Notes

Buying a Compact Router
A compact wood router is a great choice for woodworking, hobbyists, and professionals who need something lightweight, small, and straightforward to handle in smaller spaces. Don't be fooled by its smaller size; though; many experienced woodworkers have found the compact router to suit many jobs around the house. The beauty of having a woodworking router, regardless of size, is that the jobs it performs can be customized to best fit your needs. Here are some common woodworking jobs that a compact router can be used for.

Table saw - Compact routers have a few different speed settings which are useful when making cuts on wood surfaces. If you plan on doing a lot of ripping with your table saw, especially at small tables and desks, you will need all the speed settings at their best for accuracy and efficiency. The best brands of compact routers are Bosch, Makita, and Bosch Pro tools. If you're looking for a saw that is versatile and can handle a variety of jobs, go with one of these brands.

Heavy-duty routers - Woodworkers often use heavy-duty routers because they make deeper cuts, as well as more accurate cuts, on thicker materials. A router that has a heavy-duty motor is best suited for cutting boards, plates, sheet metal, and other thick materials. The best trim router should have a continuous drawing plate along with a center block and a helical hanger that allows you to move the table up and down and cut crosscutting boards with ease.


LED lights - Woodworking is often done outside or in low-light conditions. Some of the best compact routers come with LED lights that allow you to see exactly what you're doing. This feature is important if you want to do a lot of depth peeling or other tough jobs. You'll need a compact router that has a long lasting and bright LED light. Some of the best CNC router brands include Wasp, Festool, Ryobi, O'Sullivan and Bosch. If you don't care too much about seeing what you're doing, but still want a bright, detailed output, choose a laser jet router.

Edge guides - It's important to have edge guides on compact routers to help prevent cutting lines from being damaged. makita compact router accessories This will also prevent you from nicking your table. It's possible to buy edge guides separately from the main body of the machine, but many people prefer to buy complete sets. It's always a good idea to get a few extra edge guides to put over each bit. These little pieces add a level of safety and ease of use that every woodworker should have.

Heavy-duty attachments - There are some heavy-duty attachments that come on compact routers that heavy-duty routers don't have. These include cutting disc and belt sanders. You may also be able to buy jig saws, planers and reciprocating saws. If you only want to do one or two small jobs that won't take much time, you can probably skip buying the heavy-duty tools. However, if you want to take on more challenging projects and do a lot of woodworking, then you should definitely invest in some tools that will make your life easier.

Motor adjustments - All of the compact routers have a fixed motor with a standard size drive. As you increase the motor size, the router will get heavier and will be less portable. Many of the corded motor adjustments are available, but for heavy duty work, many people prefer to use their own power source.

Accessories - Most compact routers come with a router base, stand and cap. The base is a little bit bigger than a full size stand, but still smaller than a cordless circular saw. In addition, many of the accessories have the same features as those for a full size router, so they won't interfere with each other. You may also be able to buy a cordless tool set with the power from your existing electric source.

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