"I pay for my own powertools, so I can say what I want..." And you run the channel with the most integrity, no doubt... :)

Matt, you'd make a good router salesman because I really fell in love with this one.

The best product review I've seen in a long while - very practical viewpoints. Thanks Matthias.

Your response on preferred tools for a deserted island cracked me up... It is really nice that you actually take the time to read and reply to comments, even if humorously. Nice review!

"I pay for my own power tools so I can say what I want" - I love your videos Matthias! Keep it up.

Gotta love the honest review, rather than constant praise.

I have two of those, bought on special, and might have even bought a third if it was on special. But this one runs much better than the mastercraft routers I was comparing it to.

"i pay for my own power tools so I can say what I want" earned a "like" and a "subscribe"

love that you have not sold your soul to get tools

Great review, I believe I own the same router and I've been quite happy with mine for most jobs I've done with it. It's been a solid tool for me.

You may want to have a look at the Bosch 1617EVSPK. It has many of the same features, including a metal T wrench for upside down router height adjustment. It also has collets for different shank sizes. I believe it is the standard 89 mm size. The downside is that you have to buy some of the accessories like the centering cone etc. separately.

Love all your vids..... I'm glad you have shown us that you can do really nice work with the low end of tools as long as you know the limitations and make adaptations to make up for it.... invaluable

Im so glad you did this review. I just sent an email your way about cabinets, and then I stumbled upon this! I was greatfull to hear your input on this router since you work so much with routers. I have an old Mastercraft router table that came with my Mastercraft 1/4" collet Plunge router. However, I thinks that mounting it with this table is a bust! Looks like I may have to try and build one myself. Hope I can figure out a good plan for a homeade router table on my budget...wish me luck!

"I pay for my own power tools, so uhh, i can say what i want" Thug Life.

Yes, I mention that in the article. Too much detail for the video

I have this router. I bought mine because of the dual base feature and being on a budget, I got the most bang for my buck. Any way I am glad to see it got good reviews, I feel better about my purchase now. Thanx Matthias!! Keep up the great videos! Love watching your videos!!! :D

Lower speeds are important with larger bits. Also, less burning, less dust, less noise, less tool wear at slower speed, though the cuts can be messier.

Congrats on 100k subscribers! It's funny how you and Steve are close on this.

OMG!!!! I've been looking at router lifts, both pre-fab and homemade ... This video suddenly plays after another video of yours I was checking out and I see the router base with the allen key thingy and remember only seeing that type of router lift on a Milwaukee router before ... I decide to go check out my Mastercraft Maximum that I have a spare (3rd) fixed base for to see if I can modify it to make it lift and sure enough, its ALREADY GOT THE DAMN ALLEN KEY SLOT BUILT INTO IT!!!! All I had to do was drill a 1/4" hole in my router table to access it and its working like a charm!!!! ... You would think they would go out of their way and have put huge writing on the front of the box letting you know it had these awesome features!!!! ... Thanks again for saving the day Matthias! ..... (also, I have had nothing but good things to say about the Mastercraft Maximum router kit in the past, now i find it 5X better!! If any of you see one pop up for sale on Kijiji or Craig's List for cheap, snag it up!! My friend grabbed one that was never used a few weeks ago for $75!)

I have a handheld Ridgid router (laminate trimmer) that I used on many jobs for over 5 years and it still works great. Switched to the Bosch version (got it as a gift) and that is a great tool as well but I prefer the design of the on/off switch on the Ridgid because it's extremely unlikely to you could hit to button and turn it on accidentally, not so with the Bosch.

Wish I'd seen this a year ago because I bought myself this exact model, but I guess it wouldn't have mattered. I love it. I have another less powerful mastercraft router on a mastercarft router table, it was a good cheap starting router, but I got tired of putting it on and taking it off the table and wanted a nicer plunge router. The plunge base is stiff I find, but overall it works really well and it's been a great router and a joy to use. I'm looking forward to building a table for it and have been playing with some ideas for a router lift, but noticed, just a couple of weeks ago, the t-bar thing in the bag at which point I was pretty excited that I wasn't going to have to build a router lift for it. The static base will work as a lift as it is.

Matthias Wandel what a great engineer you are. Thanks for sharing your wisdom !

Hmm, good point. The lock makes it kind of redundant. I do remember trying to adjust my first router, a plunger outer under a table, and that is just awful, with the springs working against you all he time.

Perfect review! I have owned this router for eight years and it will power through any job with ease. I love the LED work lights and the clear base. Like yours, my router's plunge action is totally unusable. I've almost killed myself a couple of times. I even took the springs out and shortened them slightly. I lubricated the shafts with silicon spray and reassembled. No good. Lubrication isn't needed because of the brass bushings, which also keep dust from getting up in there. It's still unusable. I only use the fixed base. That works great. Considering replacing it with the Bosch MRC23.

The fixed base lift is similar to Bosch. The plunge base on my Bosch has zero play. good review sir.

I played the home-game version, with my Craftsman router, and found out that I also have a way of lifting the router when it is upside down. Thanks Matthias! Now to make a router lift table...

Well rounded reviews with all of your vids, TY.

Big fan of Ridgid tools, but always surprises me when companies make decisions to stray from standards sizes and so on. But you can't beat the warranty!

Great video as usual and very timely as I am planning on purchasing another router in the next few months.

I actually own this router set, and agree with pretty much everything you said. The plunge base has basically disintegrated - it comes apart (literally, springs exposed) on occasion. I used the fixed base as my 'router lift' and the t-wrench you discovered works great. I fear the end of it warping or stripping and being unable to turn the nut. I always 'help' the router by lifting it from the bottom if I'm raising it. That 1/4" adapter is a POS - any dirt, etc and it sticks in the collet.

I so appreciate your honesty

I was just at Home Depot today and was looking at that router. Thankfully I watched this video! I hate non conforming product dimensions!

Wow I got the same router, like new from a pawn shop. I just learned about the 1/4" insert, it was slightly stuck in the collet. I was slightly disappointed when I bought this router thinking it only had 1/4" , adapter removed, now I'm happy.

Same thoughts exactly. I was trying to determine if it could be turned down just by catching a glimpse in the video. If you don't have a lathe some shop may want what the router is worth just to take that 16th off. Man I wish I could afford a good sized metal working lathe.

hmm, I suppose if the router is hanging off of it, that would be worse than how I demonstrated it. Have you tried lubricating it?

Matthias nice review. I was in market for router and would check it out. In past my experience with Rigid has always been good.

Great review, and in-depth look as to the likes and dislikes. Thank you!

Thanks for the great review. I have the exact same router package. The above table adjustment is very good, but you have to be careful as the router will drop out of the housing while making adjustments. Like you, I find the plunge base to be worthless. The plunging mechanism binds and makes precision work impossible.

I find the variable speed very useful and I don't even have a router table, just a plunge base. If you use larger diameter router bits you really wont to turn down the speed. Another thing (but that's dependent on the model, so check first) is that variable speed routers don't just set a speed, but they try to keep it under load.

Great info on the router. I have a few Ridgid tools and most are are good. I do have a problem with the batteries on their drills a impact drivers. They seem to fail quickly. By that I mean they won't hold a charge. My Ridgid 4512 table saw works great though. Thanks Mathias, Roland

Nice review. Coming from you I know I can trust the assessment. I've been considering buying a better router than I have. I may have to go this route. Ridgid has been good to me so far. Thank you.

As I commented before, all 4 of my routers came from pawn shops. 2 are hi end Porter-Cables, 1 is an amazing DeWalt DW610 and 1 is a terrible Makita that doesn't get much use. Two were nearly new, one had occasional use and one had been used a lot. They were purchased at different times and different pawn shops at around $40.00 each.

Noticed that you bought that at the home depot next to Algonquin College. My old stopping grounds. I use to get supplies for my architectural models there. Small world!

Hi Matthias, I use the european version of this router in my router table. It's called "AEG MF1400KE" Thx for you review, now I know where to get a 1/2 inch chuck. :-)

I bought a 1 hr craftsman a few years ago with very similar features. Put it on my router table and never took it off. Build the router table accessories around the location of the router features. Matthias pushes the envelope.

Great product evaluation. I really like that you bought it & therefore have no obligation to make anyone else happy by saying stuff that isn't true. On the size problem. It occurs to me, perhaps having a "thicker" motor body contributes to the better stability and speed variability. Lowering the speed, depending on how it is done, will raise the current flow. bigger wire in the windings would help the life of the motor. Just trying to think of reasons an engineer would make the decision.

Thanks for the review, Matthias! by sound, it seems a little lite on power, but your cuts looked fine.

Thanks for a very thorough and useful router review. I especially like the line, "I only buy the cheap stuff". For table mounting you'd probably like a beefier 3 1/4 hp Hitachi M12V for just a tad more $. Of course it's not a fixed base router and wouldn't work with your lift. Except for those minor inconveniences, it'd be the perfect router for your various machines :)

hi .Matthias Love your videos, always look forward to new posts. Just finished reading fine wood working's "MAKING AND MODIFYING MACHINES” seeing the similarity between your machines and there’s, you probably have read it, but if you haven’t it’s a great read

Interesting. I use Dewalt, Makita and Porter Cable in my shop. I have wanted to try a Ridgid. Thanks!

I have found when you mount the dust attachment the plastic t height adjustment handle hits the screws that mount the dust collection.

as always matthias clear and to the point, thanks

I got this router at the HD across the street from my house, but they don't sell the combo kit with the plunge base. And now I can't find the plunge base separately. It would be nice, since it's my only router and I am a casual wood worker. I do really like it otherwise, but after about two years that collet adapter did let a 1/4' bit drop. luckily it only dropped a little, but I am moving getting only 1/2' bits.

I'm in high school and I'm going into my final 2 years and I choose industrial technology (I is basically wood work and metal work combined) just because I've watched this guys vids the last weeks

I was just looking at this model at Home Depot the other day I guess now I'm convinced to get this one.

Good reading your and others comments regarding these routers. Spare a thought for us watching on the other side of the pond, as fixed routers are as rare as news teeth (like so much of what you guys have to choose from!), though I think I have seen the first from Bosch available now.

Agree with Norman's comment . I am going to buy this one.

Cheap Stuff here too.. I have $25 in my Craftsman Router & have been looking at a really nice one at the pawn shop that's a Porter Cable with both the fixed & plunge bases for $90

The cone is to align the router to a router plate in a table in addition to what you showed.

The TRIAC is effectively two antiparallel SCRs in one device. It controls the speed by not turning on until some portion of the supply waveform has already passed. With DC, it would turn on and stay on until the supply shut off. The on/off switch contacts would be the main problem, as the DC arcing is much harder to quench as there aren't the convenient zero current bits twice every cycle.

Looking at your review I agree with your criticisms of the Ridgid router. I like Ridgid tools too because they are inexpensive and do a good job for the money You might look to Sears as they have a router much like the Ridgid but it has a 3 and a half inch barrel and two collets like you wanted . I did a lot of the same tests you did on my sears routers and found them to be better than my set of porter cable routers .The plunge base on the Sears was as good or better than any router I've seen .

I bought this model for my pantorouter. I made only a few things with it before encountering a problem. I broke the nut that holds the collet in place while tightening it. A call to the company revealed that they don't have that part and I have to go to an outside source. It seems that they have a bit of a problem with that, and there might be liability issues with broken bolts flying off. They are made from pretty thin metal. I hope I can find the part, or at least a machine shop that can fabricate one!

Great review, thanks for all the info. Joe Blow is right though Ridgid warranty will cover your plunge. :)

I bought my Ridgid about 3 months ago and I love it! I want a table for it though and the Bosch looks the most appealing with all of the fences and stop block acc. it comes with. Either way, thanks for the walkthrough Matthias.

I just bought Mastercraft Maximum Router 2hp variable speed (with FIXED and PLUNGE BASE) for 110$ this past friday (maybe still on special) @ canadian Tire. Was a random purchase wasn't planning to buy the router but was SUCH a good deal. Looks exactly like your except that theres TOOTH RAIL on the router to adjust Z axis

I have several of these routers that I use every day and have never had a problem with them. If you look when ordering then getting the proper size router lift is not a problem and ridged is not the only router they fit. Granted that Porter Cable and DeWalt are the same size but there are several that are the same size as Ridgid so they are not alone and are not an odd size.

Very informative review. Just to clarify ... the variable speed is because you want it in your tilting router table, correct? Do you think you'd need these extra features if you were putting it in the moritser or pantorouter? Or would you then just buy the $70 Mastercraft from Canadian Tire?

Thank you for the unbiased review. Its nice to know the differences, since some details may or may not be that important to how various viewers may use the tool.

In the article. it's not that straight forward, because each part has it's own model number.

I have a cheap Einhell plunger router...and I have to admit it plunges quite smoothly...I don't know if I just lucked out, but it is actually a very good router...I think it was only 50 euros...and it's been worth it so far...it's not suitable, without modification, to put into a table or anything, but still a good buy.

Great video! Looks like a great router.

That would require a bulkier camera, and futzing with the mike all the time. Net result would be more time per video, and thus fewer videos for you to watch. You wouldn't want that.

Careful, that is usually the power consumed rather than power at collet. Some manufacturers will give you both other just power useage.

Excellent presentation.

The quality of this motor is every bit as good as the Ridgid. It's also cheaper. It does lack the height adjustment installed in the fixed base that Matthias really liked. But, any router lift will have its own method for adjusting bit height.

TTI (Ridgid's parent company) lists the US model as R29302 -- search for that model number on the home depot site and it will come up. If you live in upstate SC and get invited to TTI's warehouse sale, you can pick a referb. one for $100

Great review! But hey who would ever seriously consider to buy a router lift?? ;) I have always been looking for a cylindrical router but as you know in Europe these things are extinct. However I found one labeled AEG that looks suspiciously like your new router (MF 1400 KE) but man, it goes for about 400€!!

I noticed that you used a Mastercraft Maximum router in some of your videos and since I didn't have one that would work in the pantorouter I went out and got one. I'm pretty impressed. It's a really solid router with nice features! (Soft start, led lights, speed control.) I seem to recall hearing the the Mastercraft Maximum line is made by DeWalt or at least the same maker as DeWalt.

Makita RT0700CX2J is available at the european market and has a 89 mm body. Perfect for building the pantorouter and other woodmachinery..

I got this router as a present and the only thing I hate about it is the plunger system, other than that is a great router

i have the same router and love and i have three other ones but my ridgid is my favorite i also have the ridgid cabinet tablesaw

I happened to get a good deal on some Bosch routers on Kijiji ... They're great, I think I got really lucky.

I came here looking at ridgid router reviews and after looking at this it is identical to the craftsman I have. it's a great router I wanted to dedicate one on my router table. So I guess if I get the ridgid I'd be good.

Both my Hitachi and Makita routers have the separate collet reducer to go to 1/4" yours seems a bit different with a collar at the top. It could be the insert adaptor is better because you simply loosen it and it slides out (like any bit would) instead of spinning the whole collet off and reinstalling the different 1/2" collet.

Still a great review. Thanks

$200 usd for a rigid router! Great price I spent $599 on a router at woodcrafters and it wasn't good at all! Great review!

No. It's not like they wouldn't know this already.

A lot of play in the shafts is a common issue for all hand routers, regardless of the price. Well, except something really outstanding, like Festool. When i bought mine, i tried almost everything at stores, and there was over 500$ DeWalt with horrible play (about 2mm when locked, yeah, only one shaft locks), and some under 100$ chinese one without play at all. Of course, i bought the latter.

The plunge action on the Dewalt I bought was the best I have seen, even Makita sucked big time, once they are expensive they all seem to be good. Best cheap routers imho, Dewalt

I own quite a bit of Ridgid tools including that router I've had for the past 6 years no complaints about the performance but that is the one thing they get you on they tend to make Their tools only compatible with their accessories the best part is there's almost no universal replacement parts for their line Of tools you have to buy everything from the manufacturer or a Ridgid dealer

Don't ask me. I don't own any of these.

Universal motors (like what is in most power tools) don't care about frequency (they can even run on DC) and the speed control is just a TRIAC chopper (same as what most light dimmers use), so the lower mains frequency should not be an issue.

That would get you out of any predicament you found yourself, very good choices.

Good video. Thanks for all your effort.

i think it can be adjust at 1:08. Did you see the cross of both of the puncher? i saw bosch is really easy to press down.

stihl and rigid are contractor companies thats why the have such great(but expensive stuff) those two brands along with klein and stanley are pretty much the only brands i use

I don't think so. I don't see them selling accessories, other than the ones that come with the router. I figure this non-standard size is more the result of ignorance than malice.

Congrats on 100k subs

Great review! How’s that thing holding up?

Matthias, couldn't you make interchangeable mounts for the tilting router lift? Make one for the smaller router and keep another for the larger router. Then if you have to switch routers for whatever reason you could just unscrew the one and screw on the other. Is that possible?