At 30 I've only recently discovered the existence of the amazing tool that is the wood router. I'm a musician that has recently got into customizing/upgrading my own guitars, and watched luthiers on youtube build their own instruments out of a router. I'm also a DIY'er in general around the house. And finding out about the router was like pandoras box of creation for me! Last month I bought a Dremel 4300 which I partly bought for doing some light routing. I gave it the task of making some custom drawer/cabinet faces for my bathroom. Well, the Dremel was not up to the task (it sucks for any serious routing). So I decided I was gonna bite the bullet and buy a proper wood router. I educated myself on this tool, and decided that I wanted to get a combination fixed base/plunge router.
I went to every avenue and excessively researched these things for the best bang for my buck. Home Depot, Lowes, Harbor Freight, eBay, and here, comparing models. I was shocked to see the brick and mortar stores (especially HD and Lowes) have a pretty limited selection of wood routers and accessories. The cheapest in-store deal I could find was Lowes Dewalt combination fixed and plunge base router at $200, not including tax. That was a little too high of a price of an entry point for me.
Then I ran across this Makita. I love Makita products. The price almost sounded too good to be true for a combination fixed base/plunge router. I ordered it. I quickly learned how to use setup the tool and I absolutely love it! I made my first cut doing some trim on scrap wood and was blown away. This thing is a wood-cutting beast. Using some cheap project lumbar from HD, I started crafting my own bathroom cabinetry. This thing just effortlessly cuts through wood. It's very easy to control, it doesn't violently start up (which I heard some are bad for). I love that it has a speed control. I leave it on the highest setting (which I heard is best to do), but the fact that it even has that is pretty awesome for the price. And my first set of router bits, I bought a nice kit in Harbor Freight (with coupon) for $30 bucks. They work exceptionally well with this Makita. I used for the plunge attachment and fixed based for doing trim.
Honestly, I just love this thing, it's my new favorite tool! It's so fun and amazing the stuff you can make with this. It just takes a little patience and creativity. The tool came with a straight-edge guide for the fixed base which I found kinda useless. Some of the pictures of it in-action show a straight edge guide for the plunge base. I wish it came with this, but it's hard for me to balk for the price. The last thing, it would have been nice if it came with a case like other Makita products, too, but that's also not something to balk at.
This is a great tool. I think it's an excellent buy for both entry-level woodworkers like me and more experienced users. And I see it being something that could actually save you money over time if you're into home remodeling as well. I'm definitely going to be using this to craft my own trim, railings, doors, and other things around the house. Highly recommend this router, definitely one of the coolest tools I've bought in my adult life!
| Brand | Makita |
|---|---|
| Material | Alloy Steel |
| Power Source | Hand Powered |
| Product Dimensions | 3.5"W x 7.88"H |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Weight | 3.9 Pounds |
| Horsepower | 1.25 Horsepower |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 30000 RPM |
| Amperage | 6.5 Amps |
| Base Type | Fixed |
| Battery Description | Corded electric |
| Color | Teal |
| Global Trade Identification Number | 00088381652872 |
| UPC | 758353348903 088381652872 |
| Manufacturer | Makita |
| Part Number | RT0701C |
| Item Weight | 3.9 pounds |
| Item model number | RT0701C |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | 0 |
| Style | Tool |
| Finish | Teal |
| Shape | shape |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Number of Handles | 1 |
| Special Features | compact |
| Usage | specific_uses_for_product |
| Included Components | Makita - 1-1/4 H.P. Compact Router Fixed Base 10000-300 (RT0701C) |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Description Pile | Corded electric |
| Warranty Description | 1 year that covers repair due to defects in materials or workmanship |
