I am looking to buy a Router. I am looking at the craftsman professional fixed base. What are the differences between the fixed and plungers? Is this a descent router? I am looking for edge forming and table use. My first project will be to put a bull nose or quarter round edge on 1x oak. I am putting a 1x8 ledge around my downstairs tv room. I will be doing about 40' of cutting. What are the best longest lasting bits on the market as well?

I haven't used a craftsman router for years. After switching to Porter Cable, I haven't had a need for anything else. My personal favorite is the D-handle model. It is much easier to hold and handle for me. Porter Cable offers a combination kit with both a fixed base and plunge base for a little more. The plunge feature is only a benefit if you use it for cutting out something or plowing out dados where you can't start from the edge. Good luck.

Do some research on routers before you buy. Check the reviews in woodworking magazine and other magazines. A craftsman router may be just fine for what you are looking for but is by no means near the top as far as routers are concerned. Craftsman powertools are not the professional grade that they are marketed as. But for your average homeowner they are more than adequate. Many manufacturers offer kits as already stated that come with both the fixed and plunge bases. For years there was no better router than the Porter Cable but that has changed. They still do make a top quality router though. Check out Milwaukee's routers they have many features that only Milwaukee has (the body grip). But do some research into which routers are getting the best grade. As far as bits are concerned, you have many choices that are great. Check out the Bosch line and also Freud makes good bits.

You're really in the wrong forum. There are a bunch of places to go if you want to talk woodworking tools. Forget the Craftsman routers - they are underperforming, poor quality, mostly useless junk. Craftsman handtools are fine, forget buying Craftsman powertools. There are many fine routers available and Porter Cable is a safe choice. If you're looking for a set that will cover most needs at a decent price then look at the Porter Cable 690 with the fixed and plunge bases.

As for bits Whiteside, Amana, Freud, CMT are all good. If your in the Twin Cities check out Rockler, Woodcraft, or Seven Corners Ace Hardware in St. Paul. All three have a good selection of routers, bits, and folk's who have some idea what they're talking about (unlike Menards, Lowes, and Home Depot).

I am??was a carpenter for years & years,only use of router was hanging doors,for dinkin around there great,but if you are only edging some material get the craftsman.You'll probally have little use for it after your project.Get carbide bits and to save them and make your routering easier and cleaner cut, run the edge your ogeeing through your table saw first (champher cut) to remove most the material then use your router & bit.

I have 2 routers and their the dustest tools in my collection.

Do you need a variable speed? I moved on from Craftsman, I agree they are not the best. I only like to buy the best. I am looking at porter cable, Milwaukee, dewalt and bosch. I also want to buy a table. do they all work with all routers or do I have to buy the brand that the router is? Thanks

Most any router table will work with various routers. If you are looking at buying a complete table and router look to JessEm

There are different sized routers that are well suited for different tasks. The smaller 1 1/2 hp routers (like the PC 690) are great for handheld use with smaller diameter bits. The mid size routers (2hp) are a little heavier and not as nice for handheld use (although they are reasonably well behaved) but can handle larger diameter bits (not shaft size but cutter diameter) and work well in a router table. The larger routers (PC 7518 for example) excel in production handheld use if you bulk up to handle them and are fantastic for router table use. They can also handle the largest diameter bits that you care to use.

Variable speed in a router is needed when you choose to use bits greater than 3/4" in cutter diameter. Bits larger than that need to be slowed down. Turning a 3 1/2" panel raising bit at full speed is unsafe. I have a PC 690 that I use for handheld operations and it's single speed. The lack of variable speed has never been a problem. I also have a Festool 1010 that I mainly use for 32mm hole work and I don't need variable speed in that router. I also have a PC 7518 that stays in my router table and it has variable speed. That's the router I turn to for large diameter bits. It works well handheld although it is a heavy beast but it mainly stays in the table. I use the variable speed feature on that router all the time.

Router tables. You don't need to by a router table from the manufacture of the router. Most of those are pretty bad router tables. Take a look at Jessem, Woodpeckers, Bench Dog, and others. I use a Bench Dog lift with my PC7518 router in a table that I built myself. The smaller Bench Dog router tables are pretty good and portable and work well with the smaller routers. You really need to do more research.

If you're planning a trip to Thorne Brothers (or know where that is) then go up the street to Tried and True Tools. They carry some factory refurbished PC products (as well as new) and have a good selection of decent router tables.

Thanks for all the input. I am buying the router very soon but the table will be in the future. Thanks again.

i dont think craftmans junk. its all about how often your useing it. my old man has had his craftman going on 20 years. heck i got my grandpa craftmans still works good. use it for dovetails only. at work all i use is porter cable burn them brushes up at least twice a year, but then i use them everyday. so if your a homeowner id say go for it. it will last you your life time

dinkadunk you turn a raised panel cutter on a router? that thing must wobble like a banchee. how safe is that? do you run the stock face up or down? does it have a bearing or do you run it againt a fence?

I have a number of Bosch 1617 routers, I like em and it's the router body that serves my needs, the new kit model has a fixed base with an above table adjustment. I use that base in a Bosch RT I aquired a few years ago, I also run a Bosch 1613EVS plunger thats all the router most will ever need. My main table I built out of a desk that was left over from a former life, it's got a 3HP Hitachie mounted in a Woopecker Uni Lift with an Incra fence system, hmmm, couple Porter trim routers to. PC or Bosch will set you back from $100 to $200 for a fixed/plunge base set if you watch and shop a little, both are good and will hold resale better than any of the rest. Bits, I've settled on Whiteside's. they have been the best for me and a lot of woodworkers I know, depends on what you do and how hard you are on them. Rockler and Woodcraft are OK as a cheap bit but for day to day they are a failure, not enough carbide to hold up. CMT replaces them when they break, and they will break.

To answer Snowking, I use a raised panel set in my main table with no problems, but I don't make cabinet doors for a living.
(Get ready for some Smallie's Chad, time is coming.)

riverdog, im going to take you up on that smallie trip. pretty sad that a guy lives a mile away from the river for 22 yrs and never fish it

Snowking, I use raised panel router bits all the time in my PC7518 router mounted in a Bench Dog lift. No wobble at all, ever. I prefer to form arched raised panels on the router table and use the shaper for cope & rail cuts or tennons. I'm setup to do raised panels on the shaper but I like the ergonomics of my router table better for that operation.

I have been very disapointed in and injured by Craftsman powertools. I threw all of them in the trash years ago. I don't care how often you use a tool, if your using a router that has no industry support, has unacceptable runout, breaks collets, and had a tendendency to self distruct then it's no use at all. Besides a decent router doesn't cost anymore than the junk Sears sells.

You can burn the brushes out of any universal motor, just replace them, it's cheap.

I was in you situation a few months ago. I had a hard time deciding. If i were to do it again, I would get a plunge router. I did not because I planned to use it for a router table I built. now I wish I had because I find many uses for the plunge router. The Craftsman did not have the power I wanted. I went with a Bosch, mostly because I like Bosch products. I could not see that it was any less then the others. You may want to consider a re-conditioned router. They are routers returned and sent to the manufacturer for inspection. They have the same warranty. I saved about $40.
Good Luck
HarryG