Which milling machine to choose for wood. How to choose a manual router? Snap fastening unit

High-quality power tools, which include a hand mill, will always be appropriate helpers for home craftsmen. The services of such equipment are used by furniture manufacturers, carpenters and master finishers.

Due to its universal design, a manual milling machine is able to work not only with wooden blanks, but also with other textures, which include various types of plastics, composite materials, plexiglass or artificial stone. Often, it is possible to form a complex relief, punch complex grooves or give a given shape only with the help of an electric hand-held wood router. An ergonomic small machine in the home workshop will be more convenient than bulky stationary machines that consume tens of kilowatts and need several square meters of free space.

The difference between manual models

A manual wood milling machine has many advantages over massive classic machines. For the latter, the principle of operation was to ensure the movement of the workpiece fixed on the frame relative to the rotating edge of the cutting tool. The cutter remains fixed in the spindle. This method has remained valid since the invention of the milling machine in the early 19th century.

Technologies of the second half of the 20th century made it possible to assemble a hand-held wood router for industrial and domestic use in small dimensions. The main task of electrical appliances was to ensure the rotation of the cutter, and the feed (moving along the workpiece) was done by the operator himself. For some models, the tool is structurally directed not down, but up. In this case, you have to move the workpiece, and not the manual milling cutter over the surface.

The tool is able to work with any materials and perform several operations at once

The tasks that the fraser performs are associated with the creation of decorative products from relatively soft blanks. The device is suitable for decorating all kinds of partitions, repairing or assembling furniture or manufacturing other massive structures.

Young professionals involved in do-it-yourself repairs may at first get the impression that this unit has a complex device. This is not true. The features that distinguish this manual wood cutter are as follows:

• snap fixing is made directly on the drive shaft (spindle);
• there are no intermediate nodes in the design for transmitting rotation, as is the case with other electric tools;
• the power of the power head, which is installed on wood routers, is comparable to the same parameters of stationary equipment;
• a distinctive feature that manual installations have is a significantly higher rotation speed than conventional machines;
• The set with the mobile device includes many auxiliary devices and devices that provide a high degree of processing accuracy, including templates, clamps, stops, etc.

VIDEO: Rules for choosing a manual router for beginners

Design features of products

The main components that a milling machine has are the following blocks:

• electric motor;
• sole;
• rod mechanism;
• attachment attachment point;
• collet chuck for tool.

The sole is made in budget models from stamped sheet metal, and in advanced models from aluminum elements. If you don’t know which option to choose, then give preference to molded soles, which are distinguished by a clear geometry and high-quality fit to the surface to be treated.

The ability to vertically move the head ensures the functionality of the equipment. It moves along a pair of guide rods. Minimal backlash, lack of distortions and reeling is evidence of high-quality equipment.

The tool is fixed on the spindle in a collet chuck. A specially shaped nut presses the collet cut into petals into the conical hole of the chuck, providing a reliable grip on the cylindrical part of the cutter shank. A set of collets allows you to fix all popular tool sizes. It should be noted that some collets are made to American standards and their diameter is a multiple of inches, not mm.

Variety of lineup

Before choosing a manual router, you need to decide what tasks it should perform. Manufacturers offer several types of tools, which can be both specialized (designed for a wide range of tasks) and narrow-profile (performing a limited range of operations).

Designed to perform basic operations, which include the formation of grooves, curly holes, radius surfaces, chamfers, closed contours, etc. Affordable for both homework and small production.

Engaged in cutting grooves, chamfering, forming grooves. Perfectly copes with the processing of products, the surface of which is covered with veneer or laminate. It is in demand in industrial conditions, and there is little work for him at home.

Designed for cutting a through hole in wood, ceramic products, plasterboard, plastic products. Capable of edge processing.

Produced by manufacturers for precise cutting of grooves used when connecting individual parts. Often, with the help of this device, specialists remove branches, resin pockets, etc.

Refers to highly specialized technology. The choice of a milling cutter in this category is relevant for furniture production. It forms paired holes to provide dowel connections.

Choosing the best hand router for your home workshop

Consider the most popular devices on the market. They are easy to find in popular online stores or construction supermarkets nearby.

Bosch GMF 1600

The choice of a manual professional router can be made in favor of a submersible German model from Bosch. Its considerable price meets high quality requirements. The 1.6 kW motor allows you to penetrate 76 mm into the workpiece. The spindle rotates at a frequency of 10-25 thousand rpm.

Excellent build quality allows machining with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. The mass of the product is 4.3 kg, while the device easily fits on the surface to be treated. The working area is illuminated by LEDs.

Specifications:

• vertical arrangement;
• power 1.6 kW
• rotation speed 10000-25000 rpm
• cutter travel 7.6 cm
• weight 5.8 kg

Functionality:

• rotation speed adjustment
• revolver stop;
• the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner.

The price of equipment is 33,000 rubles.

Makita RP1800F

Excellent value for money is represented by a six-kilogram model for 19,500 rubles. The 1.8 kW electric motor allows you to go deep by 70 mm. The maximum speed is 22 thousand rpm.

The disadvantage is the presence of only one collet in the kit. You can order a set of adapter sleeves or a spare 8mm collet. To maintain the speed at a stable level, there is a special system.

Specifications:

• vertical arrangement;
• power 1.85 kW
• rotation speed 10000-22000 rpm
• cutter stroke 7 cm
• weight 6 kg;
• cable length 4 m.

Functionality:

• rotation speed adjustment
• maintaining a constant speed under load;
• revolver stop;

The price of the router is 19000-19500 rubles.

• Makita RP1800F User Manual

Hand milling machine for wood Hitachi M12V2

The excellent design of the model is supported by a two-kilowatt motor and the ability to cut holes up to 65 mm. The set includes 12mm and 8mm collets. The disadvantage is the presence of coarse adjustment of the dive.

Specifications:

• vertical arrangement;
• power 2.0 kW
• cutter travel 6.5 cm;
• weight 6.3 kg;
• cable length 3.8 m.

Functionality:

• rotation speed adjustment
• maintaining a constant speed under load;
• revolver stop;
• spindle locking under load;
• precise setting of the cutter stroke.

The price of the milling cutter is 15,000 rubles.

Bosch POF 1200AE

The hand mill is equipped with a control unit that allows you to adjust the speed. The accelerator in the adjusting wheel is responsible for this. The built-in spindle lock increases the working potential of the model and provides it with the necessary ergonomics - cutters can be changed quickly and easily. It is designed for a wide range of soft materials - wood, plastic, chipboard, MDF, etc. It can be used as stationary equipment, provided it is fixed on the frame, or as a portable (mobile tool).

Specifications:

• vertical arrangement;
• power 1.2 kW
• rotation speed 11000-28000 rpm
• cutter travel 5.5 cm;
• the size of the complete drawers is 0.6 cm, 0.8 cm, ¼ inch;
• weight 3.4 kg;
• cable length 3.8 m.

Functionality:

• rotation speed adjustment
• revolver stop;
• spindle lock under load.

The price of the router is 5790 rubles.

DeWALT DW 625 E

Among the entire range of manual routers, it is the leader in milling depth - 8 cm. It is designed to work with different materials from soft plastic to hard wood, which provides automatic adjustment of the cutter rotation speed. When turned on, it does not bounce, which in other devices leads to injury to the worker.

Specifications:

• vertical arrangement;
• power 2.0 kW
• rotation speed 8000-20000 rpm
• cutter travel 8.0 cm;
• the size of the complete drawers is 1.2 cm;
• weight 5.2 kg.

Functionality:

• maintaining a constant speed under load;
• rotation speed adjustment
• revolver stop;
• smooth start;
• spindle lock under load.

The price of the router is 23060-25000 rubles.

VIDEO: Useful accessories for a manual router

Frankly, a hand router cannot be fully considered an indispensable tool in the “arsenal” of any home craftsman. However, if the owner of the house is serious about independent woodworking, if he expects that the products made by him will be done really accurately, if he plans to further improve his skills, then he can’t do without this tool.

General information about hand routers

Before proceeding to consider the criteria for choosing this tool, it probably makes sense to get acquainted with its functionality, main varieties and basic device.

What operations are “within the power” of a manual milling cutter

Of course, if the question arose of acquiring such a useful tool, then the potential owner should already at least in general terms represent the scope of its future application - what functions will be assigned to the router. And in this matter, I must say, everything is going very well - when using various equipment and, of course, with a “full hand” of the master, the functionality of a manual router is extremely wide:

Illustration	Brief description of the possibilities of a manual router
	This device allows you to cut simple and complex curly grooves and spikes, slots and folds, for example, to connect furniture parts, choose quarters.
	With the help of a milling cutter, the edges of the workpieces are perfectly processed. In this case, the edge can be either perfectly flat, perpendicular to the planes, or a certain complex configuration.
	With such a tool, operations for cutting out seating slots for locks, hinges, and other furniture fittings are greatly simplified. The milling cutter allows you to drill holes, both in the form of a regular circle and figured, and there are practically no restrictions on their size.
	It becomes possible to accurately copy complex parts, work on templates and patterns.
	The hand router becomes an indispensable tool for high-precision fitting of mating parts.
	With this tool, you can apply decorative carvings on the surfaces of wooden parts. And experienced craftsmen are even able to perform fine art work.

But even with the above list, the possibilities of a high-quality manual router are most likely not limited. A skilled craftsman will always find a "creative" use for this very useful tool.

Find out how to choose the right one for woodworking in our new article on our portal.

Varieties of manual routers

Several are on sale varieties of manual routers, which differ mainly in their purpose.

• The most common and, perhaps, the most versatile can be called a router (you can find the names of rod or submersible type). Almost all of the above operations are available to him - it all depends only on the skill of the worker and the type of cutters used. It is widely used both in production and at home.

• Lamellar milling cutters have a narrowly focused specialization, since their main purpose is to select grooves. But on the other hand, they cope with this function better than all others. They are used, as a rule, in furniture production. In domestic conditions, the presence of such a tool seems redundant.

• Edge routers (other names - edging or even trimmers). The tool is designed, as the name implies, for fast and accurate processing of the edges of parts. Allows you to perform fine work - chamfering, cutting grooves, processing parts without damaging their top veneer or laminated coating, accurate sampling of small nests and grooves. As a rule, it has a fairly compact size, which makes it easier to work in hard-to-reach places. Most often included in the arsenal of professional furniture makers, but for home use it turns out to be unprofitable. Although, how do you know...

• Filler mills are also classified as highly specialized. They are equipped with two cutters and are designed to create paired holes ( nests) for the subsequent precise assembly of furniture parts using dowels or curly dowels. Fully “loading” such a tool at home is also unlikely to work.

So, it is quite obvious that if we are not talking about equipment for professional carpentry, then the vertical plunge router will be the best choice for the home workshop. It is this variety that will be discussed further.

Vertical plunge cutter device

The illustration below shows a typical layout for most vertical plunge routers. Differences from model to model, of course, can be, but they, as a rule, are not of a fundamental nature, and are more related to ergonomics and additional equipment of the tool.

1 - housing located at the top of the tool. The housing contains an electric drive. A characteristic feature of vertical type hand mills is the absence of a gear mechanism, that is, the torque is transmitted directly from the electric motor to the working spindle. The case is often also called the head part or, in common parlance, the “head” of the milling cutter.

2 - support platform that moves along the surface of the workpiece during processing operations. A window has been made in the working area in which the cutter will be located. Usually the platforms have a plastic lining on the bottom, and in some models this lining is made of a transparent material - to improve visibility.

3 - guide stays rigidly connected to the platform. But their connection with the "head" is made movable - it moves up and down along these guides. And, springs are provided that tend to move the head to the top position. In many models, the guide rods are additionally covered with corrugated casings, which to a certain extent protect the movable joint from dust and fine sawdust.

4 - working handles. It is through them that the master transmits the vertical force that sets the depth of processing by the cutter, and the desired horizontal direction. Handles can have a different shape - such as shown in the illustration, pistol, mushroom, etc.

5 - as a rule, on one of the handles there are buttons (keys) for starting the router. Usually the buttons are paired - one starting, the second safety, in order to avoid accidental unauthorized activation of the tool.

6 - spindle speed controller. Hand routers allow you to process not only wood, but also many types of plastics, artificial or natural stone, and even some metal parts. Naturally, this requires adjusting the speed of the cutter. Yes, and when working with wood of various species, this function is necessary. Rotation speed adjustment can be performed electromechanically or electronically - it all depends on the specific model. The location of the regulator can also be different.

7 - working spindle with a collet chuck for installing a cutter. Many models provide the ability to change cartridges for different diameter cutter shanks.

Prices for a manual router

manual frezer

8 - vertical stop, with which the maximum depth of milling is set. It can be moved in height by fixing the position with the locking screw (pos. 9). To set the required processing depth, a scale with a pointer (pos. 10) is provided. It can be linear, as in the illustration, or another type, such as an arrow. Accurate setting, with an error of up to tenths of a millimeter, is provided by a special flywheel (pos. 11).

12 - step limiter for the depth of processing - it is against it that the vertical stop rests. Allows not only to set the maximum depth of milling, but also to carry out high-quality processing in several passes, so as not to “force” the cutters. After each pass, the limiter rotates around its axis, placing the next, lower step under the stop, allowing you to perform deeper milling. As a rule, it has screws with lock nuts, which allows you to accurately set the depth of each pass.

13 - a parallel fence that allows you to perform grooves or quarters, other types of processing or cutting slots parallel to the edges of the workpiece. This stop moves along the guide rods (pos.14), which are rigidly fixed to the platform with screws. The stop itself is fixed in the desired position using stoppers or screws (pos. 15). In some models, fine adjustment of the stop position is also provided, for which there is a special additional mechanism with an adjusting handwheel with a scale (pos. 16 ).

From point 13 and below, this is a removable tooling for a router that is installed as needed. As a rule, a parallel stop is included with the model. By the way, the parallel emphasis may not be the only “representative” of such additional equipment.

More details on some nodes and parts of a manual router will be described below, when considering the criteria for selecting a tool.

Criteria for choosing a manual router

So, it was decided that one cannot do without a manual router in the home “arsenal”. What criteria should be used to select the optimal model?

In many ways, the choice will depend on the expected frequency of milling work, their main focus, the type of material being processed, the experience of the home master (or his complete absence, which, however, will come with time), the financial side of the issue and other factors.

Hand router power

This parameter, by the way, concerns not only the power of the electric drive, but also largely determines the dimensions and massiveness of the entire tool. So, all manual vertical mills are conventionally divided into three subcategories:

Illustration	Power category of the tool and its features
	Lightweight hand saws. Power usually does not exceed 750 - 1000 watts. Tool weight - up to 3 kg. Able to perform short work without high load. They can also be used by professionals for fine work. The most affordable.
	Middle class manual cutters. Power - from 1000 to 1500 watts. The mass of the tool is from 3 to 5 kg. The optimal solution for most of the tasks specific to the home workshop.
	Heavy-duty manual cutters. Power from 1500 to 2500 watts. Weight exceeds 5 kg. Able to perform long non-stop work under heavy load. Designed for professional use. Requires considerable operator skills.

If you purchase the most inexpensive compact, low-power option, you may encounter a situation where, in the midst of work, when the master succeeds, and he, so to speak, went into a rage, the electric drive suddenly overheats, which forces you to make a rather long pause. Comfortable? - probably not much. There may be another case when the cutter begins to slip in a hardwood blank.

It turns out that a light milling cutter from these positions becomes inconvenient to use. Paradoxically, it can be rather attributed to a professional instrument. That is, for large-scale operations, the master has a medium or heavy apparatus, and especially delicate processing that does not require large volumes of output, and where accuracy is a priority, can be entrusted to a light one.

The best option for a home workshop is still a middle-class router, with a power of about 1200 ÷ 1500 watts. It will handle most tasks, with a considerable amount of wood sampling, it is “too tough” and hardwoods within certain processing time limits. Such tools have a moderate massiveness (and, by the way, it is also needed to perform milling work).

But a heavy hand mill can literally exhaust an inexperienced operator - it is very difficult to handle a heavy tool. And, most likely, in the conditions of a home workshop, the high power and large “motor resource” of such a router will remain completely unclaimed.

True, if the milling cutter is supposed to be used in a stationary location, that is, as a “head” for a milling table, increased power can only be welcomed.

The speed of rotation of the working spindle and the possibility of its adjustment

One of the main quantities that determine the operational capabilities of the tool. Most modern hand routers have a maximum rotation speed of about 20 to 30 thousand revolutions per minute. AND this is a very acceptable indicator.. True, there are exceptions, both in greater and lesser directions.

It is clear that the higher the speed of rotation of the cutter, the cleaner the machined surface is. But some delicate operations are still best done at low speeds. In addition, if the processing of polymer blanks is supposed, then minimum speed indicators are generally required here, otherwise the plastic will simply melt under the cutter. It is required to vary the speed and depending on the type of wood. The diameter of the cutter is also of great importance, since the linear speed of the cutting edge on large cutters is much higher. The recommended indicator (maximum) is very often indicated on the packaging of the cutters. It should not be exceeded, otherwise the cutting edge will simply begin to overheat and burn the layer of wood at the processing site.

Prices for wood cutters

cutters for wood

Conclusion - the design of a manual milling cutter should provide the ability to adjust the spindle speed. It is, probably, on all models of the middle and heavy class, but on low-power ones it is often absent.
There are regulators with a smooth change, but step switching is more often used. The regulator itself has a digital scale, and the decoding of the absolute speed values ​​for each position is indicated in the product passport. Many models have a plate (diagram) directly on the body that corresponds to the position of the regulator with the number of revolutions.

The more adjustment steps, the more accurately it will be possible to vary the speed of rotation of the cutter. Usually 6 ÷ 8 positions are provided. Well, what specific speed to choose when processing a particular material or when performing various operations - all this will come with experience.

Another point is important. When choosing a router model, you should pay attention to the location of this regulator - it is desirable that it be placed in a place that would exclude accidental changes in the settings during operation, for example, by careless hand movement. In addition, each of the positions of the adjusting flywheel must have a certain fixation, or it must rotate rather tightly so that during vibration (and there is no getting away from it anyway), the selected position does not spontaneously shift.

"Submersible" mechanism of a manual vertical router

This is perhaps the most important unit that ensures the quality and convenience of working with a manual milling cutter. And here it is necessary to evaluate several positions at once.

• Working stroke of the cutter vertically. This indicator directly affects the possible depth of processing of the workpiece. For low-power milling cutters, the output usually lies in the range of 20 ÷ 30 mm, which is sometimes clearly not enough. Powerful professional-grade models allow you to move the cutter up to 70 ÷ 80 mm.

Far from always, this indicator is indicated in the product passports, and it has to be assessed already directly when getting acquainted with the chosen model. It is considered normal if the collet in its lowest position reaches the lower edge of the support platform. Even better, if in this position the clamping head even extends beyond the platform - this expands the possibilities of the tool.

• Guide rods. The head of the handheld router moves vertically along two guide rods. This is how the depth of processing of the material is set in the process of work. And in order to avoid difficulties during the execution of operations, it is necessary to carefully test the operation of this mechanism.

The movement of the head must be free, without backlash, distortion, braking. Its independent return to the upper position should be ensured by the springs placed inside. If during testing even slight difficulties in ensuring the movement of the “head” were revealed, then the purchase of this model should be abandoned. It is unlikely that the problem will go away by itself - rather, it will only get worse, as this can be facilitated by small sawdust that has penetrated into the slip units.

By the way, many manufacturers provide for the protection of these nodes from dust ingress - the rods are “dressed” in corrugated casings.

A stopper must also be provided to fix the position of the head in a certain position in height - many milling operations are performed this way. The stopper must be both reliable and convenient, and the execution is different. For example, an eccentric lever or a clamping screw (which is often one of the working handles of the router).

• Milling depth setting mechanism. The quality of operations depends on how convenient and accurate it is.

In the vast majority of models, this mechanism is made in the form of a rod stop with the possibility of its movement in height and fixation in a certain position. Most often, either on the rod itself or directly next to it, a scale with graduations in millimeters is applied, according to which the desired depth of material development is set. In addition, many models also have a fine depth adjustment screw, with which values ​​can be changed literally to tenths of a millimeter.

On the platform itself, an emphasis is also provided, against which the rod set at the desired milling depth will rest. This emphasis is most often made "revolving" type, that is, it has several height positions that can be set by turning it around its axis. Such an improvement allows you to initially set the required milling depth, but the processing itself is carried out in several passes, gradually increasing the depth. So the quality of work becomes much higher, the resource of the cutters used increases.

This "turret" stop may simply have a stepped configuration, but more often it is possible to further finely adjust each of the positions with a screw with a lock nut.

Unit for installing working cutters

As a rule, a collet chuck is used on the spindle of hand routers, which provides a reliable fixing of the cutter shank. A button or lever for temporarily locking the spindle is provided for tightening the cartridge, and a special open-end wrench is included in the kit.

But the diameter of the collet itself can be different. For example, light models often limit the use of cutters with a shank diameter of 6 or 8 mm. Milling cutters of a professional class allow the use of equipment with a diameter of 10 ÷ 12 mm.

In order to achieve maximum versatility of the tool, it is better to choose a model with a large diameter "regular" collet. The fact is that in this case there is a full opportunity to switch, if necessary, to smaller diameters of the shank. For these purposes, either special interchangeable collets or bushings are used. They are not always included in the package, but they are easy to purchase separately if the need arises.

True, when changing cutters to a smaller diameter, some caution should be observed. That is, you should take into account the permissible spindle speed for a particular tooling, and make timely adjustments to the settings. Otherwise, a thin shank may simply not withstand excessive load.

You should pay attention to the quality of the collets themselves. The appearance of even the slightest runout of the cutter must be completely excluded, that is, the chuck must ensure perfect centering. In this regard, clamps with the maximum number of collet petals show themselves better.

Working platform (sole) of the router

From workmanship of this most important part of the tool directly depends on the quality of the work and the capabilities of the router. It is the platform that becomes the main support for the workpiece, and its movement along the surface should not be accompanied by any interference.

And this means that the platform must be perfectly flat from below, without the slightest sign of deformation. As a rule, a polymer overlay is provided - with it, sliding on a wooden surface is freer, and the risk of accidental scratching of the workpiece is reduced.

The advantage when choosing should be given to cast metal platforms. They are of better quality and durable, and it is with them that truly professional models are equipped. Stamped metal platforms are lighter, cheaper, but sometimes they are “behaving”. In addition, the risk of their deformation during work with a heavy load is not excluded.

The area of ​​the platform must ensure good stability of the tool during operations. The size of the window for the cutter also matters - sometimes too small an opening can seriously limit the use of large diameter equipment.

It is understood that a good overview of the processing area must be provided. You can find models of routers (usually edge cutters), in which the overlay on the platform is generally made of transparent plastic. On the one hand, of course, it is convenient, but over time, the plastic fades, loses its transparency, which forces the replacement of the part. However, occasionally as they wear out, you have to replace any polymer lining of the sole - usually they are made removable for this.

Features of the electrical part

You should pay attention to some points directly related to the operation of the electric drive of the tool.

• The soft start system is not available for all models. But if it is, then this is a considerable "bonus" to the overall quality of the instrument.

When you press the start button, the router does not gain momentum, but gradually. This eliminates jerks, starting drive overloads. Careful attitude to the cutting equipment is ensured, the probability of accidental damage to the workpiece at the beginning of its processing is minimized.

• The location of the start key is also of considerable importance - it should be convenient for the operator, not cause rapid finger fatigue, and allow you to quickly respond when controlling the processing process. As a rule, the start key is located on one of the handles. Although there are other options.

But in order to exclude the possibility of an accidental start, a safety button must also be provided. In addition, many models also include a start key lock button in the on position - this is necessary when performing many voluminous tasks. It is known that often a hand mill is installed permanently on the desktop (rack), and it is simply impossible to do without such a stopper in the on position.

• Modern professional models are equipped with an electronic system for automatically maintaining a given rotation speed. This feature allows you to perform the highest quality processing of parts. It is quite understandable that when milling dense wood species, due to the resistance exerted, the number of revolutions can drop. In addition, sometimes there are particularly compacted areas of the material, for example, in the area of ​​​​knots. Constant electronics will instantly respond to this and adjust the current drive power so that the rotation speed remains stable in any areas.
• In order not to worry too much about the possible overheating of the tool (during work, you can just get carried away and forget about the need for periodic pauses), it is best to purchase models equipped with a safety shutdown system. If there are signs of overheating, the thermal relay or a special mechanism on the motor brushes will simply break the drive power circuit.

Not all models have such a system - more often it is provided for high power professional tool. Alternatively, you can purchase a milling cutter, in which a color indicator will signal an imminent overheating.

• Convenient to use hand-held routers, which provide built-in LED illumination of the working area. This allows you not to reduce the accuracy of operations even in low light conditions or in conditions of unfavorable location of natural or artificial light sources in the room.
• It makes sense to immediately estimate the length of the power cord - if it is too short, then this will create a lot of difficulties when performing milling operations. Pay attention to the location of the cord - it should not impede visibility, maneuverability.

In addition, the unfortunate location of the cable often provokes its desire to be in close proximity to the treatment area - and this is already quite dangerous.

Additional equipment for a manual router

When working with a manual milling cutter, additional devices can be invaluable. Some of them are traditionally included in the package, others are purchased separately.

Parallel emphasis is usually completed with all models. It allows you to perform smooth processing parallel to the edge of the workpiece or template.

The accuracy of processing depends on the quality of the manufacture of the stop. Alas, there are products that do not stand up to criticism - with obvious deformations of the metal plate or with insufficient fixation of the rods. This is worth paying attention to.

More "advanced" stops allow even with high accuracy to set the value of the lateral overhang relative to the axis of rotation of the cutter. They are equipped with a special screw with a printed adjustment scale.

Another option to ensure sampling of accurate linear or processing edges according to given dimensions - this is the use of a special metal tire. Instead of a parallel stop, an adapter shoe is put on the bars of the milling cutter sole, which will move along the ledge of the tire, providing the required movement of the tool.

Special templates help to select openings, grooves, nests, decorative surface finishes with precisely specified dimensions. Many craftsmen make them on their own, but some universal models can be purchased at a specialized store.

But to work with templates or for the "serial" reproduction of parts of complex configuration according to a previously manufactured one, special additional equipment is required.

It can be just a cutter with a bearing that moves along the edge of the template. But this approach is not always convenient. It happens that the bearing on low-quality cutters overheats and shatters at the most inopportune moment, which leads to damage to the workpiece.

Another approach involves the use of special copy bushings installed from below into the window of the supporting platform. In this case, the tool moves with the support of the protrusion of the sleeve on the edge of the template, exactly repeating its configuration.

Prices for manual router "Makita"

manual router Makita

The fastening of the bushings can be different - using curly protrusions or threaded fittings. So if the potential owner plans to have this type of processing operations, it makes sense to immediately evaluate whether the model you like allows you to install such nozzles, and what specific bushings are required for this router and whether they are on sale.

To perform smooth rounding of the corners of furniture panels, to cut round holes or nests of large diameter, circular nozzles help. They are also connected by rods to the working platform of the router and are rigidly fixed in the center of the future arc or circle. And by changing the length of the rod, the required radius is set.

Circular nozzles can be a separate "device". But very often, parallel stops, which have a special plumb for fastening in the center of the circle and are deployed upwards to perform this operation, quite cope with this role. It is probably not difficult to make such a device on your own, as convenient as possible for personal use, using standard clamps for attaching rods to the platform.

Most modern models are already equipped by default with a pipe for connecting a vacuum cleaner hose. This allows you to clean sawdust directly in the course of work, which improves the visibility of the working area, the quality and accuracy of the operations performed. If there is no such option, then you should ask if such a possibility is provided at all, and if there are adapters suitable for this model on sale.

Check out useful tips and an overview of vacuum cleaner models from our new article on our portal -

Concluding the consideration of the criteria for choosing a quality hand router, we can add the following. Such a tool should be purchased only in specialized stores, where there is the possibility of "personal communication" with the chosen model. The ergonomics of the router is very important, and to evaluate it without holding it in your hand, without trying convenience controls and adjustments is simply impossible.

In addition, in good stores you can get competent advice, try out the tool at idle and under load (there should be no beats, vibrations, backlash). It is advisable to immediately familiarize yourself with the terms of the manufacturer's warranty, with the location of service centers in the region of residence, with the availability of free sale of consumables and the most necessary components.

It is clear that preference should always be given to the original equipment of reputable manufacturers. It is hardly worth buying products from unknown companies - at least it would be wise to first get acquainted with them on the official websites (if they exist, of course) and on the forums of professional craftsmen.

The purchase of a milling cutter must be accompanied by a mark in the product passport indicating the place and date of sale. Without this, the factory warranty will simply remain a sham.

A brief overview of popular models of manual routers

The review will be provided in two "weight categories" that may be suitable for a home workshop - light and medium routers. And in each of them we will consider three models popular with users.

Acquiring heavy, powerful milling equipment without experience in performing work is an unnecessary adventure that will only result in a waste of a lot of money. And expensive equipment will be mostly idle, that is, it will become absolutely unprofitable.

Lightweight handheld routers up to 1000 W

"Fiolent MF 2 - 620E"

Lightweight model, through the use of which a huge number of novice masters have passed. It may be considered obsolete, but nevertheless it is still being produced and is in rather high demand, largely due to its affordable cost.

Prices for manual router "Bosch"

Bosch manual router

• The main technical characteristics of the router:

Power - 620 watts.

Spindle speed - adjustable, from 7800 to32000 rpm

The working vertical course of a mill - 50 mm.

The diameter of the collet chuck is 8 mm.

Turret stop - milling depth limiter with 3 positions.

Tool dimensions - 275 × 130 × 267 mm, weight 2.3 kg.

Soft start, illumination of the working area, the possibility of installing copy bushings are not provided. There is no built-in nozzle for the vacuum cleaner hose, but the platform has threaded sockets for its installation.

The average cost of a router is 3400 rubles.

Lightweight, inexpensive milling cutter, allows you to work with one hand.

Despite the low power, it is capable of long-term operation due to a successful drive cooling system.

Comfortable soft long cord.

Many speak of it as the best model for the first amateur steps in mastering milling skills.

• Disadvantages of the model:

Nevertheless, in comparison with modern milling cutters, it is already the day before yesterday.

A very inconvenient and inaccurate sampling depth system - a trial run with a subsequent measurement is required without fail - the errors can be several millimeters.

Poor build quality of the "immersion unit" - vertical guides often wedge.

The clamping screw-stopper, which simultaneously acts as a second handle, is rather flimsy.

The clamping screws for attaching the rip fence bars (included in the kit) are very short, so often fixing them is not enough.

An inconvenient, outdated and not reliable spindle speed control mechanism located directly on the trigger.

Many masters independently modify this model, and then successfully use it for a long time.

Makita RP 0900 »

Popular lightweight low power model. It is better to purchase the original Japanese assembly, but finding one is an extremely difficult task, since the main production facilities are located in China.

• The main characteristics of the router:

Drive power - 900 W

The spindle speed is 27000 rpm, and the possibility of adjusting this parameter is not provided.

The working stroke of the cutter is 35 mm.

Regular collet - 8 mm.

Dimensions of the device - 256 × 200 × 200 mm, weight 2.7 kg.

Soft start systems, maintaining a stable speed, illumination of the working area is not provided.

The average price of a router in the basic configuration (with a parallel stop and a removable nozzle for a vacuum cleaner) is 7400 rubles.

Makita router prices

Milling cutter Makita RP0900

• The noted advantages of the model:

Compactness, maneuverability, convenience when performing delicate operations, thoughtful ergonomics.

Convenient start key with safety button and lock on position.

Very convenient and accurate system for setting the depth of processing.

• Flaws

They are not numerous, and the main thing is still the lack of the ability to regulate the number of revolutions.

Sometimes the quality of the Chinese assembly is criticized - on some products, both backlash and jamming of the vertical rods were noted when the “head” was moved.

"Hitachi M8SA 2"

A very popular model of a well-known Japanese company, most often assembled in Malaysia. Low power milling cutter, well suited for fairly accurate and high-quality work in the home workshop.

Prices for manual milling cutter "VORTEX"

manual milling cutter VORTEX

Electric drive power - 900 W.

Spindle speed - 25000 rpm. /min without the possibility of adjustment.

The working stroke of the cutter is 60 mm.

The diameter of the collet chuck is 8 mm.

The mass of the router is 3.5 kg.

Soft start, illumination of the working area - not provided.

Approximate price - 8400 rubles.

Milling cutter prices Hitachi

Milling cutter Hitachi M8SA2

• The noted advantages of the model:

High performance for a long time.

Excellent ergonomics, the ability to change the inclined position of the working handles for the most comfortable.

Convenient and accurate system for setting the depth of processing.

High build quality, including the vertical movement of the "head".

Good equipment, including a parallel stop with the possibility of fine adjustment of the length of the departure.

Excellent overview of the work area. Possibility of fast installation of copy plugs.

• Mentioned disadvantages:

Lack of speed control on this model. A similar model with such a regulator is produced. But he is scolded for poor fixation of the chosen position - under the influence of vibration, he can “crawl” to another position on his own.

There were complaints about the rapid wear of the motor brushes.

The main disadvantage of users is the extremely uncomfortable collet assembly, which requires considerable effort when changing the cutter.

Medium power handheld routers (1000 to 1500 W)

Bosch POF 1400 ACE

A very popular model, considered by many to be one of the best in this category. The brand is Germany, but the assembly on the Russian market is most often Chinese.

• The main characteristics of the model:

Drive power - 1400 watts.

Spindle speedadjustable- from 11000 before 28000 rpm

The working stroke of the cutter is 55 mm.

Soft start system and maintaining a stable speed.

Illumination of the working area.

Collet diameter - 6 or 8 mm. A 10 mm adapter can be installed.

The mass of the router is 3.5 kg.

Bosch milling cutter prices

Milling cutter Bosch POF 1400 ACE

• Advantages of the model:

Excellent ergonomics.

A convenient system for installing copy rings and cutters that does not require the use of additional tools.

High accuracy of the operations performed, a convenient mechanism for setting the depth of the passage, with the possibility of precise setting up to 0.1 mm.

Good equipment, including a convenient case.

• Disadvantages reported by users:

The system for removing sawdust from the working area does not always live up to expectations.

There have been complaints about the presence of play on the guide rods. However, it is noted that the return springs are made too tight, which requires additional effort during operation.

The power cable is short.

It is not possible to use cutters with a 12 mm shank.

"Metabo OfE 1229 Signal"

An excellent high-precision cutter of the middle class of German design and original assembly.

• Model characteristics:

Electric drive power - 1200 W.

Extended range of spindle speed adjustment - from 5000 to 25000 rpm.

The working stroke of the cutter is 50 mm.

Collet diameter - 8 mm.

System for maintaining a stable number of revolutions.

Overheat protection - self-switching off motor brushes.

The mass of the device is 3.4 kg.

Approximate price - 22000 rub.

• Advantages of the milling cutter:

Excellent performance, high versatility.

Convenient and accurate system for adjusting the depth of processing - with arrow indication.

Highest reliability in operation, excellent build quality.

• Noted disadvantages:

Too tight trigger keys for the unaccustomed.

There are no lighting systems for the work area and soft start. At this price, they still clearly suggest themselves.

Limitation in the use of cutters with a shank diameter of only 8 mm.

Although the quality of the router is excellent, the price is still clearly too high for a tool of this power category, and with a far from complete set of possible functions.

AEG MF 1400 KE

Manual milling cutter of the German brand, traditionally assembled in China. A model famous for its rich equipment.

• Main characteristics of the device

Electric drive power - 1400 W.

The spindle speed is adjustable from 10,000 to 23,000 rpm.

There is a system of "constant electronics" - maintaining the desired speed of rotation, regardless of the load.

System of smooth start-up and quick braking of the spindle when turned off.

The working stroke of the cutter is 64 mm.

Collet diameter - 10 and 12 mm.

Overheat protection.

Illumination of the working area

The mass of the device in the submersible assembly is 5.4 kg, in the edge assembly - 4 kg.

The average cost of a set - 19000 rub.

• Advantages of the model:

First of all, it comes to mind without exaggeration - a chic package.

So, the set includes two bases with three soles of different configurations - for immersion, edging and copying operations. In addition - five copy sleeves of different diameters, two collet chucks (10 and 12 mm), a parallel stop with rods, a sawdust removal system with interchangeable adapters for a vacuum cleaner - for various types of operations performed, the necessary keys and mounting parts. The soles and protective guards are made of transparent plastic, which provides a good overview of the work area. The whole set is packed in a convenient bag.

Excellent ergonomics of the router in any kind of assembly.

Multifunctionality - in fact, two tools in one set.

Quite a reasonable combination of quality, staffing and price.

For "advanced" craftsmen - a unique opportunity to use the "head" as an electric drive for self-developed and manufactured woodworking machines.

• Noted disadvantages:

There are many complaints about the work of the submersible base - too tight running, frequent jamming. Judging by the reviews, many craftsmen, who do not want to part with this tool, immediately upgrade the vertical guide rods.

The device in the assembly version with a submersible base is very heavy (more than 5 kg) - not all operations are convenient to perform.

Linings, screens and guiding stops made of plexiglass wear out rather quickly, become cloudy, lose their transparency and require replacement.

Fasteners used for mounting accessories and overlays have an inch standard. In case of loss of screws, there may be certain difficulties in finding analogues.

So, the criteria for choosing a manual router were considered, tips were given for evaluating such a tool, and a brief overview of popular models was given. We hope that the information received will help the reader to choose the best option.

And to complete the overall picture, watch a video in which an experienced master gives his recommendations on choosing a router for beginners.

Video: How to approach the choice of your first manual router?

Amateur craftsmen who create furniture, garden decorations and various decorative elements with their own hands often wonder how and which wood router to choose? This tool is very convenient, and in a number of works it is almost irreplaceable. With the help of a milling cutter, you can grind a wide variety of elements quickly and without restrictions in shape or pattern. And for some beginner woodworkers, this tool is a real dream at all.

Although this article is about choosing a router for working with wood, I will still mention that with the necessary equipment and suitable characteristics, it can be used to work with other, rougher or, conversely, delicate materials. The milling cutter does an excellent job with materials such as:

• plastic;
• fake diamond;
• plexiglass;
• non-ferrous metals;
• composite materials.

What you need to know before choosing a wood router

When choosing a tool, you need to decide on what types of wood and for what work the router will be used. Wood can be different - solid from soft and hard species, as well as wood-based materials - plywood, chipboard, etc. The necessary characteristics of the router will depend on this, and I will focus on this later in the article.

Of course, a milling cutter that supports all standard collet diameters, has high power, is equipped with a soft start and speed control, convenient adjustment, is reliable and at the same time has a small weight can be considered almost ideal. But, firstly, such characteristics are characteristic of rather expensive devices of the “above average” level. And secondly, making price the main selection criterion is also wrong. It is advisable to choose exactly the type of tool that suits your needs, current and near future tasks.

So, for example, when amateur working with soft woods, it is not necessary to chase high powers and speeds. For everyday tasks, a record immersion depth of the router is also not always needed - 30 mm is quite enough.

If the device is purchased for a specific highly specialized job, it may be beneficial to purchase a specialized milling cutter. Often, such devices can be purchased at a lower price than universal models of the same level.
If the tool is purchased for periodic work on the farm, it may also be redundant with the maximum delivery set with many additional attachments. The quality of standard cutters for inexpensive routers leaves much to be desired - they quickly become dull, and cutters that you will never need can be supplied in the kit. Therefore, it is more profitable not to overpay for them at the time of buying a router, if such a model is more expensive, but to purchase cutters later as needed. Fortunately, a good set of a dozen cutters can be bought quite inexpensively - about 1000 rubles.

But the presence of a case and a “parallel stop” in the kit is a plus for ease of use. The rip fence is needed for milling at a fixed distance from the edge of the material. In the most budget models of routers, they are occasionally of unstable quality (mainly an uneven “sole”), but even in this case, this is one of the most useful accessories for a router.

Varieties of manual milling cutters - purpose and differences

Hand mills are divided into two main types - universal and specialized. The latter, in turn, are divided into lamellar, filler, edge and rotational. When deciding which type of manual wood router to choose for your home, you need to remember that all types of specialized models differ from each other in purpose and are interchangeable only in special cases. All types of work performed by individual specialized routers at once are available only to universal routers.

At the same time, specialized milling cutters, as a rule, allow their types of work to be carried out more conveniently, without additional devices, in contrast to universal models.

Universal milling cutters are structurally vertical and come in two types: fixed and submersible, with adjustable cutting depth. The fixed type is quite difficult to master. Rarely, beginners can use it, because moving the cutter to another position must be done manually and without stopping its work.

Plunge routers are much more common among household models, and it is much easier to work with them. Even beginners can use this type of tool - the submersible mechanism moves along the guides, and is unlocked, as a rule, with one hand. It has rigid springs that help to move the cutter freely without breaking away from the part.

Lamellar and edging specialized milling cutters, as the name implies, are designed for cutting grooves (lamellas) in the material and curly edge processing.

We can say that the edge router is the most versatile. For example, he is quite capable of such typical work as cutting holes for hinges or grooves. They can also work on a plane, but it is more convenient to do this work with a universal router. Also, edge routers are not always equipped with speed control.

Filler routers are useful in the field of furniture assembly - they are needed to form a dowel joint. Rotary routers are lightweight devices for handheld work on edge processing, figured cutting of holes and grooves. One of the advantages of rotary, edge and filler models is their lighter weight compared to universal ones.

Which router is better to buy for the home? Those who are just about to master amateur work with a router or already have some experience and choose a universal device for home work should definitely choose a universal type router.

For each type of milling cutter, you can pick up additional parts and accessories that facilitate work and expand the functionality of the tool. Including, allowing to use it as a milling cutter of another type.

Moreover, as experienced woodworkers say, the main thing in a router is additional equipment and templates. Different manufacturers offer different accessories. Some don't offer it at all. With relatively simple work, you can work accurately without additional equipment, or standard equipment such as a parallel stop is sufficient. You need to be prepared that for maximum processing accuracy with more serious work, especially with curly milling, you will also need templates, some of which can only be made on your own.

A “template” is a tool used to accurately define milling contours. It limits or sets the space for the possible movement of the router through the material. Templates of simple shapes (round, oval, etc.) can be found commercially. Unique shape templates for specific details are made independently.

The main parameters of milling cutters - what to consider when choosing

Power

Despite the fact that sellers and manufacturers of power tools like to advertise high power, in the case of routers, the principle “the more powerful the better” only works with reservations. High power is important if you regularly work with a router installed in a table or router stand. A powerful router weighs more, it is harder to hold it when working “by hand”, and with a stationary installation, there is no need to hold the router with your hands. And due to the higher power, the processing speed increases.

For stationary operation, the optimal power is from 1800 - 2000 W and above.

When working manually, the power is too low, about 600-700 W in the case of younger budget models, suitable for small jobs with a small amount of material selected per pass. But with a heavy load, such a router can “slow down”. For manual work, the optimal power of the router is from 1000 to 1600 watts. To work mainly on weight, for example, on vertical surfaces, it is better to choose a lower power - such a router will be lighter.

Speed ​​control

High speeds (about 20,000 rpm above) are suitable for working with solid wood. But, for example, plywood or plastic at such high speeds will burn. To work with them, lower speeds are needed - about 10,000-11,000 rpm. Plywood is a very widely used material for milling, so it is likely that you will work with it too.

Universal milling cutters that allow you to adjust the speed have a speed range of approximately 8-12 thousand to 27-35 thousand revolutions per minute. This is enough for any kind of work. The vast majority of universal routers, even budget ones, support speed control. In the general case, it is worth choosing just such a universal milling cutter.

Manufacturers of high-end routers, such as Makita, have individual models in their assortment without speed control, priced at the level of universal adjustable routers from lower-end brands. If you know for sure that the working speed of this router is suitable for your type of work, then buying such a model is fully justified. Thus, you can get more reliability and quality at the same price.

Depth and method of immersion of the cutter.

The insertion depth of the cutter depends on the design of the machine and its collet assembly (which holds the cutter). The best option is the initial position of the collet on the same level as the "sole". In the characteristics of the milling cutter, only the magnitude of the cutter stroke is indicated. But in the initial position, it can be above the reference plane and the actual working depth range will be lower.

A typical working stroke for household routers with depth adjustment is 50-55 mm. This is enough with a margin when working with wood-based materials of standard thickness - furniture board, plywood, chipboard. For professional routers, the immersion depth can be up to 80 mm.

Smooth start

This feature adds convenience during operation, especially when working with powerful routers, providing a smoother start and lower starting currents. Its presence is useful, but when choosing an inexpensive medium-power milling cutter, it is not critical. It is usually absent in the most budget models and appears in models costing about 8000 rubles in prices as of 2017.

Maintain rpm under load

This function, which is also called "constant electronics", ensures the maintenance of a stable speed of work, regardless of the load on the router. This contributes to a more uniform and predictable work with the material, and also protects the router motor from possible overloads. The function is useful, but its absence will not make working with the router impossible. Also appears in models costing from 8000 - 10000 rubles. and higher.

Collet size

A collet is a clamp on the shaft of the router, which ensures that the cutter is held during operation. On milling cutters for the European and Russian markets, the standard collet diameters are 6, 8, 10 and 12 mm. Some routers are also equipped with inch collets, but their demand in Russia is lower. The use of milling cutters of various diameters is ensured by interchangeable collets. Their large diameters allow the use of larger cutters.

Hobbyist routers usually support one or two collet sizes, often 6mm and 8mm, and the larger size is either not available at all or can be supported with a custom collet. Milling cutters 10 and 12 mm require more router power during operation. They are more suitable for working with a permanently installed router, and are unlikely to be needed for manual work in everyday life. Overpaying just for the fact of supporting the diameter of cutters of 10 or 12 mm during manual work is not worth it in my opinion.

Working with large cutters by hand is unsafe and highly undesirable. For a household universal router, the simultaneous support of two sizes of collets 6 mm and 8 mm is optimal.

Spindle lock

This feature simplifies the process of changing the cutter by preventing the spindle from turning. It does not have a significant impact on the cost of the router, and it is desirable that this option be available.

Weight

The less the milling cutter weighs, the more convenient it is to perform fine curvilinear and figured work “from hand” and the less fatigue occurs from it.

Vacuum cleaner adapter

Working with a milling cutter is very dusty because the sawdust emitted is much finer than, for example, when sawing with a jigsaw or drilling. Therefore, if you have the opportunity, it is highly advisable to use a dust extraction system. This is especially important when working in residential areas. In addition, flying sawdust can clog the working area of ​​the milling mechanism, interfering with work.

To this end, most universal routers, although not all, are equipped with an adapter for connecting a vacuum cleaner. You can connect dust removal systems and other types to it in addition to a vacuum cleaner, you just need to pick up adapters. It is very desirable that the router had such an adapter.

Location of the speed controller

A very important point when choosing a router with a variable speed is the speed controller. It must be located in a safe area so that it is not possible to touch it accidentally during operation. Pay special attention to the tightness of the regulator. The more difficult it is to switch, the safer the whole mechanism.

Condition for the possibility of installing the router in the table

Work "in the table" is possible with universal type milling cutters. During stationary work in the table, the tool is mounted “upside down”. An obstacle to the possibility of such use of the router is the poor protection of the spindle bearing from dust in some models of routers. In such cases, bona fide manufacturers specifically indicate in the description of the model that its use in the table is prohibited. Such devices include, for example, the popular budget universal milling cutter Black & Decker KW900. If this prohibition is not explicitly indicated for the router model you like, then you can try to install it on the table. But for complete certainty, it is advisable to additionally look for reviews confirming such an experience on the Internet.

Handle type

Comfortable handles are the key to comfortable work with the tool. There are different types of handles:

• "pistol";
• "fungi";
• "D-shaped".

There is no clear recommendation which type is better. The main thing is that the handles of the router you have chosen are firmly and reliably made and are comfortable for you personally. Light models of milling cutters have the possibility of a one-handed grip, which can be convenient when working on weight.

Switches can also be located on the handle. Whether this is convenient or not is also determined individually. Expert users argue about this: some believe that this simplifies and speeds up the work process, others are of the opinion that it is dangerous and very inconvenient.

Fine Depth Control

Some routers are equipped with an additional adjustment knob, which allows you to more accurately adjust the depth of immersion of the cutter. The function adds convenience when working

The quality of the overview of the working area

When working with a milling cutter, the quality of the view of the milled area is important. It depends on the following factors:

• the presence of illumination of the working area;
• the size of the opening in the sole;
• dust extraction design.

An idea of ​​​​the quality of the review of a particular model of the router can be generally compiled from reviews on the Internet.

Availability of accessories

If you prefer factory-made products to home-made milling equipment (guides, compasses, etc.), then when choosing a router, you should clarify whether any equipment from this or another manufacturer is available for the model you like.

Smooth movement along the guides

A common drawback of many cheap routers is not too smooth, with a little “sticking”, movement along the guides when setting the insertion depth. This is not a critical problem, but it can cause certain inconveniences.

In summary, when choosing a universal router for home use, first of all, you need to pay attention to the following characteristics: power, speed control, immersion depth, clamping collet size, weight, the ability to connect a vacuum cleaner, general convenience and reliability of the design. When choosing a device for regular or professional use, in addition to the above list, it is also useful to ensure that the model you buy has a soft start and speed control system.

Which manufacturers are represented on the Russian market

Many manufacturers of milling cutters supply products to the Russian market today. The following companies produce the highest quality products:

• Hitachi;
• Makita;
• DeWalt;
• Festool;
• Maktec;
• Metabo;
• Bosch (only professional "blue" series).

Of these manufacturers, Makita, Hitachi and DeWalt have the most inexpensive models.

An interesting option is products under the Maktec brand. This is a subsidiary brand of Makita, which produces less expensive power tools than the parent company, but also of high quality. Unfortunately, she has milling cutters in her assortment only without speed control, and her products are quite difficult to find in the Russian Federation.

Recently, the Ryobi brand has been gaining popularity. He produces milling cutters of good quality and at the same time at a reasonable price. Among inexpensive milling machines, the main interest is the products of Interskol, Black & Decker, Felisatti.

Above, we examined the theoretical foundations of choice and the essential characteristics of manual routers. Now let's turn to the practical advice and conclusions that I formulated when I chose a router for my home.

1. In many reviews and on thematic forums, there is an opinion that buying a cheap router (approximately worth up to 8-10 thousand rubles in 2017 prices) is throwing money away. The roots of this statement lie in the unstable quality of many budget models. Indeed, many reviews indicate the presence of spindle backlash, the low reliability of collets and adjusting units in cheap models. But at the same time, there are owners of such devices who are completely satisfied with them and do not experience any problems, using them for years. This suggests that buying a cheap router is largely a lottery. Of course, when checking in a store, you can be sure of the evenness of idling, the absence or presence of spindle play, and the visual strength of the adjusting mechanisms. But the most important parameter, long-term reliability, cannot be checked in the store. It remains to evaluate it by reviews. According to reviews, there are such problems, including with milling cutters of popular budget manufacturers in Russia - Fiolent, Interskol, "green" Bosch, etc. Unfortunately, saving on quality in budget models is a reality of the present time.
2. The logical question is at what price the models that deserve attention start. As of 2017, budget routers with which you can count on more or less reliable work start at 4-7 thousand rubles (for example, Black & Decker, Bosch, Skil), and for 8-10 thousand you can buy really adequate devices ( Hitachi, Ryobi, Interskol). You can find out which inexpensive manual wood routers are better and their prices from the rating I compiled. Models costing from 15,000 rubles for periodic home use, in my opinion, are unnecessary to buy. They are more relevant for professional work.
3. Even if you have chosen a model with excellent reviews, before buying, both in a regular store and in an online store, you should always check the router for minimal spindle play, accurate operation of the adjusting mechanisms, and smooth travel along the guides without jamming. It is necessary to test the milling cutter at idle. In this case, attention should be paid to vibrations and extraneous sounds in the operation of the mechanism. If they are, this may indicate the low quality of the instrument or marriage. From the purchase of such a copy must be abandoned.
4. Some cheap routers sin in that the position of the collet in the lower position of the router is slightly higher than the sole. The difference can even reach 1 - 1.5 cm. As a result, the amount of free play decreases, the router has to be lowered, and some cutters of small length become impossible to use normally at all. This is an unremovable design flaw of a particular router model. For example, SKIL 1840 AD has such a defect. It is highly not recommended to buy such milling cutters. The absence of this defect can be checked personally when examining the router, as well as from reviews and discussions of a specific model.
5. Another often found marriage in cheap routers is a curved “sole”. Sometimes it is noticeable even with the naked eye. It may seem ridiculous, but even such a seemingly simple element, some manufacturers of routers cannot consistently make even from instance to instance. With such a defect, the milling cutter becomes more difficult to drive smoothly along the plane of the workpiece, accuracy decreases. The absence of this defect should be checked visually before purchase or by placing the router on any plane.
6. Bosch is an old and one of the most famous manufacturers of power tools. Therefore, many people traditionally choose its products, expecting to get a higher quality. In fact, the household line of Bosch routers, produced in green cases, is not a leader and does not stand out in terms of quality compared to other routers of a similar cost. The popular household models POF 1200 and POF 1400 have exactly the same floating quality as other budget models, which can be seen from many reviews on the Internet.
7. Ryobi is still relatively little known in Russia, but it produces good quality power tools at an affordable price and has already managed to earn positive reviews for itself. It was the RRT-1600K model of this manufacturer that I chose for myself.

conclusions

Among those who actively use routers, the most positive reviews are naturally received by routers from recognized brands, the list of which I have given. This is due to their quality, ease of use and reasonable price. But the opinions of users on the question of which particular model of a manual wood router is the best often diverge. This is due to the difference in the needs and features of the use of milling cutters, as well as the emergence of new brands that produce tools of good quality and a fairly low price.

When choosing, consider the criteria and recommendations described in this article, read the reviews on the forums about the model you like, and then you will not be mistaken with the choice. I also recommend that you familiarize yourself with my rating of inexpensive universal routers, based on reviews of their quality.

A hand router, if applied to it with technical invention, can become a very powerful tool, almost as good as CNC machines. So, Canadian Matthias Wandel constantly comes up with various designs of woodworking machines that use a hand mill, and which are easy to make with your own hands. In the video below, Mattias shows the process of working on a simple router and copy stand that he developed for his manual router. See how the functionality of a simple router immediately expanded!

Where to buy a cutter?

I have already bought a power tool more than once in the vseinstrumenti.ru store. In terms of the range of products sold, their quality, as well as prices, I consider it one of the best online stores in Russia. Also, its big plus is the presence of many points of issue of orders throughout the country. Therefore, I can safely recommend this store to you for the purchase of a router and not only.

When choosing a manual wood router for your workshop, take a closer look at the submersible models. Any carpenter, furniture maker or builder-finisher is familiar with the advantages of this versatile tool and will never refuse such an assistant. We will not promote certain products and brands, but will give professional recommendations, focusing on the main criteria.

photo of a manual milling cutter for wood submersible type.

The best choice for your first milling machine is the plunge model, which does everything a fixed base machine can do and more. Working with a tool whose sole rests securely on the workpiece is safer and easier. The body of the plunge cutter moves along guides rigidly fixed at the base, which allow the cutter to be inserted into the workpiece strictly vertically and the equipment to be carefully lifted at the end of the passage. There are models with two bases - fixed and submersible, this option is ideal for any workshop.

Briefly about the router device

The design of a manual wood router is, in principle, uncomplicated. Unlike other power tools, it does not have gearboxes, belts and gears, and the equipment is fixed on the motor spindle. Milling machines from different manufacturers are somewhat different from the one presented, but they contain the same significant parts.

The device of the plunge cutter: 1 - tool body; 2 - handle; 3 - corrugated cuff hiding the vertical rods; 4 - base; 5 - sole; 6 – brush holder cover; 7 - spindle lock; 8 - clamping collet chuck; 9 - protective screen lock; 10 - rotation speed controller; 11 - mechanism for setting the depth of milling; 12 – power switch; 13 - stop button; 14 - dust removal fitting; 15 - micrometric depth regulator; 16 - lever for fixing the immersion depth; 17 - parallel guide lock.

The router will be the most versatile tool in your workshop if it can handle the work you put on it. For non-professionals, all hand routers look the same, but the differences lie in the details, and the right choice of tool depends on them.

Technical parameters of manual routers

The first and main parameter is power consumption, indicating the machine's performance. The more watts, the larger cutters you can set, feed faster and make deeper cuts without fear of tool failure.

Table. Choice of milling cutter by power

Choose the right tool for your needs, balancing the benefits of high power with the disadvantages of using a heavy router for fine manual work.

The second parameter is rotational speed, reaching 30 thousand revolutions per minute for manual milling machines, sometimes higher. It is not the maximum value of the rotation speed that is important here, but the possibility of its adjustment, which determines the functionality of the tool. A smooth change in the speed of rotation allows you to accurately select the processing mode depending on the density of the material and the diameter of the cutter.

The larger the number on the speed controller, the higher the rotation speed.

The third significant parameter is called differently: milling depth, vertical or working stroke of the cutter. This value indicates how much the router body can lower towards the sole, but does not at all indicate the actual depth of the milling. The depth also depends on the design features and the length of the cutter. On most models, the collet almost reaches the bottom of the sole, if it goes even lower, consider this a good bonus. A tool with a small working stroke will only be able to process the workpiece to a shallow depth.

The vertical travel of the cutter is associated with the class of the cutter and is:

• in the lung - about 40 mm;
• in the middle - 50-60 mm;
• in heavy - 70-80 mm.

Check that the router body can go low enough.

Other features of the electrical component, "bells and whistles", are no less important. They facilitate the work with the router and make it much more efficient. The "soft start" system eliminates sudden jerks and network overload at the time of starting the engine. For powerful units, this option is simply necessary, and such a router will last longer, because its parts are not subjected to periodic shock loads.

Collet clamp

The equipment of a manual milling cutter is fixed by means of a collet chuck: a special nut with a collet placed inside is screwed onto the spindle and clamps the cutter shank of a certain size. Light machines are designed for a caliber of 6 or 8 mm, more powerful routers allow you to install equipment for 10 or 12 mm. The larger the cutter, the thicker its shank and the higher the requirements for the power characteristics of the tool.

A good collet has a tapered shape and several clamping tabs.

Strict requirements are imposed on all three parts of the clamping unit (chuck, collet and shaft): precise manufacturing and high-quality hardened steel. Parts of dubious origin wear out quickly, do not fix the cutter well and often break.

Before purchasing a tool, check the quality of the collet and the possibility of choosing other calibers. It is better to have suitable collets, rather than adapters, which often cause vibration.

Check the depth of the cutter hole inside the shaft - a parameter never specified in the specifications, but important for safe operation. It is necessary that the shank does not rest against the bottom, otherwise, if the fixation of the nozzle is loosened, due to poor clamping or a defect in the collet, you will not see this, and when lifting, the cutter may fly out.

The drilling depth must be greater than the shank length.

Diving depth adjustment mechanism

Two factors are important in the design of the milling depth controller:

• accuracy and ease of installation;
• possibility of fine tuning.

A typical cutting depth control is a rod that moves up and down as the handwheel is turned. Its pin rests against the platform and prevents the body of the hand mill from falling lower. The multi-stage turret allows you to consistently increase the depth of milling and select the material in several passes. Externally, such a device looks like in the photo below or similar.

Fine adjustment of the milling depth is provided by an adjusting screw with a micrometric scale.

Hand-held wood routers, even in the middle price category, often “sin” with the execution of this mechanism: the regulator rod often dangles in its socket when the flywheel rotates. But it is much more important how rigidly it is fixed when clamped and whether there is a fine-tuning screw that works clearly and without play.

There will definitely not be problems with setting the processing depth if the router is equipped with a micrometric body position regulator - a flywheel or a large diameter ring rotating around a telescopic guide.

Correction of the position of the body relative to the rod may have a smaller range, but greater accuracy.

Design features

The handles of a solid milling cutter are simple and convenient, the switch is at hand or nearby to start and stop the motor without interception. Locking in the on position is a useful option, and when using the tool in the table, it is simply necessary.

Try to grab the tool with your hands and appreciate the ease of operation.

Locking the immersion depth on light milling cutters is usually done with a rotary handle, and on powerful ones with a separate lever. The latter option is structurally more reliable and is liked by many craftsmen, provided it is conveniently located.

A suitable place for the depth stopper is near the handle in the finger access area, but not on the handle itself.

The plastic lining of the sole of most routers is removable, which is convenient when replacing a worn panel with a new one and when placing a tool in a table top.

Try the rotation at different speeds - there should not be any extraneous vibrations or noises. Press the handrails and lower the body of the tool, which should slide along the vertical bars smoothly, without distortion or play.

Dust extraction system

The removal of sawdust from the working area is implemented in milling machines in various ways, it is difficult to draw any conclusions about the effectiveness without testing the system in action. It is possible that it will not be possible to collect all the dust thoroughly, but most of it will definitely be removed without interfering with work.

It is good if dust removal can be carried out in various ways on the model. The rip fence requires a shroud attached directly to the rip fence, and edging requires bottom chip removal.

Adapter for working with side stop.

When working on a plane, especially when milling blind grooves, access from below is closed and sawdust is removed through channels in the sole of the router or in the upper part of the body.

Options for connecting the dust extraction pipe.

Accessories

A wood router is extremely rarely used for freehand cutting, more often processing with filigree accuracy is required. For this, various devices and guides are used. Inexpensive household routers are usually equipped with accessories for certain jobs, a novice master can save a lot and not look for the right equipment for the first time. Professional machines are more expensive due to reliability and mean that the miller himself will choose and purchase the necessary accessories.

The side stop allows you to mill straight elements parallel to the edge. It is equipped with plastic adjustable pads and a fine-tuning regulator. The device is fixed on two steel rods, rigid enough so as not to bend when driving the router.

Accurate fit and secure fixation are mandatory requirements for the components of the side stop.

The copy sleeve is needed when leading the tool along the template or directly along the edge of the workpiece. The greater the variety of copy ring diameters available, the more options there are for different sizes of nozzles, including a variety of cutter/sleeve combinations.

The device is most often attached with screws, but there are models with a convenient quick fix.

Other accessories (guide rail, angle stop, compasses, grooving tools) are usually purchased separately as needed or made by hand.

In order not to waste time looking for the necessary auxiliary elements, ask if router add-ons are available, how easy it is to get them, and if accessories from other models fit.

Manual wood router for work in the table

You can use any milling cutter in the table, but for successful work, a tool with certain features is preferable:

1. From 1800 watts with electronic power assist for setting up large cutters and making long, deep passes.
2. The ability to adjust the overhang of the cutter with special keys, ideally through a hole in the mounting plate.
3. With a mechanism for disabling the return spring or the ability to remove it - without it, it is easier to adjust the reach of the cutter.

We hope that we have provided comprehensive practical information on choosing a manual wood router and analyzed the selection factors for all significant parameters. Remember that a good router is never cheap and belongs to the category of tools that make little sense to save on.