Making wooden signs – Router review

Wooden Signs

 

Making wooden signs can be an absorbing or a profitable hobby.

The production of router wood signs is one way of achieving it.

With a router custom routed signs can be achieved in a small workshop with the minimum of equipment.

The main piece of equipment will be the router and the features the should be sort are:

• Ease of operation
• Ability to see the cutting operation.
• LED illumination of the cutting area
• Blower clearing the cut debris or vacuuming it
• Plunge router is an asset but not essential

With that in mind we now which is the best wood router to buy and that they are all hand held routers, as they must be to produce router wood signs.

Please note:
If viewing from Canada, France or United Kingdom articles selected to view may be substituted for an equivalent model if the selected model is not available in your country.

 

The Dewalt DWP611PK router comes as a tool that can be used as a plunge router or as a fixed base one.

This model however is for the hobbyist and not for the professional woodworker needing a machine for hard continuous work.

The Dewalt does have some very good features:

For good visibility in operation the clear sub-base.

It has dual LEDs to illuminate the cutter on operation.

The motor has a soft start and variable speed control.

The fixed base model has up to 1.5” of depth of travel.

It is light in weight, only 8 lbs.

Comes with a three year limited warranty.

 

See the latest price of The Dewalt here…

 

 

 

Makita RT0701CX3 1-1/4 HP Compact Router Kit

 

Makita has a very good market name in the wood router uses category.

It does have some very good features that make it not only good for making wooden signs but as a top rated wood routers.

Some of the main features are:

Pros

• Variable speed, 10,000-30,000 revs/min
• Depth setting with easy readable scales.
• Precise settings of depth using a rack and pinion system allowing to make fine adjustments.
• Maintaining constant speed under load using an electronic control.
• Makes routing small profiles easy.
• Increased comfort in use with the featured body design.
• Plastic shield to be able to view the cutting process.
• A plastic shied with a vacuum take off as an extra.
• Comes complete in a carrying satchel with all standard attachments.

Con

Does not have LED illumination of the work area.

 

See the latest price of Makita RT0701CX3 here…

 

 

 

DEWALT DW618B3 12 Amp 2-1/4 Horsepower Plunge Base and Fixed Base

This hand held router has a good name in the woodworking tools category.

It is a heavy model weighing 27.2 lbs. and is designed to be a workhorse of a machine.

When buying a wood router it is necessary to look at all the features that the router has:

This router has the Following:

• A variable speed motor, 2.25 HP controlled electronically.
• A soft start to reduce torque on start-up
• Able to remain at a constant speed when under load.
• Speed range from 8,000 to 24,000 revs/min.
• Depth adjustment in 1/64 inch intervals.
• With a dust collection system allows excellent visibility of the cutting action.
• Bases that have an simple snap on/off.

There are some excellent reviews from buyers of this router and at the other end of the scale some had problems and reading them most were manufacturing issues.

 

See the latest price of DEWALT DW618B3 here…

 

 

 

Bosch 1617EVS 2-1/4 HP Variable-Speed Router

Having the Bosch name does give some idea that the product is well constructed and give a very good service.

Its price however should indicate the stature of this product.

There are a list of features:

Pros

• It has a powerful motor producing between 8000 to 25000 revs/min
• The actual speed has an option to vary the actual speed.
• This in turn maintains and monitors the revs/min.
• A rugged aluminium base designed to give a lasting build.
• It weighs 11.2lbs.
• In general there were a considerable number of good customer reviews but those at the lower end were there possibly due to shipping and poor product inspection.

Cons

It is an imported product so the price is subject to fluctuation and spares may or may not be readily available.

 

See the latest price of Bosch 1617EVS here…

 

 

 

Hitachi KM12VC 11 Amp 2-1/4-Horsepower Plunge and Fixed Base Variable Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets

 

This is a lighter model only weighing 9.9lbs. But has a very good power output of up to 2.25 HP.

This amongst its other features the best hand held router of its kind.

Features included are:

• Keep constant speed as the load varies by an electronic speed control system.
• Has a surprising low noise level of 79.5dB
• Exact control of depth by fine adjustment.
• The base change has a 2 stage release clamp motor release.
• It has on the plunge router assembly a clear plastic shield so that when
• requiring to view the cutting action the debris will not hit you.
• An impressive 5 year warranty with a 30 day guarantee of money back.

There is a very good array of customer reviews with a few minor reviews but the majority praise the product.

 

See the latest price of Hitachi KM12VC here…

 

 

Conclusions and recommendations: Making wooden signs 

The recommendations for making wooden signs by router wood signs is choice of which router to buy.

Here we consider there are two possibilities that have the best chance to produce routed signs to a high standard:

Dewalt DWP611PK 1;23 HP Max Torque Variable Speed Compact Router Combo Kit with LED’s

or the

Hitachi KM12VC 11 Amp 2-1/4-Horsepower Plunge and Fixed Base Variable Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets

However if it just a general router that is require with more power and facilities then the following would be the selection:

Makita RT0701CX3 1-1/4 HP Compact Router Kit

Whatever your choice make it the best wood router you can afford.