Shopsmith Forums

I have just purchased the router table and overarm pin router. Now I need to buy a good router for the both of my new tools. Any recommendations and suggestions for a router.

Thanks

Get one with a round motor housing, adjustable speed and a soft start. Recommend you Google 'routers' and read all of the reviews for each one that interests you.

The soft start feature is for when you use the router as a hand held.

A variable speed, Porter Cable 690 series is always clamped in mine. Then, as I have shown before, I have an under-mounted 3.25hp Freud "permanently" in place. My table is not SS-it is Jessem-solid 3/4" phenolic.jet

One thing to make sure of is with the SS router table is that the router motor is not so large that it hangs too low or doesn't fit between the way tubes when mounted to your SS. This has been an issue with some SS owners.

Most of the problem arises from the more square shaped motors than the round ones.

I have the Porter Cable 890 series router kit (two bases). It is very tall and in the router table it sometimes hits the way tubes. It is rated good by the magazines. The Bosch 2.25 hp kit is rated very good but uses strange bushings if you ever want to use it hand held or with a jig.

I have two of the 890 series Porter Cable routers. I discovered the plunge base doesn't work will in the table. The other base works fine depending which direction I install it. Once I turned it so the switch was easier to reach it no longer hit the tubes. I will say I have often used the table off of the end of the shopsmith and liked being able to reach around everything better. When I use that configuration I lock the extending legs at an angle up against the end on the shopsmith for stability. Jim