Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router Kit

by Makita

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Power, precision, control--that's what you get with Makita's two-in-one 2-1/4-horsepower router kit. This router is industrial-grade, with rugged, all-ball-bearing construction and the quietest motor in its class. Makita designed its industrial router kit for the serious professional and loaded it with features that help produce top-quality results in materials ranging from hardwood to plastic. The router motor features, among other things, electronic speed control, variable speed settings (from 8,000 to 24,000 rpm), and a soft start. These features make it easy for users to match the router speed to the bit or cutter diameter and to the type of material being cut, resulting in a more precise and accurate cut. The router comes with both fixed and plunge bases, along with the accessories you'll need to handle most routing jobs. An on-board speed chart makes it easy to decide which setting to use for any given material. --Carl Thress

Product Description

Variable speed - 8,000 to 24,000 rpm. Powerful 11 amp motor. Rugged aluminum motor housing. Industrial cam-lock for easy depth adjustment . Includes regular and plunge bases.

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Product Details

Product Manual [186kb PDF]

• Shipping Weight: 21.2 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B00005OQME
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: RF1101KIT
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #207,699 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

78 of 78 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pro Quality, Quiet, Flexible, Reliable, and a Work Horse, February 12, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I needed a new router (or two), so I could keep my old router hooked up to a jig all the time. I was looking for a powerful and compact plunge router and a D-handle router in a combination kit with ¼ and ½ inch collets, and variable speed. I could not find any such kits.

In the past, the only corded tools I would purchase were Milwaukee or Porter Cable brands, but the Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router kit changed that.
Formerly, I used Makita brand for cordless tools exclusively. I have a Makita 9.6v drill that I used professionally, every day for two years and never had a problem. That drill is was purchased in the spring of 1986, and still works fine. It is now part of my collection of many Makita cordless tools, all of which are professional quality tools.

Since Makita offered a 2-¼ Router kit that has enough power to handle most of the bigger bits I use, and Milwaukee and Porter Cable didn't, it was an easy choice, but I still wanted a D-handle router.

Makita's Parts suppliers also offer a RD1101 2-1/4 HP D-Handle Router base that works fine with the RF1101 kit. The base is pricey, but not as bad as purchasing another router. **For safety reasons, it is advisable that you shorten the router power cord, or buy the cord for the rd110. This cord plugs into the D-handle base (Makita D-handle power supply cord AWG#16-3-0.7 - Part Number: 565055-7). This cord costs less than an average 25ft extension cord.

With the d-handle base added to the router kit, I now have three bases and don't have to spend the money for three different routers. The standard router base resides in my router table all the time. The D-handle is used for all fixed base routing, as well as a remote switch for the router table (until I purchase a bump type). The plunge base is used for plunge type work like mortises, stop dados.

The 1100 and 1101 series routers are very well built. The collets swap out quickly and also make stuck router bit shanks a thing of the past. You do need to use two wrenches that are provided to change bits and collets. I see this as a plus. A spindle lock or shaft lock type bit changing setup (what I had on my first router), puts too much stress on the router's shaft or arbor, which can weaken the shaft.

Other positives:
* This router has it is quiet for a router in it's amperage range.

* The kit comes with an extra clear base plate; I use it as a template to make other base plates.

* The dust collection is as good as it gets for a router. Although the dust collection attachment is clear, it does make it hard to see what happening around the bit. I hook it up to my Fein vacuum that automatically starts up with the tool, and it does pickup a large amount of saw dust, especially with upward spiral bits.

* The base uses standard Porter-Cable style template guides and is compact, but stable.

* An edge guide is also provided

* The soft start feature is a luxury that stops me from flinching and putting a death grip on the handles every time I start up.

* The router is light but solid, with out a lot of plastic.

* The plunge base has a turret style stop that allows plunges to be done incrementally in three steps.

I am so pleased with this router, that I have purchased other Makita corded power tools (LS1010 sliding compound miter saw, and four different sanders), all of which are top quality professional tools.
**** Update: June 2011 *****
This Router is still going strong. It has no trouble spinning large bits when in the router table. The other routers just sit and collect dust.

61 of 61 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars From a professional, July 22, 2003

By 

C. L. Moore "Architectural Millwork company o... (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I am a professional architectural millworker and furniture maker with 30 years experience. I have had many routers, almost every brand made over the years. I put many hours on my routers and have 11 routers right now including Porter Cable, Hitachi, Ryobi, DeWalt, Bosch, Fein and Makita. I own 2 RF1101s, one a kit with the plunge base. The RF1101s are my favorite routers that I have ever owned. I love the quietness of them, they have plenty of power when needed, good balance and weight, and they are very rugged. One of mine is mounted in my shop made horizontal slot mortiser. I can actually hear the radio or someone talking while using it in most woods. Even with a 1/2 inch spiral bit into maple making a 4 inch long slot 1 inch deep (not all at once) I can use it at about half on the dial and cut clean slots effortlessly. The other is my favorite shop plunge router (over another older Makita, an Hitachi, and two Porter Cables).
If you only buy one router this is the one to get. The only router that I have seen with better dust collection is the DeWalt with the collection through the handle, but I would still much rather have the Makita for its power and ruggedness.

19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This Underdog really cuts it up... but isn't perfect., November 9, 2003

By 

Robert Glantz "Rmplstlskn" (Charlottesville, VA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Makita RF1101KIT 2-1/4 HP Industrial Router Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

Most people when they need a good router just assume that the big boys (DeWalt/P-C/Bosch) are the big boys for a reason and buy one too. They are good routers but each has its own "personality" that must be matched to the job and many times these big boys are not the best nor the most useable.

The Makita RF1101KIT is truly an underdog that shines bright in the shop (unless you are a very picky perfectionist). The 2-1/4 HP motor is absolutely smooth, powerful and QUIET, as far as routers are concerned. The variable speed is also simple and smooth. The motor, the HEART of any router, is sure to last a long time in this Makita if you don't abuse it.

The stable flat top makes bit changes fast and easy but the stamped steel wrenches could use a overhaul. They are somewhat loose on the collet nuts and seem "soft," like you could spread them out if you half-heartedly tried. The base is identical to the P-C 690 and takes all the P-C assessories perfectly, which saves some money and time as everyone makes their accessories to fit a 690. No ultra-expensive, model-specific marketing ploy.

The fixed base is where my biggest beef is. The PLASTIC ring that has measurement graduations on it, helping in precise adjustments, is absolute CRAP. The measurements are very hard to see and the ring is way too loose, making small adjustments a hit-n-miss attempt. Moreover, one TWO models I have seen, including my own, one or two of the skimpy, thin plastic tabs that barely hold the ring into the aluminum base have broken off and allow the ring to fall off when you swap the motor and it no longer stays where you rotate it, making it useless. I have taken mine off and just adjust height like a pro does, with a ruler or spacers. Very poor design Makita... FIX IT!

The plunge base is one of the best. Not as smooth as the DeWalt but far better than the P-C, probqably equal to Bosch. It lifts the motor smoothly with springs but is easily dropped down and set. The control lever is OK but not the most ergonomic in placement. It does lock very securely so it won't move as you use it. The rotating plunge set wheel mounted on the base is very secure and substantial, not loose like Bosch and DeWalt. It has multiple adjustments... almost too many. I really like the plunge adjustments and this is one of the big selling points for me. The dust shroud works good if you want it.

The edge guide/fence? Hmmmm. It works but very cheap and cheezy. Just plain stamped steel and some steel rods... very basic. I wouldn't trust it on anything needing precision lines. The micro-adjust P-C guide is much better and fits prefect.

Finally, the case. It is a GREAT CASE with stash points for all your goodies, as well as some 1/4" and 1/2" bits. It also holds the router and bases securely. It is tough and should last as long as the router.

All in all, I'm glad I bought the Makita. It is quality, very durable and isn't something everyone out there has.... YET! But just like any router out there, as the various reviews show, nothing is PERFECT. This will be so as long as people have habits, ideas and opinions... The Makita comes darn close though... DARN CLOSE!