want to buy a router

wombosi

hi all.
i want to buy my first router.
i'm not sure if i should get a standard 1.5-1.75 horse, or air on the side of more powerful, and get a 2 1/4 or something.

looking at either porter cable, hitachi, or milwaukee. i rather like the looks of this one:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...pf_rd_i=507846

most of my work will probably be on site for small trim, bullnosing stair treads, etc... but i would like the capacity to be able to mill some bigger things, larger profiles for built-up work.

i don't currently own a router table, but i would definitely like to build one or buy one soon.

any recs as far as brand and horsepower would be appreciated.

also, as far as bits:
should i simply buy one at a time as i need them, and get something like CMT, Rockler, Freud, etc...?
Or, is the generic woodcraft brand OK, or something similar? Ebay cheap whiskey?

Thanks guys.

eisert

I have 5 Porter Cable routers and I love them all. I have not 1 bad thing to say about them.

As far as bits, cheap bits don't last very long. However, I would think about buying a cheap multiple peice set to get started, then replacing them with some nicer high quality bits as you burn up the El Cheapos. Bits get very expensive, (many of mine are $40-$80 each) and a couple of bits for 1 project can easily cost more than the material for the project.

Just my 2 cents.

oh'mike

Eisert---Dang--You keep coming up with the same answers that I was going to post.

Will you fill in for me if I go on vacation?

I, too, have a stack of Porter Cable routers--Fine ,simple and tough.

By the way,Home Depot is closing out the 2 1/4 horse variable speed router.
( I've had one in a table for two or three years running panel raising bits)

Nice table router. Was $189--marked down to $99

Got one for me a week ago---Bought another Tuesday as a gift for my assistant--$80--no box or wrench.---Mike---