iskim86 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 http://www.tylertool.com/skil23.html ? i'm not looking for something very expensive... thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CrazyManAndy Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I can't comment on their quality, but you might like to check this deal out: http://www.toolmarts.com/hitachi_km12vc-recon.html CMA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I had an older Skil of similar specs (but plunge base) that suited me well for years. Whilst a plunge router is handy, most of the time you can get by with a fixed base, and all of my complaints with that router really revolved around the junky plunge base action. But yeah, it got the job done, and I was happy with it. But I never had anything to compare it to - I recently picked up one of the 3-base deWalt router sets, and I have to say, I'm glad to put the Skil to rest. If you can find a way to afford it, having a nicer tool is going to be more pleasant, but my experience with similar Skil tools seems like they're fairly good tools for the lower cost. I certainly wouldn't go any lower than that on the food chain. (A friend of mine got a total junker of a router from Harbor Freight - and yeah, it just wasn't pretty. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Acousticraft Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 (edited) I have a small 1/4" router but quite powerful that detaches from its base so you can use it as a Die grinder as well. Its handy for shaping the area where the truss rod nut comes into the Peg head so you have clearance for a socket etc. It has a surprisingly smooth plunger setup with good depth stop. I have made attachments for radius cutting and binding cutting so it is versatile. Edited June 14, 2007 by Acousticraft Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iskim86 Posted June 14, 2007 Author Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 do you guys think it's a better idea to purcahse a Dremel? it has more uses so it's a bigger bang for the buck, right? I have an older Dremel that runs on batteries, I'm thinking of replacing that one... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ihocky2 Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I'll add a vote for the reconditioned Hitachi. I have one of those exact ones and love it. The plunge base feels nice and smooth to me, adjustable speed, and an induction motor so you don't get the twisting and kicking at start up and shut down. Cuts very nicely. I don't have a dial gauge yet, so I haven't been able to check the run out, but it seems to have very little. Great deal for the money. And as an added bonus I actually like the colors. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fryovanni Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 I suppose I could comment here. I owned and burned up a skill like the one you posted. The tool was not very durable to say the least, and adjuctments were poor(I have an old HF router I picked up at a garage sale that has lasted twice as long as the skill did, and is still working fine* That is not a glowing recommendation for HF, but speaks to the Skills quality). I also own and have used a Hitachi like the on that a couple members suggested. The Hitachi is a bargain. It has soft start, nice solid adjustments, comes with fixed and plunge base, will accomodate 1/4" thru 1/2" bits, variable speed(a great feature), and the weight and balance is super. You will be very happy and get good use out of the Hitachi well worth a couple dollars more. Short of a few complaints about goofy looks. You generally will not hear many complaints about Hitachi tools . Peace,Rich Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
j. pierce Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 do you guys think it's a better idea to purcahse a Dremel? it has more uses so it's a bigger bang for the buck, right? I have an older Dremel that runs on batteries, I'm thinking of replacing that one... Dremels have hundreds of great uses, many of them even applicable to what we do in guitar building, but it's no replacement for a router - there's really no way it's going to work for truss-rod routes, pickup cavities, control cavities, trimming a body blank to shape along a template, etc. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MidwestGitarz Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 +1 jp, the dremel is no replacement for the router. I have heard of a combo kit from Ridgid, Ridgid Router, it is getting really great reviews and has the versatility you may want or even need later. It is quite a bit more though. As far as I know Ridgid has always made a lot of industrial grade items. I plan on going out in the next few months to look at it myself. Good luck in your search. MG Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Logical Frank Posted June 14, 2007 Report Share Posted June 14, 2007 Dremel will never work. You need some horsepower. You'll understand once you get to work. I just built my first body w/ that pictured Hitachi and have no complaints but it's basically the only router I've used so that should mean very little to you. For what it's worth, I was able to get away w/o buying more expensive template following bearing router bits on account of the template following kit it comes w/ it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Desopolis Posted June 20, 2007 Report Share Posted June 20, 2007 im considering the hitachi.. or the sears router set on sale. Its 99 for a soft start 2HP plunge/fix combo.. Here i played with the Hitachi at lowes.. now that I type it all out.. I'll go ahead and get the sears.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jmrentis Posted June 20, 2007 Report Share Posted June 20, 2007 (edited) I just grabbed a ryobi 2hp plunge, multi speed, soft start, and more for $40 off craigslist. A guy used it once to put a chamfered edge on a poker table. I guess it came with three bits and he threw in the one he bought for the poker table. I tried it out today for the truss route in some tough jatoba and it worked beautifully. I had a HF router I bought a while back and ran into a number of problems with it the other day, some of which worried me as in it became dangerous, considering it has extremely sharp metal spinning at 20,000+rmps and started wobbling. So, I chucked it in the trash and checked craiglist because I am broke right now. The plunge action isn't perfect but if you pay attention it works just fine, but much better than the HF router in my opinion. The HF router using a 7/32 carbon, spiral bit cut a hole way bigger and that was after I improved the problem. The Ryobi's route was so tight that the Hotrod barely fit, honestly I had to adjust the fence a fraction of a hair to make it wider just to be able to get the rod in at all without any tape or cling wrap on it. Anyhow, just wanted to throw that out there, I have had other ryobi stuff that wasn't that great, but the router seems just fine and far surpassed what I expected of it and unless I run into any major problems with it I might just keep it in action for a while, plus the price was right. Don't let this post change your mind on anything, I just wanted to say it worked pretty good and I was happy I got it for $40. When I first started looking the other day for a less expensive router to get me through until I get my nice one, I saw some of the cheaper craftsman and they looked really nice for the prices and were one of my main choices. I bet they would be a good purchase. Let us know what you get and how it works when you can. J Edited June 20, 2007 by jmrentis Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mattia Posted June 21, 2007 Report Share Posted June 21, 2007 For what it's worth, there's an eBay seller doing the Hitachi set, new, for 99 bucks. Looks like a nice tool, lots of router for the money, I'm almost tempted to get one. But I think I'll stick to my trusty 'ol Porter Cable. Although Hitachi does at least have service centres here....hmmm.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jnewman Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 (edited) That Hitachi set actually has gotten quite good reviews from every magazine I've seen that's reviewed it. I think Fine Woodworking gave it the "Best Value" award for 2-ish HP routers in their 2007 tool guide. Edited June 28, 2007 by jnewman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
!WOOD!! Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 The routers I would steer clear of are the Ryobi,s ;anything that says Craftsman ;Skil and all Chinese knockoffs.A router is not the tool you want to skimp on.It requires presicion adjustments and is safe and can take a beating.Save up and buy a PC ; Dewalt or a Hitatchi.You won't regret either router Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
prs man Posted June 28, 2007 Report Share Posted June 28, 2007 I use all porter cable router with no trouble. I have 3 of them the correct router for the correct job. I guess it depends on what you want to use it for. from looking at the skill I say it's made for light duty routing. buying a Dermal will never do what a router will You need some horsepower. the dermal work great for small stuff and has there place in guitar building.I would save and buy a better router and you will be a happy camper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nicko_Lps Posted September 24, 2007 Report Share Posted September 24, 2007 Skil tools are not for pro use i destroyed a drill and a batery powered dril,as about routers i got 2 makita 22.000 RPM is not so good but these routers are real monsters.Dewalt makita and hitachi i think are the top quality tools for hard jobs. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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