10 Best Wood Router For Beginners 2023 – Buying Guide

As a beginner getting into woodworking, you need some expertise that will help you gain enough experience to work on heavy-duty projects later on. A good wood router will prepare you for woodworking by making a pleasant and rewarding process instead of a problematic one.

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This guide will help you choose from the Best Wood Router For Beginners. You will also know what to pay attention to when you go into the details of making an online purchase.

Top Wood Router For Beginners in Woodworking

1. DEWALT Router

 

DEWALT is a brand that has an excellent reputation for building and providing quality products to its customers. The power tool from DEWALT is featured in our list because of its long list of specifications that will appeal to both beginners and advanced users.

Depth adjustment with this power tool is handled with a micro-fine ring, so if you are someone who cannot compromise precision while depth adjustment, this router might suit you well.

If you are a beginner, you can pick this product because it offers you the option to keep your hand steady when you work. With ribber grip and steel motor locks, there are many little details that will assist beginners in completing a successful woodwork project.

The power is perfect for making precision cuts but does not overpower the user’s grip and help them stay in control of the process.

If you want something to help you out on your heavy-duty projects, you might want to skip this one. While ideal for beginners, this product might feel lacking for intermediate and advanced users. Accessibility of the switch is also a problem when the tool is working, so one might have to work around that.

Features:

• Dimensions: 10.75 x 9.25 x 7.25 inches
• Weight: 2.83 Kilograms
• 11-amp motor with 1-¾ HP
• Concentricity gauge

 

2. Bosch 1617EVSPK Wood Router Tool Combo

 

A versatile wood router is much needed for a variety of woodworking projects. You would not want to keep buying power tools each time you try out working on a different piece of wood. So, if you are going to do dove-cutting orbit plunging on cedars, cherry, and other types of wood, you know where to turn to.

A beginner will love working with these tools because the speed control is stable, and the grip does not slip and helps you make good cuts. However, changing the parts will require you to have a wrench of your own, as one is not included in this tool combo. But to overcome this slight misgiving, the durability of the tool more than makes up for it.

Features:

• Dimensions: 6 x 11.5 x 11.6 inches
• Weight: 18.2 pounds
• Aluminum construction
• Chip deflector
• Extended speed range and easy control dial for the same

 

3. Triton TRA001 3-1/4 HP Dual Mode Precision Plunge Router

 

Just because you are a beginner does not mean that you should not get a fair chance of handling a high-power tool. The power of the motor falls at 3.25 HP, perfect for users who want to feel more strength in the cuts. The power is an advantage but controlling the machine with the handle placement often proves to be a difficult feat to achieve.

The construction is durable and is made to increase the life of the product. The material used to construct the durable body is aluminum, and plastic covers are present on the outside to prevent any harm from coming to the constituent parts. You will also have to maintain and clean it regularly if you want to make this machine last longer.

Features:

• Dimensions: 10.2 x 12.9 x 11.4 inches
• Weight: 19.5 Pounds
• Automatic spindle lock
• Side air vents to help with cleaning

4. Makita RT0701CX7 1-1/4 HP Compact Router

 

This option is mentioned in this list because of its affordability and performance. There are certain drawbacks to this product. But if you are on a budget and want to get into woodwork immediately, then getting this product will help you get the basics right. This is a lightweight alternative that is supremely easy to handle and will get you the hang of woodworking.

Speed control is commendable given the affordability. Heavy-duty router seekers will find a lot lacking in this alternative, like the power, which is very low as compared to other options mentioned in this list.

Features:

• Dimensions: 17 x 10 x 7 inches
• Weight: 3.9 pounds
• ‎1.25 HP motor
• One year and one month long warranty
• Smooth start up

5. Bosch Router Tool

 

The construction and manufacturing of the router decide whether it will stay steady or will cause your hands to tremble along with the machine. If you want stability, as a beginner might, then this power tool gives it to you in spades. A significant advantage of stability is that your focus is not diverted to keeping the machine in place.

You can focus on making precise cuts without working to keep the machine steady in the meanwhile.

Features:

• Dimensions: ‎9.41 x 7.43 x 4.7 inches
• Weight: 3.3 pounds
• Soft start with variable speed control
• Allows both macro and micro adjustment

 

Buying Guide

Functionality and Durability

The extent of functionality of a wood router will only be clear once you read the specifications thoroughly. You might have certain expectations out of the product you are buying, and for that, testing the functionality by reading the specifications and the reviews becomes very important. It will also help you determine whether the product is durable or not and if it is a good investment.

Power

Anyone looking for a good wood router would want more power. However, this aspect is directly related to the weight of the product. Therefore, the more the power consumption of the wood router, the heavier it would be.

While more power will improve your experience as you use the wood router, it will also make it more difficult to handle if the object weighs more than your hand. Rather than choosing an idealistic amount when it comes to power, opt for a practical balance between the weight that you can handle on the power that will be perfect for woodwork.

Handles

The handles on a wood router matter because they help you manage the work without a lot of hassle. Two types of handles will be primarily offered to you. Depending on your comfort with the handles, you can either choose knobs or side levels.

If you are a beginner, then go with comfort rather than specialization because you are just starting out. If you are an advanced user, then you can read into the specialization of the handles and opt for switches and plunger locks.

Speed

The speed is something that many people overlook when they pay more attention to the power of the wood router. The speed will help you make sharper cuts and give more precision to your woodwork. It is an important aspect that cannot be ignored while buying a new wood router.

Plunge Depth

Plunge depth is important as the collets can reach the base easily. If you are looking to compensate for the cut depth lost, then this specification will need to be paid attention to before making the purchase. Paying attention to the specification of the collets is more critical than the plunge depth but having this factor is an advantage nonetheless.

Collet

As mentioned above, the specifications of the collet matter because it is going to be an aspect that determines the performance of the wood router. If you have the choice, always go with tempered steel construction instead of that of any other material.

The construction should be accurate so that the machine works exactly as required. Going for low-quality materials will result in collets that are not functional and give poor results. If the collet is precision made, it will last longer as compared to the cheaper low-grade collet.

Switches and Base Plates

If you are not an advanced user, then you do not need complex switches for basic woodworking. It is best to find a simple working switch in your machine which will help you operate without any complications. If the switch cannot hold on the on and off position, then it is better to opt for a machine with a better switch.

Most of the base plates included with wood routers are made of plastic and are removable. The removable nature helps the user to make slight repairs or improvements to the machine without requiring professional help. Base plates with threaded holes are also preferable as compared to other options.

Dust Extraction

As of today, keeping the machine clean is as much of a priority as having it to work like new with time. This is the reason why dust extraction features are being offered with most wood routers. If you are getting an option of a dust extraction feature with your product, then go for it instead of the one without it.

Compare and Read Reviews

Even after you have read all the specifications and looked closely at the durability and power, you still need to do one last thing. Shortlist all the options that you feel would be a good fit for you and then compare them on the basis of the ratings and reviews they have got online.

Reading reviews will further familiarise you with the functionality of the machine and will help you choose according to your personal requirements.

FAQs

Is Dust Extraction a critical thing to consider while buying?

Not all products offer dust extraction features. But whenever one product does offer dust extraction, it gains an advantage over others in the market. Dust extraction helps with proper cleanup and reduces the amount of work you have to put in for maintenance.

Is there a size that works best for all?

The size depends on your expertise and your experience with the router. If you are a beginner, you can easily handle a 1/4″ size. More heavy-duty options are best reserved for more experienced users.

Is a 1/4″ Router suitable with 1/2″ Bits?

It is not always the case as the suitability largely depends on the type of collet in the product. Smaller bits would be taken into a bigger router only if the collet in the heavy-duty router is suitable for 1/2″ Bits. Otherwise, you will have to buy a separate router.

Moreover, another way of determining whether the suitability is appropriate or not is to look at the power. A router with 2 HP or higher power can take in 1/2″ Bits easily.

Conclusion

The best wood router for beginners would mean different things depending on a user’s requirements. You will have to read closely through all the details before making a purchase. While stability cannot be compromised, one cannot go on to ignore the speed adjustability and the precision cuts either.

You will have to decide which factors are the most important for you and then choose a power tool accordingly. Since you have to use it eventually, you should only pay for the product when you feel entirely sure about the option you have chosen.

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FAQ:

Q: How to choose the best wood router?

A: Buyer’s Guide Choose the one that suits you. If you want to work in a quiet environment, you should opt for the routers with brushless motors. … Find Perfect Size with Useful Options. Routers that integrate ½” and ¼” collets can fit a variety of bits. … Safety Features to Look for. …

Q: What is a good wood router?

A: A wood router is often one of the most valued tools in a woodworker’s tool set. A good quality wood router and bit set enables a woodworker to create a multitude of intricate designs, hollow out grooves, create joints and shape wood edges among other jobs.

Q: What can you do with a woodworking router?

A: Routers have been used in woodworking to produce various cuts, finishes, holes and shapes. Routing is basically a high speed process that involves cutting, shaping and trimming wood; it’s ideal for finishing edges and creating different shapes. It really is unbelievable what can be achieved with wood routers.

Q: Which router is best for me?

A: Best Wi-Fi routers 2023: How to choose and buy the best router. 1. TP-Link AC1750 Wireless Dual Band Smart Wi-Fi Router (affordable) TP-Link offers some of the best bang for your buck with their Archer A7. It’s … 2. TP-Link AX3000 Smart WiFi Router (mid-range) 3. Asus RT-AX88U AX6000 Dual-Band …