The tool is designed to perform work on the formation of grooves, recesses, holes, recesses for furniture fittings. Produces the formation of a decorative curly profile. Can work with plastic and metal. The main components of an electric milling cutter are an electric motor and a milling cutter. Indicators that affect the technical capabilities of the tool: power, speed, depth of cut, diameter of the cutting tool.

The manual device is used to excavate recesses, grooves, create blind and through holes. Milling cutters are used in the process of installing interior doors - they form places for locks, hinges, latches. They greatly facilitate the work of a person, increase the accuracy of operations in the manufacture of furniture, including kitchen furniture.

Kolner KER 1200V - the cheapest among analogues

The milling machine is used to form straight and curly grooves in wooden blanks and products. The tool is equipped with a smooth and lightweight aluminum platform that does not form scratches on the surface of the workpiece. The design of the milling cutter provides for the connection of a vacuum cleaner to collect the formed wood chips.

• Good power for the price.
• Affordable price.
• Rich equipment.
• Convenient to use.

• Backlash in the guides.
• The milling depth setting is purely decorative.
• Short non-elastic supply cable

Caliber Master FE-1300/8M+ is optimal for beginners

A household-class milling cutter that performs the main functions - sawing grooves, excavating recesses, drilling blind and through holes. The capabilities of the tool allow you to mill curved shapes. Simplicity of design, clear control system and low cost are optimal for novice users.

• Large comfortable handles.
• Sufficiently high accuracy of the operations performed.
• Double insulation of electrical components.
• Convenient for learning.

• Intermittent mode of operation.
• The presence of backlash guides.

Sturm ER1112 - the first for occasional part-time jobs

A manual milling machine, equipped with a sufficiently powerful engine, allows you to perform the entire range of basic operations - turning edges and curly profiles, chamfering, forming places for mounting door fittings. The capabilities of the tool allow occasional use of the device for commercial work.

• The ability to adjust the engine speed.
• Powerful enough engine.
• Case for storage and carrying.

• Very strong plastic smell.
• The supply cable is made of "oak" material, hardens at +10°C.

Enkor FME-850/8E - as a second tool

Household power tool. Bores grooves, recesses, holes in wooden blanks and parts. The ability to adjust the engine speed, precision guides, the "Soft Start" function allow you to use the router as a main and auxiliary tool. Maintaining a constant number of revolutions with increasing load during processing.

• Can be used as straight grinder.
• The presence of a parallel stop.
• Smooth start.
• A good addition to the main powerful router.

• Inconvenient dust cover.
• The copy sleeve is installed with a slight offset.

Fiolent MF3-1100E - the first commercial router

Domestic product. The technical capabilities of the milling cutter allow solving professional tasks in the field of carpentry and woodworking. The accuracy of the operations performed is facilitated by the ability to adjust the speed. The tool is easy to use, unpretentious in work. Increased service life allows the use of the router for commercial purposes.

• Acceptable price.
• Reliability.
• Allows you to perform all basic operations, including cinder block.

• Poor equipment, that is, almost nothing.
• It is necessary to create additional efforts when immersing the cutter into the body of the workpiece.

Enkor FME-1200 / 8E - optimal for the construction of a wooden house

Convenient practical tool for wood milling operations. Equipped with electronic systems for adjusting engine speed, limiting starting currents, maintaining speed with increasing load. The stability and precision of the work performed is ensured by a durable molded sole. The rubberized ergonomic handles allow to operate the tool comfortably.

• Powerful woodworking engine.
• The presence of a side stop.
• Pretty rich set.
• Ease of use.

• Lack of storage and carrying case.
• The length of the power cord is too short.

Elitech F 1355E - the first serious router

A milling machine equipped with a full range of functions - grooving operations, countersinking, turning grooves and grooves for fittings. The tool is equipped with a working area illumination system. The accuracy of the operations performed is ensured by high-quality assembly, the ability to set the required mode of operation. The power indicator indicates the connection to the mains.

• Smooth running on guide bars.
• Produces little noise.
• Illumination of the working area.

• Case missing.
• Poor set.

Bosch POF-1200 AE - an inexpensive branded router

Household router with high build quality. The electric motor allows the processing of wood of all types of wood with different densities. Additionally, operations with light building materials are possible - plywood, plastic, foam blocks and other similar analogues. Mills grooves, edges, profiles. Equipped with copy function.

• Ergonomic design.
• Fine tuning.
• Multifunctional.
• Quality build.

• Short hard power cord.
• No permanent on button.

Hitachi M8 V2 - optimal for the carpenter

Reliable milling machine for woodworking operations. The design provides for the "Soft start" function, speed control, maintaining torque when the load changes. These technical characteristics, along with high-quality assembly, allow for high quality milling work.

• Choice of engine speed.
• Maintaining a constant speed.
• Complete set with a parallel stop and a directing level.
• Quiet motor.

• The power is not enough, however, it is sufficient for basic operations.

DeWALT DW 625 E - a professional in his field

Powerful plunge cutter for wood, plastic, aluminum. The performance of precise operations is facilitated by the presence of regulation of the speed of the electric motor, soft start and maintenance of the motor constant. Phosphor bronze bushings provide smooth movement along precision guides.

• Powerful electric motor.
• High processing precision.
• Micro-adjustment for immersion depth.
• Ergonomic body.

• Case missing.
• Slightly heavy.

The best edge routers

The edging or edge milling cutter is intended for:

• design of the profile edge;
• excavation of grooves for fastening parts and inserts;
• template work;
• execution of chamfers and decorative inserts;
• notching a quarter, boring for a tongue-and-groove connection;
• milling a recess along an edge or groove.

It is possible to perform engraving operations. The accuracy of work and productivity are affected by tool power, frequency and speed control.

WORTEX MM 5013-1 E - inexpensive

The tool performs operations on the surface of wood, plywood, laminated blanks. The design provides for adjustment of the immersion depth, which ensures the accuracy and accuracy of the processing process. The connected vacuum cleaner ensures the cleanliness of the working area.

• Price for such specifications.
• Acceptable accuracy.
• Light weight.

• Slightly inconvenient ergonomics of the case.

INGCO PLM5002 - for private workshop

The versatile small router performs edging and chamfering of wood, plastic and composite materials. Milling is carried out on a vertical, horizontal, inclined or shaped surface. Long service life is provided by the power of the electric motor. Milling depth limiter is provided. Comes with a parallel stop.

• Powerful electric motor.
• Parallel stop.
• The high RPM ensures a clean cut.

• Slightly heavy.

HAMMER FRZ 710 - for small businesses

Light enough, equipped with a powerful engine, the trimmer is used for precise work on milling grooves, grooves, boring edges. Performs profile and copy processing of wood and drywall. The design provides for the "Soft start" function, adjustment and maintenance of the speed constant when the load changes. It is possible to use collets of three standard sizes.

• Powerful engine.
• Rich equipment.
• Carries out all kinds of operations for edging tool.
• Rich equipment.

• The inability to connect a vacuum cleaner.
• Short cord.

MAKITA 3709 - optimal for a private master

Compact, lightweight, vertical edge router is used for boring grooves of arbitrary configuration, making through and blind holes, forming edges and chamfers. Able to work on wood, drywall, ceramic tiles and composite materials. This is facilitated by a high spindle speed and a fairly powerful engine. Convenient for installation work when installing interior doors.

• Moderately powerful.
• Good ergonomics.
• It is convenient to use when installing doors.

• There is no case for storage and transportation.

Dewalt DWE 6005 - easy adjustment

Trimmer for engraving, copying, chamfering and edge forming. The ergonomic design creates comfortable conditions for carrying out technological operations with wood, plastic, composite. The design provides a soft start, speed control, maintaining the selected parameters in the process of processing the workpiece. It is completed with a copier on bearings and an emphasis.

• Convenient system for setting parameters.
• Existence of illumination of a zone of processing.
• Ergonomic body.

• There is no suitcase for storage.
• Too little power when processing dense materials.

Bosch GKF 600 – long life

Small compact trimmer for trimming wood, plywood, chipboard, MDF, plastic blanks and composite materials. Performs the entire list of technological operations, including engraving and decor formation. It features a high-quality electric motor, an efficient ventilation system, which contributes to long-term operation of the tool. The good additional complete set allows to start work at once.

• Lightweight, compact.
• Comfortably lies in the hand.
• Rich accessories.

• The engine is weak for performing quarter selection or tongue-and-groove connections.

Festool MFK 700EQ/B-Plus – the professional

The modular milling machine, equipped with a reliable powerful engine, belongs to the professional class. Performs precise and clean cuts thanks to the special bearing brake. The MMC electronics, which is responsible for setting the processing modes, contributes to the quality of work - speed control, soft start, maintaining the engine constant.

• High quality control system.
• Efficient chip suction.
• Minimum vibration.
• Quality processing.

• The price, however, is a professional-grade tool.

We hope that this article will help you to choose a manual router with knowledge of the matter. As usual, we do not limit ourselves to a simple enumeration of the instrument's functions, but we try to provide the reader with maximum practical information, we try to reveal the reasons for choosing certain characteristics.

What can a milling cutter

The laurels of the inventor of a full-fledged milling machine belong to the American Eli Whitney, who received a corresponding patent in 1818. As is the case with other outstanding machines, a clear breakthrough was preceded by centuries of technical and industrial achievements and even ready-made design solutions. The first milling cutters and the first milling devices on a wooden frame (with a muscular drive) were used in Germany / Austria at the turn of the 17th-18th centuries. Whitney's improved technology was based on the rotational movement of the working blade and the translational movement of the workpiece, it was originally intended to improve the quality and productivity in metal processing (and now there is no alternative to it, in terms of accuracy at least). A little later, similar machines began to be used for working with wood. Only in the second half of the twentieth century was there a technical possibility to carry out milling with a hand-held electric tool - a lightweight compact router appeared, selflessly adored by millions of wood craftsmen.

Despite the fact that this machine seems to be very complex - in fact, the router, in a sense, is one of the most uncomplicated electric tools. Unlike other units, here the equipment is fixed directly to the motor shaft (spindle), so the design is free from the presence of gears, belts, and gearboxes. The power plant (head) of this unit can have serious power, comparable to stationary machines, but the main focus of all the developers was on the high speed of the tooling, direct transmission allows you to accelerate the cutter to impressive speeds. Any milling cutter is equipped with a mass of auxiliary devices designed for precise feeding and productive sampling - all kinds of stops, clamps, guides, templates. Here the most serious requirements are imposed on the functionality of these elements.

Not only wood is subject to a manual milling cutter, without any problems (with special equipment) you can “talk” with plastics, non-ferrous metals, plexiglass, composites, artificial stone, and so on. Depending on the purpose and some design features, there are several types of this tool (edge, fixed, rod, specialized - cutting, for inserting locks, for drywall, for tiles, lamellar, tenon cutters ...), but the most versatile and commonly used is the movable rod submersible milling cutter In this case, the machine head moves up/down along the guide rods, which are rigidly connected to the support sole. Thus, the cutter is strictly vertical, smoothly immersed in the material of the workpiece being processed to a predetermined depth, until the upper movable part touches the adjustable stop. After that, the operator moves the tool in a horizontal direction, and the main work is done by the sharp edges of the rotating cutter.

Furniture makers, carpenters, builders-finishers have appreciated the merits of the tool and will not refuse such an assistant for anything now. It is difficult to call a milling cutter a wide specialization, but many of the operations that are performed with its help may seem unusual. Let's try to list the main ones:

• quarter sampling;
• curly or straight edge profiling (table top, stair tread);
• drilling holes, including for dowels;
• production of twisted / spiral and longitudinal grooves on cylindrical and conical blanks (legs, balusters);
• rough grinding;
• decorative woodcarving, engraving (volumetric - sculpture, or on the plane - fresco);
• arrangement of grooves, folds, slots (for connecting furniture elements);
• flush fitting of furniture laminates;
• cutting work, rough alignment of contours (creating a workpiece);
• production of seats (for locks and canopies, corners, fittings);
• cutting of various forms of spikes for connecting / splicing parts;
• production of bindings (connection of perpendicular elements of windows, doors).

Technical characteristics of the milling cutter (electrical component)

The upper part, also known as the "head", also known as the "head part", is mainly a motor with handles and a collet clamp. Here we will talk about the power characteristics of the router and the electronic filling in this chapter.

A router characteristic such as power consumption can indicate the overall performance of the unit. In other words, by having more watts under the hood, the developers allow you to install a larger cutter and make it possible to make a faster feed and a deeper pass without overheating the windings. However, high power entails a significant increase in the weight of the product and its dimensions, and high torque does not quite correctly coexist with many "delicate" equipment. On this basis, milling cutters are divided into several classes: light (up to 700 W), medium (700-1500 W) and heavy (over 1500 W). Some manufacturers did not grind and, to complete the range, offered models with a power of 2.3 kW, for example, DeWalt DW626 or Makita RP 2300FC (cutting depth 70 mm, weight 6.1 kg, speed up to 22000 rpm, collet size 12 mm) . For comparison, the weight of the 900-watt machine Makita RP 0910 is almost half as much and is 3.3 kg, but the working depth is reduced to 57 mm.

Manufacturers “keep” the spindle speed in the range of 20-30 thousand revolutions per minute, “edge trimmers” finish up to 35,000 rpm. It is interesting that the smaller the diameter of the recommended equipment (it depends on the power), the greater the speed a particular router can develop. A large cutter is used with a lower rotational speed, since the speed of movement of a point on the edge of its circle is much higher. A small frequency is needed when processing plastic and metal, so that there is no overheating of the working area and melting of the material. It turns out that in fact we have the following relationship: power consumption / cutter size / processing depth / workpiece material / rotation speed - each of the items affects the others, so its maximum values ​​​​are carefully selected by the manufacturer.

The higher the speed, the cleaner the processing is and the easier it is to work with hard materials. But if you need high accuracy, or the material is more viscous, it makes sense to switch to a lower frequency. It is for these reasons that most routers allow for certain conditions and materials of different densities to preset the rotation speed (Black & Decker KW900E). As a rule, this is smooth or stepwise regulation with a wheel - up to 8 positions. The choice of speed falls on the practical experience of the operator, but developers often give hints by indicating the recommended numbers in passports or on cutters.

Many advanced machines have constant electronics that control the power of the motor to stabilize a pre-set speed (Hitachi M12V2). This helps to compensate for the loss of torque and to prevent a drop in blade speed when the density of the inhomogeneous material changes or when the tool feed pattern changes.

Powerful milling cutters are equipped with a “soft start” system that smoothly accelerates the tool, eliminating a sharp jerk of the equipment and overloading the network under the action of high starting currents (Bosch GOF 2000 CE). Among other things, such a unit will last longer, since its components are protected from periodic shock loads.

If the temperature of the motor windings exceeds a critical level, the overload protection system comes into play. It can be implemented in different ways, ranging from a simple indication of the corresponding LED, and ending with a temporary power off. This option is peculiar only to professional models of the high price range (Bosch GOF 2000 CE).

Bosch GOF 2000 CE Professional

Another useful feature that has become much more widespread is protection against unintentional launch. This is an additional button that must be pressed simultaneously with the main key to supply voltage to the motor. Through this node, the start key can be blocked in the pressed position, which allows you to release the main handle during operation. Many professionals use the lock very often, as they prefer to guide the tool by holding it not by the handles, but by the support platform. Well, to close the topic of the start button, let's mention a smooth trigger, by pressing which you can adjust the speed, "gas". And yet, some routers do not have the usual key, but are turned on by a slider device.

Mechanical features of the router

Sole

The support platform of a manual milling cutter is made of stamped metal (budget option) or aluminum alloys - this is the most important element of the machine. The cast sole is not unreasonably considered a sign of a high-class tool, as it has a clear geometric shape and a good fit to the base - as a result, we get high quality work (AEG OF2050E). It is on the base support that there are lugs for attaching all kinds of guide devices, a turret stop, and vertical rods are fixed on it.

The lower plane of the support platform must be closed with a special overlay - this element is made either of plastic or of lacquered hardwood. An important point is the size of the hole in the sole (opening), it is obvious that it limits the maximum allowable diameter of the equipment (cutter).

Rod mechanism

Features of the vertical movement of the head part largely determine the functionality and performance of the entire tool. The head moves along two guide rods, this unit functions correctly if the cutter can be lowered smoothly, without the use of excessive force. A serious disadvantage of the base is the presence of backlash and distortion, as well as excessive resistance. This assembly should always be kept clean and lubricated.

The immersion depth of the cutter can be fixed with a lever located on one of the handles, or with a special screw (ideal if fixation is carried out on both rods). In fact, the setting of the snap-out is carried out by a vertical stop, which is set with varying degrees of accuracy. Advanced machines have a preset according to a vertical scale, or a wheel that takes into account even fractions of millimeters (Metabo OFE 1229). The wider, more precise and more stable the adjustment, the more functional and high-quality tool you have in your hands. Some wizards consider the ability to change settings in the course of work a clear advantage.

If you need to make several passes with a change in the depth of processing, you can use a turret stop with several (most often three) steps, legs of different heights. In fact, this is a height-variable counterpart of a vertical stop located on the “head”. The turret allows you to quickly reconfigure the insertion depth of the cutter. If it is made in the form of several threaded bolts, then the steps can be further adjusted in height by screwing or unscrewing them.

In some routers, the upper part (head) is detached from the platform, so that the tool can be fixed in a stationary structure (rack), or used as a straight grinder, heavy duty drill. A milling cutter with special holes in the sole is sometimes fixed on a workbench with the equipment up, which allows you to process small parts (Hitachi M12SA2).

Snap fastening unit

We have already said that the equipment is fixed directly on the spindle. It is fixed with a collet clamp - a special nut is screwed onto a cone (sleeve) with slots and clamps the shank inserted there. The diameter of the collet must match the diameter of the cutter, so it is important to determine the type of cutter used and the allowable diameters. Light milling cutters are designed for shanks with a diameter of 6 mm, machines of medium power can clamp 8 mm cutters, for example, Fiolent MF3-1100E. The most powerful routers generally have collets with a diameter of 12 mm. It is obvious that a large, more “picky” cutter has a more massive tail, and its rotation requires special power characteristics. It is important not to make a mistake with the choice of the correct installation diameter of the cutter, since there are "European" copies on the market with similar numbers (6.35; 12.7), which corresponds to certain fractions of an inch.

Fiolent MF3-1100E

As a rule, it is always possible to install a cutter with a thinner shank into a larger diameter seat, for this you will have to use a special adapter sleeve (replaceable collet) that comes with the kit or is purchased separately. The “replacement” of the equipment should be taken very carefully, here the recommended rotational speed and feed rate of the router must necessarily coincide (with the settings in the tool), otherwise the thin shank may not withstand the load and break.

A high-quality collet securely fixes the shank strictly along the spindle axis and prevents vibrations that break the cutter edges and tool bearings. More successful clamps are those that have more slots, as they better center the cutter (Bosch GMF 1600 CE).

Bosch GMF 1600 CE Professional

To change the cutter, it is usually necessary to use two open-end wrenches, if the spindle is locked with a button or clamp lever, then only one (Sparky X 205CE). The depth of the shank is 3/4 or 2/3 of its length, but in any case, the equipment has a special marking.

Auxiliary elements: stops and guides

Quite rarely, a milling cutter is used to work “by hand” (for rough fitting of a workpiece, decorative carving), more often filigree accuracy is needed. This is where all kinds of devices and guides come to the rescue, many of which are included in the basic package of the product.

A parallel, horizontal stop allows you to guide the router at an equal distance (this distance is limited) from the edge of the part. This element is attached to the sole on its rods, where it is fixed with screws. Reliability of fixation and accuracy of fit (the block may have its own screws / wheels for correction) - these are the main advantages of this unit. In terms of dimensions, it can either be the entire width of the support platform, or consist of two separate short stops. A horizontal stop is made of alloys or stamped steel (budget option), the plane of its contact with the workpiece is isolated with a removable plastic lining.

The guide bar is designed to feed the router in a straight line, but, unlike the parallel fence, it is installed at any distance from the edge of the workpiece and at any angle. In fact, this is a special profiled ruler, fixed with clamps. Instead of a horizontal stop, a special shoe is connected to the router, which walks along the grooves of the tire and guides the tool.

A copy ring (sleeve) is a stamped element, a round plate with a side, which is inserted into the opening of the support sole and forms a kind of stop around the cutter. It turns out that it is possible to drive the router closely with the template, getting a copy of the product, only a little larger. The undoubted advantage of a well-thought-out copying ring is the ease of fixation (quick-clamping design) that does not require centering (Bosch POF 1200 AE), otherwise you have to make additional gestures in terms of positioning the element.

Corner stop allows you to make an exact copy of the part. In this case, the workpiece is located above the template, and the milling cutter is guided by a special probe, which often has the ability to be adjusted.

The compass ruler helps to process the workpiece along the radius, for example, to make a rounded tabletop. The platform of the compass is screwed to the sole of the router, and its leg is fixed with a pin in a hole drilled in the center of the circle. As in the case of the copying ring, it should be taken into account that the working hole of the device will only “miss” a cutter of a limited diameter.

The support bearing located on the cutter serves to stabilize the tool in some types of edge processing. The advantage of this design can be considered the reliable positioning of the router relative to the workpiece, the minus is that such equipment will not be able to align anything, it will repeat the contour of the edge.

When choosing, do not put the high power of the tool at the forefront, especially if manual use predominates (do not forget about the additional weight of a high-torque router). However, for regular work in a stationary position (table, milling stand), high power will be a clear plus.

Pay attention to the presence of speed control, as well as the nature of its implementation - the switch must be in such a place that it is not possible to accidentally shift it. The wheel or slider should move fairly tight or in steps.

Check the actual insertion depth of the cutter, which depends on the design features of the collet. A good option is when the collet reaches the bottom of the base sole, even better if it protrudes beyond the base structure. This characteristic seriously affects the functionality of the product, but in the passports and articles / names they indicate only the stroke of the head, and not its “departure” beyond the sole (“Interskol” FM-62 / 2200E, where 62 is the length of the motor movement in millimeters).

Determine what diameter the cutter can be used in a particular unit - you need to compare its geometry with the diameter of the opening in the support platform, with holes in the copy ring and compass ruler. Don't forget to "recognize" the size of the collet. In other words, we recommend making the choice according to the principle “from the cutter”.

Evaluate the ergonomics of the product. Here it is important to choose the type of handles that suits you, there are many options - pistol, D-shaped, mushrooms. Some lightweight routers even allow you to use a one-handed grip. Regarding the location of the controls, the opinions of experienced craftsmen are divided here - some prefer to have switches under their fingers, others believe that there should not be buttons on the handles. Particular attention must be paid to the placement of the input and the length of the power cord - a short cable seriously affects the comfort of work due to the need for extension cords.

Be sure to test the function of the rod mechanism, the accuracy and reliability of the preset depth of immersion. The head should move freely, but without backlash and distortion, the vertical stop should be effectively fixed in the chosen position, try to find out how easy it is to fine-tune the depth of immersion.

Install all auxiliary elements on the router one by one, check the structure for rigidity, try to identify backlash and “noodles”.

Opt for a tool with a better view of the work area, especially if you often work without stops and guides. Here the size of the opening in the sole, the design of the dust outlet, the transparent casing, the presence of LED backlighting (Makita RP1800FX) are important.

Test the router at idle, under load, at different speeds. Obviously, vibrations and extraneous noise are a sign of a malfunction or poor assembly.

Can only one perform all the necessary operations? We will test 9 models of manual routers time-tested, we will answer this question and we will try to choose the best router for the title of universal manual router.

Having determined the list of operations that the milling cutter must handle, we will prepare our candidates for work. What models of routers have we chosen for testing? Three plunge routers and six with interchangeable bases. On a five-point scale, we will evaluate each model of the router.

Milling cutter models that participate in testing:

• Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600)
• Freud FT3000VCE
• Triton TRA001
• Milwaukee 5616-24
• Triton MOF 001 C
• Bosch 1617EVSPK
• Craftsman 28084
• Porter Cable 895PK
• Ridgid R29302

Milling cutter Bosch MRC23EVS

The main qualities of a universal router:

1. Power that allows you to work with any cutters, including the largest.
2. Motor with soft start and constant electronics to maintain a constant speed under load.
3. Good balance and comfortable controls for manual milling.
4. Possibility of smooth and easy immersion of the cutter into the material.
5. The accessibility of controls and the convenience of adjusting the overhang of the cutter when used in the table.
6. Complete with really useful and popular accessories, such as a side stop, nozzles for connecting a vacuum cleaner, interchangeable bases with holes of different sizes, a copy sleeve or adapter, a centering cone, a plastic case or a strong storage bag.

Router power

For comparison, we forced all models to do the following in oak blanks with the same cutters:

• nests 13 wide and 38 mm deep;
• three shaped profiles in one pass (with cutters for counter-profile connections and a moulder cutter), as well as a rebate with a section of 11 x 13 mm with fast manual feed;
• figurine profile with a cutter with a diameter of 89 mm after installation in the milling table.

All models impress with confident work without overloading when manually feeding, even when trying to do it faster than usual.

The next stage: a milling table, where a 38 mm wide figurine profile was made in three successive passes of approximately the same depth. And again, all milling machines were able to provide a feed rate of about 3 meters per minute.

Not everyone coped with the task of forming a profile in two passes. This time only Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600), Freud FT3000VCE and Triton TRA001 (all with motors over 2kW) managed without straining.

Speed. Cutter speed

For larger cutters the RPM needs to be reduced, and for most models it is 8000-10000 RPM. But the Craftsman model has the lowest speed of 12000 rpm. Although this did not cause any problems in our testing, lower RPMs are preferred for rock prone to chipping and burning.

For Porter-Cable and Ridgid models, the regulator scale indicates the actual spindle speed. Almost as handy are the Craftsman, Freud, and Milwaukee, whose nameplate makes it easy to determine the RPM in accordance with the digital value of the speed controller. For other routers, you will have to look into the manual,
to find out how the numbers on the wheel relate to the spindle speed. Once you have set the desired speed, you want it to remain constant throughout the milling process. We measured these abilities of milling cutters using a phototachometer when milling a figurative profile. In no case did the revs drop by more than 1500, the deceleration averaging only a few hundred rpm.

The Ridgid surprised me the most, never slowing down more than 35 revs. This is surprising, considering that its engine is the least powerful among competitors. However, with this model, during this test, the current consumption increased sharply, which led to an increase in temperature by an average of 3 ° after each pass. Continued operation under this load can significantly shorten the life of this router. In comparison, the Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600) increased the current consumption only slightly, and the heating was almost imperceptible.

The speed is easy to choose. A chart on the Milwaukee router body helps you quickly select the best RPM for your cutter diameter to set the desired speed on the dial.

Depth milling

Big or small, fixed base or plunge, you want a router that adjusts quickly, accurately and conveniently to cut holes to the desired depth.

Among the models with a fixed base (included in the package), we put in the first place the Porter-Cable model, which has a regulator with a gear rack, a detent and a handwheel for coarse and fine adjustment, which are very convenient to use. Milwaukee and Ridgid also have proven quick adjust mechanisms.
The fixed bases of the Craftsman and both Bosch models are clipped into one of the three case recesses. This limits the amount of movement of the collet, and if it is necessary to extend the cutter further or, conversely, reduce its overhang, it is necessary to rearrange the latch to another recess and unscrew or screw the threaded adjuster again.
With Triton plunge routers, coarse depth adjustment is done by turning the knob, which is also used to plunge the cutter into the material. We found this function to be inconvenient and difficult to implement.

Convenient solution. The large threads on the Ridgid router's adjusting screw allow you to move up and down quickly, and the lock nut makes it even faster.

Three depth positions. The depth adjustment range of the Bosch 1617EVSPK milling cutter, when fixing the protrusion in the lower recess, is greater than in the other two.

Ease of control of the router is no less important than the simplicity and accuracy of setting.
Two powerful plunge routers - Freud and Triton TRA001 - are too heavy, clumsy and prone to tipping over due to the large motor weight, which is especially noticeable when processing the edges of parts. The Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600) weighs more than other fixed base models, but its low center of gravity makes it feel more manageable than larger plunge routers.
This Bosch model has one more nuance - a switch built into the handle. In other similar models, you have to release one of the handles to turn it on and off, loosening the grip. The Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600) has the same switch as dedicated plunge routers and is easy to operate without changing hand position.

Switching modes. For plunge milling, the center button in the handle must be pressed or released to engage the depth adjustment screw.

The switch is at hand. Contact strips on the router body and interchangeable bases allow the switch to be conveniently placed in the handle, which improves control.

Immersion milling

Preferably, models that descend smoothly without lateral swing and have the latch conveniently located at hand so that you do not have to loosen your grip. More convenient are the latches that need to be pressed to dive and that lock themselves when released, as is done with Bosch, Craftsman and Milwaukee models. Freud, Porter-Cable and both Triton models are left loose and a lever must be pressed. In addition, the Ridgid's latch does not have a spring, and in order to tighten it, you have to loosen the grip on the handle.

Simple and quick setting of the router. Press the release lever to quickly move the motor up or down. Turn the screw handwheel to fine-tune.

When testing each router's ability to make multiple holes of the same depth, only Milwaukee's settings went wrong in this test - the depth of the first and last of the 25 holes differed by 2 mm.
The Freud model's depth scale seemed the most convenient - it is easy to read, has clear divisions, and the adjustment is made with coarse and fine adjustment screws. Triton routers do not have a depth scale and you will have to adjust the insertion depth in other ways. Micro-tuning on the Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600) allows you to adjust the depth even after the detent is turned on, and we find this a useful feature.

Use in a milling table

Transitioning to stationary operation for three models of dedicated plunge routers, as expected, required more complex steps than for those that had an interchangeable fixed base that can be permanently fixed to the table and simply move the motor to the plunge base for manual milling.

Adjustment of a departure of a mill. The most convenient option for adjusting the milling cutter when installed in a table for Triton plunge routers is a cranked handle, the rotation of which almost does not tire the hand.

When installing any router on a table or attaching it to a mounting plate, it is desirable that the hole for the cutter reach adjustment key be located at the front edge, where it will not be blocked by the longitudinal stop. But sometimes the rest of the router controls, such as the speed control wheel, switch and depth lock, are located at the back, where they are not visible and difficult to access.
Bosch 1617EVSPK, Milwaukee and Ridgid have the most thoughtful layout, in which all controls remain accessible even after installation in the router table. Although all models have an effective reach adjustment feature when used in stationary mode - a built-in lift - it works better with three routers.
Only with Freud and both Triton models, you can easily change bits above the table surface thanks to the built-in automatic lock that locks the spindle and allows you to loosen the collet nut with one key, working from above.

Changing the cutter from above is more convenient. With the Freud router fixed to the table, you can push the collet nut all the way up and lock the spindle from rotating with the same hex wrench with handle used to adjust the reach of the cutter. Only one wrench is needed to tighten and loosen the nut.

For routers with interchangeable bases, either remove the entire router with mounting plate from the table, or remove the motor from the base. To adjust the overhang of the cutter, you must first release the latch, and this has to be done from below.
For plunge routers and the Craftsman with plunge base, you simply insert a special key into the hole on top of the table and rotate it. This feature is perfectly implemented in Triton routers - the cutter is quickly raised and lowered using a comfortable crank.
The Freud model has a fungus-shaped handle, and the foot screw is finely threaded and takes a long time to turn, which makes the hand tired quickly.

Equipment

Bosch MRC23EVS and Craftsman come with standard accessories that do not need to be purchased separately. Bosch comes with a centering cone, three nozzles for connecting a vacuum cleaner, three copy bushings and an adapter for Porter-Cable standard copy bushings.

Bosch copy sleeves are only suitable for Bosch routers. They snap into place in a special holder. Standard Porter-Cable bushings are attached with a nut to the hole in the sole of any router.

The Craftsman comes with three nozzles, a side stand and a fixed base with pull handle - a great option if you decide to mount a regular fixed base in a table.
All routers, except for the Bosch 1617EVSPK model, are equipped with at least one nozzle for connecting a vacuum cleaner. True, for several models these nozzles have the same diameter, and you will have to look for adapters or use tape. Craftsman, Milwaukee and Ridgid were the best at removing chips and dust.
Craftsman and Ridgid router bits come in nylon fabric bags that are handy for storing supplies, but they don't offer the same impact protection as plastic.
Both Bosch, Milwaukee and Porter-Cable models come in plastic cases. The Porter-Cable case seemed more convenient than others, where the motor can be stored in any of the interchangeable bases, and there is room for additional accessories. The rest of the models are sold in ordinary cardboard boxes.

Test results

If you can only afford to buy one router, make it a set with interchangeable bases. The powerful Bosch MRC23EVS (GMF 1600) has proven its superiority in almost all six categories and deserves the high marks it deserves as best tool. It comes with a large set of accessories, most of which will not lie idle.

If you think this model is too expensive, take a look at the Ridgid R29302, the best choice for the economical hobby carpenter. Despite the not too powerful electric motor, this router confidently copes even with increased loads for a long time.

A hand mill is a necessary tool in the household. With it, you can process not only wood, but also other materials, such as plastic, non-ferrous metals, artificial stone, etc. However, in order to obtain a high-quality result, it is necessary to choose the right tool, taking into account various factors.

Types of manual routers

When choosing a device, it is important to consider which variety is suitable for solving specific problems. To do this, you need to understand the varieties of manual milling machines. A manual milling cutter can be represented by one of three types:

• lamellar;
• edging;
• upper.

Top manual milling cutters, in turn, are divided into submersible and fixed. A feature of the first option is the movement of the engine along the guide. This makes the tool easier to use. The movement of the cutter up and down is carried out without separation from the workpiece thanks to rigid springs.

When using fixed top hand routers, the depth of cut has to be adjusted by raising and lowering the tool. The position of the cutter must change when turned on, so some skill is required to work.

If you need to turn edges or chamfer, then the best option is an edge router. And for making connecting grooves in parts - lamellar.

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Criterias of choice

The most appropriate to the expectations and required functions is possible only if various characteristics are taken into account.

First of all, you should pay attention to power. In this case, the goals that are set for the instrument should be taken into account. For professional work, it is recommended to purchase more powerful devices, and milling machines with a power of about 750 watts are also suitable for solving small household tasks. The more power, the heavier the tool. This must be taken into account, since its weight directly affects the convenience of work.

It is important to take into account the speed of the device, especially if the plans include work not only on wood, but also with other materials. If only wood processing is planned, then 7 thousand revolutions will be quite enough, since wood is a soft material. For milling tougher materials, tools with a speed of up to 24 thousand revolutions can be used, depending on the varieties and characteristics of the materials to be processed. In addition, it is worth paying attention to the depth of milling. For professional use, you can purchase a manual router with a processing depth of up to 6 cm, but for amateur use at home, you can get by with a depth of up to 3 cm.

An important element of the device, which should not be neglected when choosing it, is the switch. It is recommended to opt for models equipped with a locking mechanism with protection against accidental shutdown. These features will make your work more convenient and safer.

To facilitate the machining process, it is recommended to opt for hardened steel conical collets. This shape optimally matches the shape of the motor shaft (also tapered). Collets made of ordinary steel produce a rattling sound during operation, which makes the material much more difficult to process. In addition, they wear out much faster.

It is much more convenient to work with a tool that is equipped with a built-in dust extraction. In extreme cases, you can purchase a tool with a gateway to connect the suction.

The sole of the device is also an important element of the overall design. The ideal option is a molded sole. Hermetic shape and optimal fit to the work surface ensure the best quality of work. Wooden or plastic overlays are attached to the sole. They must be of high quality. If wood is used, then only hardwoods can be used.

The functionality of the tool and its performance depend on the design features of the movement of the head. Its movement is made along the bars. With the rod mechanism working properly, the head part moves smoothly, and its movement does not require extra effort. To adjust the immersion depth, the mechanism is equipped with a special screw or lever. For high-quality milling, it is required to choose devices with the most accurate adjustment.

It is impossible to neglect some auxiliary structural elements. If the process requires maintaining the router at an equal distance, then a parallel stop is used. This part must be made of high quality alloy. In places where contact with the workpiece is possible, plastic pads should be provided. The size of the parallel stop does not matter much.

In the opening of the sole there is a round plate with a low side. This is a copy ring, the so-called sleeve. The plate should be fixed quickly and easily. When installing the part in the machine, this will avoid unnecessary waste of time and effort.

If it is required to make several parts according to one template, then an angular stop is used. The template is located under the workpiece. The cutter rests against a specially designed probe during operation. If the corner stop cannot be adjusted, the work will be more difficult.