Customer Reviews

Skil 1820 2-HP Plunge Router with Site Light

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This router uses a flimpsy mechanism to mount/unmount bits. You have to push a sliding plate over the axle to fix its position, so you can tighten/untighten the nut that fixes bits. After a while, this sliding plate will no longer grip the axle, because (a) the axle steel quality is inferior, and (b) the sliding plate steel quality is inferior.
You will end up with a rounded/worn axle which axle the sliding plate can no longer fixate. Time to buy a new one.
Please spend $50 more and have a router that will last a lifetime instead of a toy that wears out after 20 bit changes.

For the money,this is a good buy.However, the quality and workmanship
of the router are marginal at best.But it works ok.I don't believe it will hold up over the long haul(however long a haul is).

The 2 hp Skil 1820 Plunge Router is an ideal Machine for ocassinial home use and works as expected for a 1/4 in shank router. The only drawback is the fine depth adjustment. It is very difficult to adjust a precise dept of cut. Also it would be nice to have incorporated a two step adjustment for deep cuts so a rough cut can be made and then followed up with a final depth

Not a bad router but not my first choice. My old Skill blew up the collet and as I can't afford to replace my Skil 3100-12 X-Bench Workstation with a good router table I am stuck (it only takes Skill routers and the plate is brittle plastic that can't be readily modified.

The good:
Seems to have adequate power (I have done a couple dove tails [14º by ½"] in hard maple, slow going); I doubt that it will work in Osage Orange or any really hard tough wood.
The collet and shaft nut are an integral piece and pretty well built. The reviewer that claims that the arrangement is flimsy obviously has never seen this router or skill changed the design.
The micro adjust knob does work fairly well.

The bad:
The collet and shaft nut are an integral piece and Skill routers have a tendency to destroy collets in hard use.
The collet and shaft nut are an integral piece and pretty expensive to replace.
The various accessories appear to be totally imaginary. The "Dust Collector Port" does not exist and apparently never has.
Saw dust packs up in closed joints like dovetails and dadoes, see picture. In hard wood need to backout and clean joint every few inches.

The ugly:
Documentation is really poor.
The micro adjust knob doesn't pull up to adjust--just turn it; difficult when working against gravity.
Not variable speed (I don't really expect it at this price).
Bit change and adjustment from above the table are pretty clunky, not to say hard on the back and temper. Again at this price I don't really expect much.

Overall not nearly as good a buy as theMilwaukee 5616-24 2-¼ -Max-Horsepower EVS Multi-Base Router Kit Includes Plunge Base and BodyGrip Fixed Base, but I have to wait to buy that until I can afford a good table and I have a project to finish.

I thought that this was a bargain for the price I paid. It does everything that I could want. It seems to have all the power and functions of an expensive router. I am an amateur woodworker and it does the job for me. Great starter router. I would recommend this router to anyone.

I've never had this happen before in any tool. One of the winding pickups on the armature broke off. When I opened up the motor, the pickup was loose in the case. One of the brushes had gotten jammed into the armature.

Other than that, I found it to be an okay router. Plenty of power, but weight \ balance wise it was hard to use it smoothly. So I left it permanently mounted in my router table, and bought a Hitachi router for hand use. I am much happier using the Hitachi free hand than I was with the Skil. I won't miss this one.

I am completely satisfied with the router. It arrived in excellent condition and is a welcome addition to my shop.