Palm or Trim router

[rdatelle]

Hi everyone. I was wondering what the difference is between a palm and trim router if any. I;m thinking on getting one for doing round overs and small designs on the end of the piece. Any suggestions. Thanks, Ralph

[Rockytime]

Don't know how helpful this is but here is what I use. The router is a small 1/4" router mounted on a small table screwed to a work bench. I do a round-over on lots of things I make. Table is about 16" wide. It works very well and takes up very little room. I think there is perhaps $130 tied up in it. Purchased it when I was turning pens from Penn State Industries. They sell things for turners but Rockler sells the same thing.

[oldhudson]

As far as I know there's no difference between palm and trim routers. Think of a compact router, 1/4" col-let. I have a De Walt DWP611PK. I've had this about 4 years and I love it. I'll be making a table for it this winter.  But I've heard lots of good things about the Bosch too. And I'm sure there are others, that are very good. All of them can do light round overs, ogees, coves and beading profiles. If I were buying one today I'd, at least consider, a cordless model....especially if I could get one that uses the same style batteries and my drill and impact driver.

[ben2008]

2 hours ago, rdatelle said:

Hi everyone. I was wondering what the difference is between a palm and trim router if any. I;m thinking on getting one for doing round overs and small designs on the end of the piece. Any suggestions. Thanks, Ralph

I have a Bosch "Colt" and have had it for years. Works very well for the small jobs I need it for. Mostly round overs and some decorative edging. Very easy to use and adjust.

[Bill WIlson]

I think the term "trim router" comes from laminate trimmers, which were essentially small routers, originally designed to trim formica.  People discovered they could be be used for other, conventional router tasks, and I think manufacturers began calling them palm routers.  They now have most of the features of full size routers.

[rdatelle]

Thanks everyone for the tips. I kinda thought they were the same. Maybe I'll get my son to buy me one for my Birthday next month.

[BadBob]

DeWalt DWP611PK is the way to go. If you get the kit, you will have a very versatile router.

[rdatelle]

I'm looking at the DeWalt and Makita and Bosch, They all seem pretty good. I'll have to go look at them in person and get the feel of them. 

[rjweb]

I have the Dewalt trim router and it works great, I think I have it now for 7 years, RJ 

[flarud]

I bought my Bosch from CPO outlet refurbished.  I think I paid $65 for it.  It looked brand new.  

[Foxfold]

I don't think there's a difference Ralph.. I have a Makita but only because it was Tony's and I took it from him, but I find it's great for what I do although must admit I've never used a router for what it was designed for as you know 

But I love doing portrait stuff with it. It just makes a change from sawing sometimes. 

[Woodmaster1]

I have a Bosch colt and made a router table from Woodsmith magazine. Works one easy to remove from the table when needed.

[FrankEV]

18 hours ago, rdatelle said:

I'm looking at the DeWalt and Makita and Bosch, They all seem pretty good. I'll have to go look at them in person and get the feel of them. 

Just bought a Bosch...it was highly recommended by a reliable source..

[Bill WIlson]

I have a Bosch and a Dewalt.  The only thing I don't like about the Bosch is the depth adjustment.  It's a little fussy to make fine adjustments.  I prefer the depth adjustment on the Dewalt.  I also like the plastic base on the Dewalt better.  On mine, it's a little larger than the one on the Bosch, which helps it to be a little more stable.

That said, both are fine tools and have served me well.

[rdatelle]

9 hours ago, Woodmaster1 said:

I have a Bosch colt and made a router table from Woodsmith magazine. Works one easy to remove from the table when needed.

I like that george. I might have to look into that.

[rdatelle]

Thanks everyone. I think I might go with the DeWalt.

 

[ScollSaw Slasher]

Bought a Porter Cable years ago for trimming laminate. Then realized that little beast could really handle many of the jobs that the my  larger routers were used for. It's still going strong and use it for round over, coves, ogee etc. etc. Many tasks can be down free hand without spending the time setting up the router table.

[OCtoolguy]

On 12/26/2020 at 10:27 AM, rdatelle said:

I'm looking at the DeWalt and Makita and Bosch, They all seem pretty good. I'll have to go look at them in person and get the feel of them. 

I looked at the Bauer at H/F yesterday and it looks pretty good. At our age, how good is good? If it works for a few years, that's good enough.

 

[Rockytime]

17 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I looked at the Bauer at H/F yesterday and it looks pretty good. At our age, how good is good? If it works for a few years, that's good enough.

 

I went to HF just yesterday.  I usually cruise the isles and didn't see the routers. Must have had my, politically stupid, mask up too high.

[rdatelle]

21 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

I looked at the Bauer at H/F yesterday and it looks pretty good. At our age, how good is good? If it works for a few years, that's good enough.

 

Hey Ray, how do you get that writing in that's under where it says quote. Your's is in red. I tried finding it but no luck.

[OCtoolguy]

16 minutes ago, rdatelle said:

Hey Ray, how do you get that writing in that's under where it says quote. Your's is in red. I tried finding it but no luck.

It's a very well-kept secret. I'm not sure I can even tell you. There is an option somewhere in the area where you create your signature.

 

[rdatelle]

6 minutes ago, octoolguy said:

It's a very well-kept secret. I'm not sure I can even tell you. There is an option somewhere in the area where you create your signature.

 

Thanks, I'll try and find it.

 

[OCtoolguy]

11 minutes ago, rdatelle said:

Thanks, I'll try and find it.

 

I wrote a complete description on what to do and when I saved it, it disappeared. I'll try again. Up in the top right corner where your profile pic is, there is a down arrow. Click on that an a menu will drop. Click on "account settings" and click on that. Then over on your left of the screen, there will be a menu. Select "signature" That will open a window where you can create your signature. Along the top where all the tools are, you'll see a capital A. Hover over that and it will say "color". Click it and the color window will open. Select what you want. I just tried to change mine to green but it hasn't taken effect yet.

 

[amazingkevin]

On 12/25/2020 at 11:32 PM, oldhudson said:

As far as I know there's no difference between palm and trim routers. Think of a compact router, 1/4" col-let. I have a De Walt DWP611PK. I've had this about 4 years and I love it. I'll be making a table for it this winter.  But I've heard lots of good things about the Bosch too. And I'm sure there are others, that are very good. All of them can do light round overs, ogees, coves and beading profiles. If I were buying one today I'd, at least consider, a cordless model....especially if I could get one that uses the same style batteries and my drill and impact driver.

Glad you brought that up about a battery powered router. I have a Ryobe 18v. and never used it in the file cabinet where I keep a lot of electric tools!!!

Edited December 29, 2020 by amazingkevin

[rdatelle]

On 12/28/2020 at 5:16 PM, octoolguy said:

I wrote a complete description on what to do and when I saved it, it disappeared. I'll try again. Up in the top right corner where your profile pic is, there is a down arrow. Click on that an a menu will drop. Click on "account settings" and click on that. Then over on your left of the screen, there will be a menu. Select "signature" That will open a window where you can create your signature. Along the top where all the tools are, you'll see a capital A. Hover over that and it will say "color". Click it and the color window will open. Select what you want. I just tried to change mine to green but it hasn't taken effect yet.

 

Found it Ray and it worked. I was clicking on the wrong settings button. Thanks.