Maximum Power: Motor Power is one of the defining characteristics of any rotational machine. It basically defines the hardness of wood that can be cut in the case of plunge routers. With a higher power rating like 2 HP, you can cut harder wood faster than a 1 HP one. Warranty Period: As the plunge routers constantly undergo a lot of stress, there is a high chance that some delicate parts of the machine might get damaged. Therefore, having a long warranty period like 3 years on the router will allow using the router at its maximum potential. Speed of Operation: In case of any power tool, you should consider the speed of operation before purchasing it. Basically, a high-speed router such as a 27000 RPM one will get the work done a lot quicker as compared to the slower 20000 RPM ones.
Today, we are presenting you with a list of best plunge routers available in the market. You will find various decent routers in this article, along with information about their important parameters. We are providing a feature-based “Buying Guide” that will certainly help you in making the right choice. Therefore, make sure you read the article until the very end to select the one that suits you the best.
Best Plunge Routers
7 Best Plunge Routers Reviews
1. Dewalt Plunge Router
You can find a wide range of power tools from Dewalt, including a plunge router, since it has been making products for such a long time. The Dewalt DWP611PK plunge router is present in the 1st position in this article as it is a highly powerful option with its 2.25 HP electric motor. It allows you to go up to 27000 RPM with its motor quite easily. You can go up to 1/64 inch deep using the plunge base of this plunge router. Another great thing about Dewalt is that it is highly reputable and offers a 3-year long warranty that makes it highly reliable, especially when you consider its build quality and construction. It comes with dual inbuilt LEDs that can be quite handy while working in the dark with this plunge router. Best Features:
Power rating of 2.25 HP Motor speed rating of up to 24000 RPM 3-year long warranty Up to 1/64 inch depth travel Great build quality for longevity
Pros:
Most powerful plunge router mentioned here Offers long warranty for reliability and durability Justified price tag for given performance.
Cons:
Quite large in size Motor can be a little loud
2. Bosch Plunge Router
Bosch is another mainstream brand of power tools that is known for making heavy-duty power tools, just like its plunge router model. Bosch’s 1617EVSPK plunge router is present in the 2nd position in this article as it comes with a highly powerful motor along with a high motor speed. Its 2.25 HP electric motor can go up to 25000 RPM while powering the tool head of this plunge router. As you would expect from any Bosch power tool, its plunge router model offers a great build quality to the user for peace of mind over a long period of time. Unfortunately, it only comes with a 1-year long warranty that is not expected from a mainstream brand like Bosch. Best Features:
Power rating of 2.25 HP Motor speed rating of up to 25000 RPM 1-year long warranty Great build quality Variable speed 12 amp electric motor
Pros:
High performance 12 amp electric motor with 2.25 HP power output Sharp tool head for precise results Sturdy and long last build quality
Cons:
Only a 1-year long warranty
3. Makita Plunge Router
Apart from making cordless power tools, you can also find some high-performance power tool offerings from Makit like its plunge router. This Makita RT0701CX7 plunge router is present in the 3rd position in this article as it comes at a budget price tag. Even then, it is able to offer a 1 ¼ HP electric motor that results in a high value for money for the user. As for its motor speed, it can go up to 30000 RPM that is more than enough for most users out there. While it only comes with a 1-year long warranty, that is quite decent for the given price. Unfortunately, the build quality is not on par with other Makita products out there and leaves the user wanting for more. Best Features:
Power rating of 1.25 HP Motor speed rating of up to 30000 RPM 1-year long warranty Budget price tag for a high value for money Small and compact size
Pros:
Highest motor speed rating of 30000 RPM Efficient and powerful electric motor High value for money for peace of mind
Cons:
Build quality could have been slightly better
4. Skil Plunge Router
You can make your prominent carpentry work more sophisticated and precise with the SKil plunge and fixed base router combo we have here. Running with a powerful 14 amp, 2.5 HP motor, the router has both fixed and plunge bases essential for a variety of work. Moreover, it also features Electronic Feedback that maintains the motor RPM consistently while your material is being routed. The router takes a huge workload off of you with its Speed Control LCD display. Through which you can select the bit type and material and get the suggested speed from the smart speed control. It features a Live Tool Indicator that lets you know when the router is connected to a power source for secure handling. Furthermore, to make it easy on you the router comes with a Soft Start feature that provides a safe and controlled start to routing. Best Features:
14-amp power 2.5 HP motor Speed control LCD display Electronic Feedback Soft Start Live tool indicator
Pros:
1-year warranty Powerful routing User-friendly Safe and comfortable Easy to handle
Cons:
Customer service needs improvement
5. Wen Plunge Router
WEN is known for making high value for money and affordable power tools, which is also true for its plunge router. This WEN RT6033 plunge router is the cheapest option present in this article and still offers a complete kit. Since you also get other useful features at its budget price tag, it is the best option present here if you want a high value for money option. Talking about its performance, it uses a 15 amp electric motor that can go up to 2.5 HP motor power that should be more than enough for most users out there. And despite the low price tag, its 23000 RPM electric motor comes with a 2-year long warranty that is always great to have. Best Features:
Power rating of 2.5 HP Motor speed rating of up to 23000 RPM 2-year long warranty Comes with multiple handy and useful accessories Low price tag for users on budget
Pros:
Highly affordable price tag for the best value for money Great performance from 2.5 HP electric motor 2-year long warranty for peace of mind
Cons:
Average build quality
6. Metabo HPT Plunge Router
Metabo HPT store supplies great quality robust machinery for all kinds of work at a very economical price range. The efficient HPT router we have here runs with an 11-amp motor and 2-¼ peak horsepower resulting in precise and controlled cuts. Also, it comes with electronic speed control that maintains consistent RPM even when the load varies. It is a perfect tool for fine window cutting, chamfering, groove cutting, trimming shaping, and cutting patterns. The router features a 2-stage motor release clamp for quick and accurate depth adjustment or base changing. The router only produces a 79.5 dB noise level which means you will be having a quiet work area while working with this router. And, its ergonomic design gives precise results and great comfort to you. Best Features:
11-amp power 2-¼ horsepower 2 stage motor release clamp 79.5 dB low-level noise
Pros:
5-year warranty Ergonomic design Electronic speed control Fine depth adjustment Easy to handle
Cons:
After-sales service can be better
7. Ryob Plunge Router
Last but not least, Ryobi can be another great pick out there if you are looking for a plunge router for your carpentry needs. The Ryobi RE180PL1G plunge router offers decent and very similar performance to most other plunge router models out there. As per its name, it uses a 10 amp electric motor that can go up to 2 HP in terms of its power output that should be more than enough for most users out there. A great thing Ryobi is that it is a highly reputable brand of power tools that offers a 3-year long warranty. It even offers a great build quality to the user that is always great to have. This means that you can keep using the 25000 RPM motor of this plunge router for a long time. Best Features:
Power rating of 2 HP Motor speed rating of up to 25000 RPM 3-year long warranty Efficient electric motor with a rating of 10 amp Great build quality
Pros:
Comes with a long warranty for peace of mind Decent performance from the given electric motor Well built for longevity
Cons:
Slightly expensive
Buying Guide for Best Plunge Router
After reading about all of our suggestions for the best plunge router, you must have gained a decent amount of knowledge on plunge routers. As we have mentioned all the necessary details about each router, you might have made your choice as well. But, before actually purchasing a plunge router, you need to know a few more things about plunge routers in general. Therefore, we are providing you this comprehensive buying guide to help you out with your choice. This buying guide contains all the necessary information about important aspects of a plunge router. Therefore, make sure you read the buying guide until the end before making your selection.
1. Power Rating
One of the most important things to check while buying any kind of power tool is to make sure that it is powerful enough. And the easiest way to ensure that a given plunge router is powerful enough is to look at its power rating given in HP. It includes options like 1.25 HP or 2 HP plunge router options out there. Generally, a higher power rating results in better performance for the user and ensures that you do not face any issues while working with hard wood objects. Although, as you would expect, a higher power rating can also result in higher power consumption. Therefore, you should go for a plunge router that offers a balance between power output and power consumption for high efficiency.
2. Motor Speed Rating
Another way to get an idea of the performance of a given plunge router is to check its motor speed rating. As you can tell by the name, it simply tells you about the rotation speed of a given electric motor. And since all plunge routers out there are electric and powered by an electric motor, checking its motor speed rating is highly important. Generally, this motor speed rating is given RPM or rounds per minute that simply tells you about the number of times it rotates every minute. Since there are a lot of plunge router models out there, different models have different speed ratings. When compared with each other, a high motor speed rating of 27000 RPM usually results in better performance than a lower motor speed rating of 21000 RPM. That being said, sometimes, you have to use a lower motor speed for working with softer wood pieces. In that case, most plunge router models out there allow you to change this speed. It can be done using a variable speed trigger if your plunge router model has one.
3. Size and Form Factor
A plunge router is such a power tool that generally gets used in small and tight spaces. And not only that, but it is also directed using your hands for precision cuts. Because of this, buying a plunge router that is small and compact is highly important and useful. Any plunge router that has a small and compact design and form factor can be used in tight spaces quite easily. You can also easily store such plunge routers in your workshop or garage when they are not in use for ease of use. Apart from the size, you should also consider the weight of a given plunger router if you plan on moving it from one place to another frequently. A lightweight plunge router can be quite handy for professional carpenters who need to move from one job site to another every now and then.
4. Reliability and Warranty
While working on wood pieces and especially hard ones, your plunge router can face a lot of wear and tear over time. This can result in multiple kinds of issues with your plunge router over time. Therefore, you should buy a model that is highly durable and reliable and does not get affected by wear and tear. The easiest way to ensure this is to check the warranty offered by a given plunge router. While a lot of the options out there come with a 1-year long warranty, other models can even offer a 3-year long warranty to the user that generally lasts for a long time without any issues.
Conclusion
Plunge routers are a desirable power tool for all woodworkers as they can carry out various different tasks that are extremely hard to perform manually. You can create slots of defined depth and length, trim sharp edges, create holes, and many other operations that are possible only with the help of a plunge router. Therefore, we have given you a list of best plunge routers available out there. We have also provided a buying guide to help you with your purchase further. But, if you still cannot make the choice, you can go with our recommendations below:
At first, we will suggest you to go with the Wen Plunge Router as the best budget option from our list. Even with the minimal price tag, you will get a 2.5 HP torque motor that can operate at 23000 rpm. You also get 2 years of the warranty period that is phenomenal in this price range. Although, you can go with Skil Plunge Router if you are looking for a high duty plunge router. This powerful plunge router contains a 2.5 HP motor that operates at 25000 rpm. You will get a long 1 year of the warranty period with Triton TRA001 that is great to have with heavy-duty power tools. Lastly, we will suggest you Dewalt Plunge Router as it is one of the fastest plunge routers from our picks. It has a moderately powered 1.25 HP motor that can run at 27000 rpm, which is the highest rpm rating as compared with other plunge routers. Dewalt is also providing 3 years of the warranty period that can come in handy in the long run.
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