The best routers

Any carpenter or owner interested in the individuality of the home environment knows that woodwork is impossible without a special tool. The best milling cutters are indispensable for obtaining straight, curly grooves, sawing holes of complex shapes, lamellas and other work on hard materials. The types of hand-held wood cutters differ depending on the desired result: vertical, edging, lamellar, filler. Worthy nominees were selected for each category and presented in the ranking.

Milling cutter of which company is better to choose

In order not to get lost in the variety of assortment, you need to narrow the options for the purpose and manufacturer. You can avoid meeting a low-quality product by choosing a tool from trusted firms that do not stop at development:

• DeWalt Is a global company with American origins. Engaged in the production of construction tools and clothing. In 1922, the chief design engineer made a name for himself with the introduction of a benchmark saw that combined quality and durability.
• Black+Decker Is an American brand founded back in 1910. Starting with a small workshop, the creators managed to win the trust of buyers thanks to the high requirements for the goods. Today, specialization is limited to household, construction and garden equipment.
• Bosch Is a German group of companies that has been developing since 1810. The corporation is committed to creating idealized consumer products. From car accessories, household appliances, to packaging materials.
• Elitech - the trade mark belongs to the company "Lit Trading". For a long time they acted as distributors in the Russian market. Inspired by the success of international brands, the executives decided to create their own production of equipment and home appliances.
• Kolner Is a Russian trade mark that started its work in 2008. She quickly fell in love with buyers for the combination of low price and high quality. Today, the management has created a positive competition for the world's oldest companies.
• Bort Is a Chinese company with over 22 years of experience in the international market. The production is carried out according to German engineering developments. The extended warranty - 24 months confirms the high interest. The manufacturer often conducts statistical research. Therefore, he proudly declares that the products are often chosen by girls because of their ease of use.
• Ryobi Is a Japanese company registered in 1943. With inherent national pedantry, managers are sensitive to production technology, safety and environmental friendliness. At the same time, do not forget about the needs of the end user.
• Hammer - a German corporation, registered back in 1980, but began production only in 1997. During this time, engineers have accumulated experience by studying the latest technologies. But the market entry was very competitive. Measuring, gardening, construction equipment pleases buyers with European quality.
• Makita Is a Japanese manufacturer of electric and gas powered tools. A small electric motor repair shop since 1917 has become one of the best on the market. Today it produces over 350 instruments and even more accessories for them.
• Interskol Is a Russian company founded in 1991. It can boast that it has taken a leading position in the international market.The production facilities are constantly expanding without losing quality.

Milling cutters rating

To decide which router is better to buy for home or work, you need to carefully consider a number of characteristics that it possesses. When entering the nominee in the TOP, the opinions of experts, customer reviews, equipment testing results, as well as the following selection criteria were taken into account:

• Stationary / mobile type;
• Use on the machine;
• Rechargeable or wired;
• Cord length;
• Backlight;
• Vacuum cleaner adapter;
• Storage case;
• The weight;
• Price;
• Type of work;
• Material compatibility;
• Collet size;
• Immersion depth;
• Power;
• Performance;
• Replaceability of elements.

The best milling cutters included in the 2024 rating have good performance in all respects, so I deservedly take my place.

Best Electric Chain Saws

The best routers

Routers are considered the most versatile and adapted for home use. Here the chuck is attached directly to the electric motor, and the precision of movement is carried out by the guide rods. To figure out which wood router is better to choose, 37 tools were considered. The following nominees proved to be the best.

DeWalt D 26204 K

The first nominee in the ranking has a bright design with yellow accents and a decent assembly. When working, nothing "backlash" and does not vibrate. The parts are precisely sized for a tight connection. The cutter travel is designed for 55 mm, and the maximum diameter is 36 mm. This allows for fairly large grooves. And at a speed of 16000-27000 rpm, the process is fast. Nice additions will be adapters for connecting a vacuum cleaner, 2 bases, a suitcase for storage, lighting. Having bought such a kit, there is no need to return to the store for missing accessories.

Advantages

• Good equipment;
• Power 900 W;
• Smooth start;
• 36 months warranty;
• Comfortable weight 2.9 kg.

disadvantages

• There are fakes.

Users share that the model can be upgraded to an edge. For this there is a large selection of additional elements on foreign sites.

Black + Decker KW1200E

A good manual router for an affordable price. The rotation speed is adjustable in the range of 8000-28000 rpm, and the maximum power is 1200 W. The set contains 3 collets of different diameters. The accuracy of the milling depth is set down to tenths of a millimeter. Together with the revolving stop, such functions allow making "jewelry" grooves. For the convenience of work, the manufacturer has attached a template, a guide, a carbon copy, a device for finishing vertical projections.

Advantages

• Price;
• Lots of accessories;
• Suitable for beginners;
• Smooth outsole.

disadvantages

• The gap between the body and the wire;
• Stiff slide along the rail.

The owners note the ergonomics of the tool. All handles are rubberized and pleasant to the touch. The necessary buttons are located under the working fingers, so there is no need to reach them.

Bosch POF 1400 ACE

The multifunctional model will delight you with its price and a large set. The power consumption of the router is quite a bit lower than the high performance class, amounting to 1400 W. However, the developers provided the device with high efficiency, which is confirmed by the 650 W output. Cope with such indicators simply, thanks to the built-in speed control system. The grooves are smooth, without jerks or sharp edges. For this, there are 3 collet sizes of 6 mm, 8 mm, 1/4 ″ and additional spindle fixation.

Advantages

• 2 year warranty;
• Long cable;
• Roomy case;
• Smooth start;
• Nice to hold.

disadvantages

• Not very bright backlighting.

The question of storing all the device attributes does not arise. Everything fits in a branded plastic suitcase with a carrying handle.

Elitech Ф 1800Э

The hand router immediately stands out for its bright red body and solid construction. Parts for assembly were selected on the principle of "forever", so the weight turned out to be 4.3 kg.Some buyers note that hands get tired quickly because of this. But such brutality, together with the power of 1800 W, gives a good result. For the uniformity of holes and grooves, the coherence of such characteristics as: revolving stop, setting the depth of milling, fixing the spindle is responsible. The built-in illumination creates a good overview.

Advantages

• 2.5 m cable;
• Connecting a vacuum cleaner;
• Non-standard collet;
• There is a 12 mm collet;
• Convenient tilt of the handles.

disadvantages

• The power button is clogged with dust.

Craftsmen share that construction dust often gets into the crevices of tools. You shouldn't be afraid of this. Such a defect can be easily corrected on its own by removing the plastic cover and cleaning the hole.

Kolner KER 1200V

The cheapest manual wood router in the category. It copes well with household tasks, but will be weak for professional use. The rotational speed of the cutter is adjustable in the range of 15000-30000 rpm with a power consumption of 1200 W. Working depth 50 mm. To install the cutters, the set includes 2 collets with a diameter of 6, 8 mm, and for a quick start of operation, a parallel stop, a copying sleeve, carbon brushes. For better visibility of the surface and faster cleaning of the room, there is a connector for a vacuum cleaner.

Advantages

• Price;
• Does not heat up;
• Good build;
• Compact.

disadvantages

• No smooth start;
• Noisy.

The forums have topics dedicated to the problem of finding cutters from a similar company. Users are advised to take a closer look at the Hammer manufacturer that is suitable for this model.

Bort BOF-1600N

The last router has a weight of 4.8 kg. But this is smoothed out by high maneuverability and an impressive 1500 watts. Engineers have worked on the design of the device. Therefore, for a snug fit to the working surface, a cast sole was chosen. The revolutions vary in the range of 12000-26000 rpm, their switching occurs smoothly, without overloading the electric motor.

Advantages

• Price;
• Possibility to install 12 mm collet;
• Cutter stroke 60 mm;
• 5-year manufacturer's warranty.

disadvantages

• No case;
• Not a very convenient mechanism for replacing cutters.

Despite the budget of the product, some buyers use it in small carpentry shops every day. They highlight the fact that the router does not heat up even after prolonged use.

The best jigsaws

The best edge routers

To give the product the required design, they resort to edge processing. More often, furniture makers use edge milling cutters. But this does not mean that the tool will be useless at home. For example, you can update an annoying shelf or assemble an exclusive furniture set. To compile the rating, 16 options were analyzed, and only 2 were the best.

Ryobi R18TR-0

The Riobi cordless router is compact with a weight of 1.3 kg. Therefore, repair work will be available anywhere. During operation, there is no need to fix the wires or worry about their kinks. The tool is powered by a lithium-ion battery. This does not affect the power in any way - the rotation speed is 29,000 rpm. The kit includes 2 collet chucks, 6 and 6.35 mm, which are tightly fixed with a nut.

Advantages

• Warranty 24 months;
• LED backlight;
• Weight 1.3 kg;
• Transparent base.

disadvantages

• The set does not include a battery and charger;
• No vacuum cleaner adapter.

The unpainted base allows you to closely follow the movement of the apparatus. Over time, such material is scratched and worn out, but replacing a part is not difficult.

Hammer FRZ710 Premium

The Hammer beveler stands out with its bulky body. However, this does not add extra effort in the milling process. The model weighs 1.75 kg, and reviews from online markets are filled with positive impressions of a comfortable position in the hand. Soft start makes getting started easier by smoothing kickback even at 30,000 rpm. Cutters of various diameters are connected to the device due to the 6, 8, 10 mm collets included in the kit.

Advantages

• A large number of accessories from the manufacturer;
• No backlash, vibration;
• Build quality;
• Spare brushes.

disadvantages

• Not very high quality inclined base;
• May get hot with heavy use.

At the time of purchase, users are advised to pay attention to silicone lubricants and treat all "rubbing" areas before the first use. So, the Hummer will run quieter and longer.

The best lamella cutters

Lamellar cutters are indispensable for joiners and furniture makers. They are designed for cutting grooves in lamella joints. Thus, the assembly of wooden furniture will be faster and the structure will be more reliable. The assembly principle of such a tool is similar to a conventional grinder, only the cutting part moves parallel to the sole. 23 devices were compared to select the top 2 candidates.

Makita PJ7000

The Makita key router is the owner of a rare phenomenon when the output power (960 W) is greater than the consumed power (710 W). The cutter stroke is 20 mm at a rotation speed of 11000 rpm. The comfortable cord is 2.5 m long and has good insulation. The kit includes a 100 mm cutter. If necessary, it can be changed to a version with a smaller diameter. A front handle is provided for added precision. But those who are used to working without it can quickly remove the part.

Advantages

• Convenient to hold;
• Spindle fixation;
• Storage suitcase;
• 12 months warranty;
• American assembly.

disadvantages

• The price is above average;
• The power button is not very conveniently located.

Wearers praise the waste disposal system for being carried into a bag, leaving a clean work surface.

DeWalt DW 682 K

The premium household lamellar router has a bright design and is assembled from high quality materials. The exact vertical position is created using the rack and pinion adjuster. The router can be used not only as a key cutter, by changing the height and angle of inclination of the guide. Planing is quicker thanks to convenient cutter changes. The spindle lock has been developed for this.

Advantages

• Chip collection bag;
• Suitcase for transportation / storage;
• Soft pad on the handle;
• Good tilt angle.

disadvantages

• The price is above average.

The set cannot boast of a lot of content. But all the components are endowed with high quality. The cutter is made of carbide materials and will last longer than usual.

Best Additive Router

A manual filler cutter is necessary for competent joining of parts by cutting grooves of the required width and depth. Using a drill, even the most pedantic owner will not be able to achieve such a result without slopes and protrusions. When viewing 11 models, you should pay attention to only 1.

Interskol FMSh-12/710

It is possible to buy an interskol filler mill for both domestic and industrial purposes. The device is universal for many types of material: soft / hard wood, plastic, chipboard. This is complemented by a good technical component - productivity is 18500 rpm, power is 710 W, average noise level is 85 dB. The manufacturer has thought out the details to save money and time. Therefore, the kit includes 3 collets for 6, 8, 10 mm, a set of dowels.

Advantages

• Depth setting;
• A branch pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner;
• Tilt angle adjustment;
• Easy to replace parts;
• Maximum depth 43 mm.

disadvantages

• Price.

Before the first "clean" use, it is better to fill your hand on unnecessary materials. Since the device is heavy, it can confuse the direction when turned on.

Which router is better to buy

To make the right choice, you need to decide on the type of work planned: sawing, decoration, joining, edge processing. After that, the frequency of use, storage space, method of transportation are assessed. For those who have decided on these points, you can use the following recommendations:

• DeWalt D 26204 K - suitable for those who want to buy a tool and forget about additional expenses.
• Black + Decker KW1200E is an ergonomic variant with intuitive functionality.
• Bosch POF 1400 ACE is an affordable high-end choice.
• Elitech Ф 1800Э - provides the most smooth, precise edges.
• Kolner KER 1200V is a good choice if you need to buy an inexpensive router.
• The Bort BOF-1600N is a manoeuvrable tool with impressive weight.
• Ryobi R18TR-0 is the only cordless trimmer in the ranking.
• Hammer FRZ710 Premium - equipped with a justified soft start at high performance.
• DeWalt DW 682 K is a lamellar router with a perfect vertical position.
• Interskol FMSh-12/710 is the only additive milling cutter that works on almost any surface.

The best milling cutters meet all safety requirements, being developed in factories in several stages. Before purchasing a product, it is advisable to visit a store to look at the product and hold it in your hands. This will make the purchase more correct.