The long ergonomic handles are rubberised, and I find them more comfortable to use compared with the rounded ones on the Triton TRA001. There’s also a pair of dust extractor adaptors for removing dust from both above and below the cutting head. One of the most powerful routers I’ve tested out, the Triton TRA001 is a seriously powerful bit of kit.

Dust Collection: Wood routers can create a lot of dust and wood shavings, which can create a frustrating mess to clean up. If you plan to do a lot of routing, or just want to cut down on cleanup time, make sure to choose a plunge router that is compatible with your current dust collection capabilities, whether that’s a shop vacuum or a dedicated dust collection system.My first ever router. After watching many howto's on YouTube, I decided to go for it. Excellent router. I made a mirror to fit the side of my wardrobe project and I am pleased with the result. Only slight disappointment is that Bosch does not provide a hose for dust collection, but apart from that I am extremely pleased with the finished results." The powerful 2,100 Watt motor has a soft start feature and spins up the router bit from 11,500 – 28,000 rpm. You can drop the depth down to 50 mm, which isn’t the deepest but enough for most routing jobs.

It has a 1,400 Watt motor with a soft start that powers the router from an impressive 11,000 – 28,000 rpm and the 55 mm plunge depth can be finely adjusted for intricate work. One of the best features I found on this plunge router is Bosch’s Constant Electronic system that maintains a stable cutting speed no matter what material you’re working with. It’s features like this that help to reduce tear-out and ensure a smooth operation. The Bosch DIY range is pretty solid, even though it falls at the cheaper end of the price spectrum. Just don’t expect it to withstand hours and hours of daily use. For that, you’ll need to look towards the blue professional stuff. The dust extraction port works well but you’ll need an existing vacuum and pipework to set it all up properly. This is probably only going to be worth it if you plan to do a lot of routing in the future. But then it does make a hell of a mess. There is a lot to like in this machine. Like most ½ inch routers, the motor is variable speed. Whether you are working softwood and need high speed to stop splintering, or need a slower RPM for hard lumber, this router can accommodate.There’s a 710 Watt motor on board that can spin ¼” or 3/8” shank bits up from 13,000 to a maximum of 33,000 rpm. Its speed-adjustable as well by turning the wheel on top. DEWINNER have included the normal accessories such as a straight and curved guide, but they’ve gone a bit further than the competition. You cannot buy different speed motors for various tasks, so it is best to buy a plunge router to adjust the speed as required. Safety and comfort If you want to be a serious woodworker, sooner or later you’re going to need a plunge router. These handy little machines are designed to “plunge” their router bit directly into wood, so you can begin cutting in the middle of your workpiece. That is unlike fixed-base routers that are designed to be used only around edges. What makes the best plunge router a versatile tool is the wide range of bits you can get that all perform different tasks: The DWE625 is DeWalt’s contribution to the 1/2” router category. Unsurprisingly for this premium power tool company, the DWE625 is an expensive tool but with a lot of good features. First and foremost, it comes with collets for both 1/4” and 1/2” router bits, particularly useful if you are already using a 1/4” router and have a selection of router bits that you would like to use in the DeWalt router as well. It has a powerful 2000W motor with electronic speed control meaning that the speed of the motor will be maintained no matter how tough a wood you throw at it or if one overdoes the hand pressure when routing. The DeWalt motor also has soft start to prevent any inadvertent movement at start up, important both for safety as well as for routing accuracy. The motor speed itself can also be adjusted anywhere from 8,000 to 20,000 RPM using a dial at the top of the machine, useful for setting the ideal cutting speed for the material being cut.

The RP0900X router is also a relatively low-powered router using only a 900W electric motor to power a single rotational speed of 27,000rpm. It comes with a collet for 1/4-inch router bits but can also accept a 3/8-inch collet. However, the usefulness of the larger collet size is debatable given that router bits with this shank size are not particularly common. Importantly, the Makita router will not accept a 1/2-inch collet or 1/2-inch router bits, nor does it have the power to run these larger bits effectively. So anyone planning to use this Makita machine for heavier routing, such as cutting kitchen worktops or similar, should look elsewhere. The RP0900X router from the Makita Corporation is the Japanese company's entry-level plunge router. Like all Makita tools, the basic router is a solidly-built machine which has been precision engineered and built to the highest of standards. It is a 1/4-inch router that is lightweight, easy to control and provides a smooth output. Like most 1/4-inch routers, it is easier to use than 1/2-inch routers but even more so given its small size and low weight.Cut from the same quality cloth as the best palm router on our list, Makita’s DRT50ZX4 is a brushless cordless trimmer that gives you all the power you need without the cord to trip over. This little beast forms part of Makita’s excellent LXT range of Lithium-Ion powered tools. You can share the batteries from your drill or saw to power up this palm router, making it brilliantly versatile. I’d like to get this off my chest to begin with: I’m not a professional woodworker, nor am I the world’s most competent DIYer. But I do have several friends with workshops and they are always willing to help me make less of a mess. That said, I can happily report that getting used to this Bosch POF 1200 AE doesn’t take too long and the results are impressive for a tool at this price point. I found accessing the bits to be fiddly and a bit frustrating, while that plastic guard is most definitely flimsy. The brittle plastic that attaches to the unit is very easy to accidentally break.