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As the title says, I am looking for a new laminate trimmer as the routers I own are not really suited for binding guitars, but more for heavy duty work.

There are a few I have looked at but I'm not too sure if they come with a tilting base built in or not. I'm a big fan of Bosch, Makita and DeWalt tools but I'm open to suggestions. I'm from the UK so our standard voltage is different, but from what I see they do the same model for each country. I'm not looking to spend a fortune just something that will get the job done better than a Dremel.

I bought a Bosch GKF 600 Palm Router kit from Axminster in UK, and have been well pleased with it in my binding jig. Plenty of grunt, light but solid, fine height adjustment is precise.
Came with 3 bases including tilting base but I didn't need it for my jig, now £125.
Basic router is £15 cheaper, both on offer at the moment, also no extra for delivery.

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The name catgut is confusing. There are two explanations for the mix up.

Catgut is an abbreviation of the word cattle gut. Gut strings are made from sheep or goat intestines, in the past even from horse, mule or donkey intestines.

Otherwise it could be from the word kitgut or kitstring. Kit meant fiddle, not kitten.

Dewalt DW670, Bosch colt or Porter Cable 7310 (think those were discontinued though?)

I got my DW670 on ebay for a good deal, they are not always on though so you may have to watch for a while if you have time.

I was looking at the DW670. The description says "Tool free adjustment for horizontal and vertical adjustments without" I emailed the seller who never had a clue about what he was selling, but I assume it tilts.

I saw the Bosch one also, I have pretty much everything made by Bosch, Makita or DeWalt so the two suggested are probably the ones I'll inquire about more.

What do you mean tilts? Like tilting base? The base is fixed, Idk if there are different kinds of bases for them. All there is is vertical depth adjustment.

Some bases I have seen when shopping around are able to tilt to counter uneven surfaces like a radii on a guitar. One dewalt I saw does exactly that but is well over my budget. Some come with a tilting base add on and some are built in.

The DeWalt DW670 is discontinued, and replaced by the D26670. coke_zero, you don't want to use that tilting base on a guitar, it is made for routing on a set angle. A waste of money for guitar building.
Bob

If you use any kind of binding jig at all, which is highly recommended you do, you will have no need for the tilting base.
I dont think you would have very good results trying to counter the the radius with tilt.
The reason I went for the DW670 was the bearing guide it comes with, which allows you to use a downcut spiral bit instead of an expensive rabbeting bit set with all those bearings. This has the advantage of giving you any depth, your not locked into the bearing sizes, plus the downcut bits cut cleaner. I believe the colt also comes with a bearing.

My experience is the same as Edwards - a tilt base does nothing for how I use my laminate trimmers. The same holds true for variable speed - don't use that either.

A tilting base can get you in trouble. No need for it. Or variable speed on a laminate trimmer. One shouldn't be using a laminate trimmer for bits larger than 1" anyway so why slow it down at all?

Any one of the brands you list will be fine. I've had a makita (gave it away to someone who needed stuff) and I really liked it. I've got 3 bosch colts now and I'm satisfied with them too.

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I have no desire for a tilting base, but an offset base would probably make it easier to handle and less likely to tip. I have no experience with the offset base laminate router, but I am thinking about giving one a shot. Of all the laminate router bells and whistles, this is the only one I can really see being worth while, and I very well could be wrong about that.

I have an offset base for two full-size handheld routers and one for my Porter Cable 310. I am a big believer. mt

I have an offset base for two full-size handheld routers and one for my Porter Cable 310. I am a big believer. mt

Roger that on the DW670 discontinued, I thought I lucked out when I found one on amazon.com at a hardware store somwhere and they sent another model with no bearing guide. Anyway, I now own two PC 310's (also discontinued ) and am happy with them. I use a binding jig with good results.
René

I have a DW and bought the extra base that tilts. Wish I hadn't. The base is too small to have any real control.

Why would they discontinue the 670? Is the new one an improvement or just a higher profit margin? Same for PC...
I think the tilting bases are really for well... laminate work.

I got the Rigid model that comes with both the straight edge guide, and a bearing edge guide.

I really like it -- the only down sides are:
1. Not many accessories are made for it... You will end up modifying others or making your own
2. Aftermarket collets aren't available.. My OE collet was very sticky initially.. It seems to have finally loosened up.. but sticking a bit is kinda frustrating...

Otherwise, it is great.

I have the Rigid also. Thats why I'm buying a DeWalt.

Bob

I have a ridgid and am pretty satisfied with it. My only complaint is it takes a bit longer than I'd like to change bits. What I like most about it is the ergonomics of it, specifically the placement of the on/off switch, and also the built in light underneath. It also has a very long power cord, which for me is very handy.

I use a bosch colt and dewalt D26670.They are both nice.

I would recommend a new model:

The New Rigid 2401

http://www.ridgid.com/Tools/R2401-Trim-Router

Features I found helpful:

Two bases
Micro Depth adjust that works great
LED work light on cutting area
Double Arm attachments that allow making some jigs much easier


Peter

I love the looks of that depth adjuster! It looks great. My Rigid is fine, but the depth adjuster on the previous model was awful. It worked great as long as you needed to up or down to the nearest half inch. I wonder if it will still fit my jigs? I guess I need to go by the Depot and check it out.

Mike

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Mike Lindstrom

The first thing I would recommend if haven't done so already, is to get a "Site Transformer", especially since you are in the UK where they are quite common. This is a 230 / 110 V step down transformer, which will allow you use US type 110 V trimmers, and it is a good idea since they are generally less expenisve over there, and you will have a lot more models to chose from. I have the PC 310, a Hicachi trimmer and the Bosch Colt, and I recently ordered 4 more Colts that will live in various jigs, I think they are quite nice.

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