Top Choice – Bosch GFK 600 Compact Trim Router

PROS

• The Bosch has a powerful motor – 600W (5.0 Amp), which means it can cut cleanly through soft and hardwoods
• it is solid and well built at 3.9 kg it feels well put together and is stable when being used, without being top heavy
• It’s comfortable and easy to hold, and the rubberized grip means it sits nicely into your hand and allows accurate control when you need it
• With a high cutting speed of 33,000 RPM, this is one of the fastest trim routers available
• Fine depth adjustment
• Good choice of accessories and cutters available making it very versatile

CONS

• Does not have variable speed control like some
• Depth adjustment could be better but works once you get used to it

Bosch GFK 600 Compact Trim Router Review

The Bosch Professional range is considered one of the best quality power tools ranges available and the GFK600 trim router lives up to this reputation.

I have had my Bosch GFK router for over ten years and use it regularly for DIY cutting and trimming tasks and it has never let me down. If fact I probably use it more than I should and for jobs this kind of router is not specifically designed for but it handles everything I can throw at it.

I like the extra long 5m power cable which reaches easily over most of my work pieces without catching or pulling.

The Bosch unit is solid and feels well made, it is a little heavier than some other routers weighing in at 3.9Kg (8lb 9 Oz) but I find this helps keep it stable when cutting and it doesn’t feel top-heavy.

The rubberized grip allows a high level of control and sits nicely in your hand, making it easy to use the router in any direction.

One thing I find a little annoying is the position of the power switch which is right at the front and I can’t quite reach it with my fingers so need to use both hands to turn the router on and off.

The power switch is a positive throw which means you don’t have to keep your finger on it for the router to run this means you can also mount this trim router into a router table for even more versatility.

This model doesn’t have a variable speed motor but is fixed at 33,000 RPM which I like as it cuts through most of the materials I work with leaving a nice clean cut (so long as I have a sharp cutter installed) and is one less thing to think about.

The power of the motor is evident when you turn this router on, this is no ‘soft start’ and the high RPM can give a bit of a kick when started, I recommend that the router is supported on the workpiece, away from the edge to be cut prior to switching it on, this will give you more control and prevent the kick from loosening your grip.

The collect and spanner are straightforward and easy to use although I sometimes find the locking button is covered by the base and I need to remember to set and tighten the cutting tool before I set up the cutting depth.

The cutting depth adjustment is via a quick-release thumb locking mechanism, with fine adjustment via an easy-to-use thumb wheel, I recommend regularly cleaning the thumb wheel and screw thread to ensure the accuracy and adjustment works properly.

Overall I really like my Bosch GKF Trim Router, it is able to cope with a wide variety of materials and different cuts with ease and I often push it to do deeper cuts than I should and it just keeps going. With a wide variety of accessories, it can handle most routing projects

Runner Up – Makita RT0701CX3 1/4″ Trim Router.

PROS

• The Makita RT 700 routers are fitted with a 710W (5.92Amp) motor which has loads of power
• Soft Start reduces spindle kick
• Variable speed from 10,000 – 34,000 RPM allows adjustment for various materials
• Adjustable cutting depth with fine adjustment and 35mm plunge capacity
• 1/4″ & 3/8″ dia Collets
• Good quality accessories for multi-function routing

CONS

• Fiddly fine depth adjustment works well once you get used to it
• No Palm grip on the router body
• Noise levels from the 710W motor can be high, I recommend using earplugs
• Build quality, is acceptable but could be better

Makita RT701CX3 1/4″ Dia Compact Trim Router Review

The Makita RT700 range are well-made and powerful trim routers, which is typical of the Makita brand, which is known for the quality of their motors, and the RT701CX3 is no exception.

The base unit is made from a solid metal body and spindle surround with a hard ABS plastic cover over the motor. there are no rubberized grips on the base unit which allows it to be used easily in other forms including in router tables or even 2D and 3D engraving machines.

The interchangeable bases that are supplied with this kit provide good grip and control when using the Makita as a hand-held router, they include a plunge router base, angle cutting base, and several trimming bases with and without dust collection ports.

Powered by a 710W (5.92A) motor the Makita RT701CX3 has plenty of power to cut into most non-ferrous materials and can even be used to cut Aluminum with the right cutter installed.

Just like the Bosch unit this Makita has a positive throw power switch allowing it to be used without the need to have your finger pressing the switch.

The power switch and variable speed control wheel are mounted nicely at the front of the router, with a solid feel when used or adjusted, there are 6-speed settings on the adjuster wheel taking the motor from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, more than adequate for all DIY materials.

Makita states that the numbers on the dial correspond with the following spindle speeds:

• No. 1 = 10,000 RPM
• No. 2 = 12,000 RPM
• No. 3 = 17,000 RPM
• No. 4 = 22,000 RPM
• No 5 = 27,000 RPM
• No. 6 = 30,000 RPM

The Collet is easy to access and can be released and tightened using either 2- wrenches or spanners or using the spindle lock button and a wrench. I found no issues with the setup on the unit tested but others have commented about the quality of the spindle assembly.

One of the great things about the RT701CX3 Router kit available from Makita is the range of adaptors and bases that are included.

I particularly like the offset base which allows you to set the router up with the drive offset from the cutter, making cuts in tight spaces easier, it takes a bit of fiddling to set up but I think it can be very useful

I also like the dust collection adaptor for the trimmer base, which can be hooked up to a shop vac and provides a reasonable amount of dust control, Although I found mine clogged up when I was making deep cuts in soft pine wood and needed to be cleared quite often.

The depth adjustment on the trimmer base works well once you get the hang of it, I had the adjusting screw set too loosely at first which allowed the gear to jump over the teeth in the base, messing up the settings.

Once I had tightened the clamp it worked well, but I don’t think ist as fine an adjustment as the Bosch with its thumb wheel, but once set it would hold well for accurate and repeatable cuts.

the Makita is a great Trim router and would easily cover 99% of DIY and most professional routing requirements without skipping a beat. With its wide range of accessories and powerful motor, it was a close and worthy runner-up in our tests If you like the brand you won’t go wrong.

Best Cordless – Makita DRT50ZJX3 18V Trim Router

PROS

• Powerful, maintenance-free 18V Brushless Motor
• Variable speed control 10,000 – 30,000 RPM
• Soft Start for easy use when starting
• Aluminum base and main housing for high quality and durability
• Fine depth adjustment
• 1/4″ & 3/8″ Collet options
• A wide selection of accessories and cutters are available making it very versatile
• Rapid 45 min battery Charging

CONS

• Not as powerful as corded routers
• Depth adjustment could be better but works once you get used to it
• Access to Spindle lock for tool changing
• Blister button controls

Makita DRT50ZJX3 18V Cordless Trim Router Review

The Makita Cordless Trim router is fitted with the same high-quality brushless motor they use in their other heavy-duty tools and it performs well when pushed.

The cordless power unit can’t quite keep up with a corded unit for consistent power but it has a pretty good go and provides plenty of torque allowing for dovetail cuts and full dadoes to be handled in all but the hardest woods without any real concerns.

It has the same high-quality Aluminum base as the corded version and the solid metal body and spindle surround are topped with a hard ABS plastic cover which houses the easy-to-use battery dock.

The base unit is designed in the same way as other routers in this range and there are no rubberized grips on the base unit, which allows it to be swapped into different base adaptors or other mounts quickly, it could even be used with a router table if required.

The DRT50ZJX3 is supplied with every base and adaptor you will ever need just and they are all easy to swap and use, the only thing I found was that most of the bases restrict access to the spindle lock when installed, meaning you need to remember fit the cutter before you fit the base.

I found this a bit annoying and resorted to using two wrenches to release or tighten the collet rather than remove the base, but this is true of other routers in this class so it’s not a huge deal.

Unlike the corded unit, Makita has fitted a blister button to control the power switch these are great for eliminating dust ingress but I don’t really like them as they can wear out quickly, in addition, there is a safety button which needs to be pressed before the motor will start, a good safety feature but again is a blister button and I wonder how long it would last.

The motor has variable speed which is controlled via a wheel that is mounted nicely at the side of the router, it has a good, solid feel when used or adjusted, as with the corded router there are 6-speed settings on the adjuster wheel taking the motor from 10,000 to 30,000 RPM, more than adequate for all DIY materials.

Makita states that the numbers on the dial correspond with the following spindle speeds:

• No. 1 = 10,000 RPM
• No. 2 = 12,000 RPM
• No. 3 = 17,000 RPM
• No. 4 = 22,000 RPM
• No 5 = 27,000 RPM
• No. 6 = 30,000 RPM

The rubberized grips which are part of the base adaptors allow a high level of control and are not overly chunky making it easy to use the router in any direction.

The cutting depth adjustment is the same as the corded unit and can be a little tricky to get used to, I found that if the locking lever was not tight enough the motor unit can slip inside the base, messing up any height settings.

I also prefer the Bosch professional thumb wheel adjuster as it allows for easy fine-cutting depth adjustment.

Overall the Makita DRT50ZJX3 is a great cordless Trim router and easily outperforms many of the corded trims routers on the market. If you prefer the freedom that cordless tools give you when working on-site then this router will tackle anything you throw at it.

Budget Option – VonHaus Compact Deluxe Trim Router

PROS

• Powerful motor – 7100W (5.92 Amp), which means it can cut cleanly through soft and hardwoods
• Variable speed function 10,000 – 32,000 RPM
• Aluminum base and body
• Plunge cut and trim base included
• 1/4″ & 3/8″ Collet dia
• Good choice of accessories and cutters available making it very versatile

CONS

• Build quality is not the best but at this price, it’s pretty good
• fiddly depth adjustment
• Fine depth adjustment needs to be better
• The power Cord is only 2m (3Ft) long

The VonHaus Compact Deluxe trim router sits well below $100 (£75) and provides almost all the functionality of other much more expensive brands in this market.

The router modular design follows the same features as the Makita range with a solid aluminum motor unit that can be swapped into different bases to perform different router cuts.

The motor unit has no rubberized grips but rather a plain aluminum body with the motor and controls housed in a robust bright orange ABS plastic enclosure. This works just as well as the Makita and allows the VonHaus to be used in a variety of different guises.

I would suggest that this is VonHaus’ biggest asset as it could easily be used as a power source for a router table or 2D engraver or 3D carving machine and is cheap enough to be kept installed as a permanent 2nd unit.

The power cable is a bit short at only 2m (3ft) long. but the controls are OK and it has a positive throw power switch and solid speed control wheel.

3Kg is not too heavy and when fitted to the trim base it is easy to hold and control, I found the rubberized grip started to peel away from the base when I was using it to make the architraves for my loft hatch.

This was easily fixed with some more adhesive but it does show the quality is lower than some of the leading power tool brands.

The power of the corded 710W (5.92A) motor is evident when used to cut full Dadoes or deep plunge cuts it blasts through the task without any issues.

Access to the collect and cutter are good and easily visible for accurate cutting however the spindle locking button is a little fiddly to access with the trim base installed and like the Makita I just used 2 wrenchers to change cutters.

The cutting depth adjustment is a copy of the Makita mechanism which works but needs setting up correctly and has less fine height adjustment than the Bosch routers.

At this price, the VonHaus deluxe Compact Trim Router is a great option for general DIY use, it should perform well if you overlook the lower quality of the aluminum castings and that it comes with a handy carry bag rather than a hard case, overall its a good budget power tool and I would recommend any beginner DIY’er seriously consider one before moving up to a Bosch or Makita later.