140 Pro Plate Standard

This 40-140 Pro Plate is a plate that will help you get the basics done quickly and easily. It only comes with one insert ring but does include all the locking bolts and hardware you’ll need to use it effectively.

You can also purchase a range of other insert rings to get just what you’re looking for to use on specific products. The plate is designed to perfectly fit into the opening of the Bench Dog and Reckler brand router tables so you don’t have to do any adjusting, just put it in and get to your next project. If you’re looking to build your own table it will also work quite well.

At ¼” thick, this aluminum plate is able to hold any router you may have without difficulty and without concern for breaking or warping. It features a number of different patterns so that it works well with different types of routers and also works well for drilling new holes and openings as needed.

MLCS 9338 All-In-One Router Plate Kit

You get everything you need in this MLCS 9338 router kit including the plate, two different insert rings and everything you need to install the plate to your router table.

You also won’t have any trouble getting the plate installed because it comes with a magnetic hold down and has really easy-to-follow instructions for getting everything set up.

It’s even made with a heavy duty phenolic material to help you support any kind of router you want. This is important so you don’t end up with a warped plate as you continue to use it.

There’s a steel guide pin to help with your work and pre-drilled mounting holes that will fit most router tables, though you can always drill out your own holes for any additional tables or for a custom option. You’ll also get all the adjusting screws you need and much more. Before you know it, your router plate will be installed, perfectly level, and ready for whatever project you want to start next.

Wrap Up

No matter what you’re looking for when it comes to a router plate, one of these will no doubt help you figure it out. You can easily take a look at each of the features offered and the types of plates as well. This will help you figure out just which plate is going to fit best on your table whether you have purchased one or decided to build it yourself. It’s all about your needs when it comes to using the router and of course some about what you’re interested in. Try to find a better plate out there that comes with everything you’re going to find here. You’ll be surprised.

The Best Mini Routers Available

If you’re thinking about high precision CNC routers or CNC machines with powerful motors for your workshop or cutting wood on your router table or T-slot table, you’ll want to make sure that you’re getting one that will give you a good quality cut every time. You want to be sure that you can count on it for everything that you’re planning to do and while that may not always be easy, you definitely want to take a look at several different options before you jump into picking just one thing that may not help you in the long run.

A high precision mini CNC router, also known as a CNC milling machine, often have a powerful motor and can be a great choice for cutting or milling if you don’t have as much space and you’re not planning on doing quite as much when it comes to your routing needs.

These CNC machines are definitely going to help you with a lot of features when used with a router table or T-slot table, but saving you some money is going to be an added bonus that you won’t want to miss out on.

Just keep in mind that it’s not the same as a standard size CNC machine and you shouldn’t expect it to work quite as hard or as fast. If you do you could be disappointed or you could end up hurting the router itself. This router is 17.5” x 10” and is able to mill anything up to 5”. So, if you’re looking for something larger than that you may want to keep looking for something different or even go to a full-size CNC router to get a larger area.

For most, however, this is going to be a decent size and it’s going to give you plenty of area to work with. Just make sure that you have a good quality router to use with the CNC framework and you’re going to be off to a great start with your next project. If you’re going to build your own mini CNC you need to have some knowledge of electronics such as soldering and even using a multimeter.

If you don’t, you’re going to be better off buying one of these units rather than attempting to put one together for yourself. They can be a little complicated and you definitely don’t want to mess up on the plans and end up with something that isn’t going to work for you, right? It’s not going to do you any good that way and you’ll be out the time and money it took for you to put it together.

You’re going to need a whole bunch of pieces for this system and for more on those parts and on the instructions you can check out this website and get a full rendition and plenty of pictures. That way you’re really going to see what you’re doing all the way through and be prepared for whatever you need to do next. Otherwise, make sure you’re taking a look at some of the options that are out there and what you’ll be able to do with them when you’re finished putting them together.

CNC Router Machine

This is a travel style CNC router and it’s designed to give you a very small surface area to work on. Even still, it’s going to give you the software you need to work on it, a good quality power supply and a PVC frame with steel guide rods.

It’s definitely a unique unit and it will work with softer materials like wood and aluminum. It’s not designed for use with larger or thicker material or heavier ones as it doesn’t have a lot of power, but it’s definitely going to give you something you can enjoy working with on a smaller scale.

It includes the software you need to use it and is relatively easy to assemble, though it is a time-consuming process. The videos are generally the best instruction method and once you’ve got it together you can start using it right away.

It’s definitely going to be something you can have some fun with and get used to before you decide if you want to spend a lot of money on something larger and more elaborate that can definitely do anything that you want it to do.

DIY CNC Router Kit

This DIY CNC kit is definitely designed for you to build your own and get a feel for how a CNC router will really work for you. It’s ideal for those who are looking to build smaller projects and those who want to work with wood and lighter types of metal.

It’s moderately priced, so it’s great for those getting into the hobby and it has a smaller working area so you can practice on smaller pieces and projects before getting a larger CNC router.

The software included with this kit is easy to install and use as well and makes it simple for you to get started on your first project. Whether you want to carve wood, plastic, PCB CCL, copper, aluminum or acrylic, you’ll be able to do it with this router.

When you’ve got a chance to take a look and try it out you’ll be able to see why so many people really like using a CNC router on their larger projects and for full-size applications. It’s lightweight and easily able to be moved wherever you want and it has high-quality materials that make it durable, even for the active hobbyist.

No matter what you’re thinking about doing with your Mini CNC router machine, you’re going to find that it’s a whole lot of fun to have one. Whether you’ve ever used a CNC machine before or not, you’ll see that there’s a whole lot more to it than what you may have thought and there are plenty of new ways to explore it and make sure that you’re really getting the best of everything. It’s going to be a whole lot of fun and a whole lot of learning. But it’s a great investment to make before deciding if you really want a full-size machine in your workshop, at a much higher cost.

Bosch 1617EVSPK Router Kit Review 2020

In line with the trend to make routers more versatile comes the Bosch 1617EVSPK. With this router table, Bosch intended to start a new trend, but did it manage to do that; you will find that in our review.

First Look

On paper, this router looks feature packed. You get two bases, fixed and plunge, a powerful motor and few features with the promise of increased efficiency and performance.

On the outside, you get a solid aluminum router, the handles (of both fixed and plunge base) are well-built and good to hold, and the various knobs makes sure that you can make a lot of adjustments with this router table for the best use of the tools.

With manufacturers trying to move from single purpose router tables to more versatile routers, the Bosch 1617EVSPK seems to have all the firepower needed to lead the pack.

Specs

Before we get to the top features, here is what the specs sheet looks like.

The Bosch 1617EVSPK router table has a 2.25 Horse power motor with a current rating of 12 ampere. You get 8,000 – 25,000 rpm with the variable speed controller. Knowing the motor breadth, width, and depth is important for setting up your Bosch router. The Bosch 1617 motor diameter is 6 inches fixed base/ 6-11/16 inches for plunge.

The whole body is made of aluminum which ensures that this router is comparatively lightweight (below 20 pounds).

It features a durable construction, however the wooden handles on the fixed base could have been a little better. Being known as one among the best, this router is meant to handles heavy woodwork and the construction & design back that up nicely.

Powerful Motor with Variable Speed

The 2.25 HP motor is designed to handle heavy jobs. The high power rating of the Bosch 1617EVSPK router table ensure that you can handle almost anything with this, and that with the added convenience of two different bases.

The powerful motors like in the Dewalt DW618PK can sometimes destroy the wood. Fortunately, This is not the case with Bosch 1617EVSPK which has a soft start mechanism which prevents any damage at the start.

The constant response circuitry ensures that the router maintains the optimal efficiency and speed throughout resulting in cleaner cuts.

Variable Speed Mechanism

You can easily change the speed with dial located on the front side of the router. You get 6 different speed options and rpm ranges from 8,000 to 25,000.

For the first three levels you get RPM below 17,000. The lower speed settings can be paired up with larger diameter bits while the higher speeds can be used to handle smaller bits on softwood.

The constant response circuitry ensures you get the desired cuts at the desired speed. A slightly less powerful router with variable speed is the Bosch PR20EVSK, which however only comes with a fixed base.

Multiple Bases

Finally you get both fixed base and plunge base with this router kit. The base diameter is large enough and should work with most jobs.

The patented Bosch Precision Centering Design allows the bit to be in line with the sub base. You can also make a depth adjustment on the fixed base with the help of a knob. This works well for under the table applications on your wood routers.

Few Problems

There are a few issues to with the 1617EVSPK. Firstly it can be quite cumbersome to change the bases. With practice and continuous use this might seem easier but you will still face some difficulty. Once it’s locked however, it stays secure.

There also few issues with the switch which attracts dust which can result in a malfunction. You are advised to keep the area clean and wipe the router for dust after every job.

In a nutsell..

The Bosch 1617EVSPK is one of our best recommendations for anyone except complete beginners. If you are planning to work on a huge variety of workpieces and designs then you can buy this and get both plunge and fixed routers. If you have the budget for it, we’d recommend you to get the Bosch Ra1181 router table as it’s a perfect match for this router table.

If you handle heavy work, the powerful motor with speed control works well. Solid construction and durability make this Bosch wood router table a winner. Just flip on the power switch and get to work! For more great reviews, visit RouterTableReviews.net.