Trim Routers

[bronco]

Hello,
I am looking into buying a trim router for my projects.
I have never used a router before,are the trim routers
easy to use?What is the best brand to use? Are they good
for big and small scrollsaw projects? All comments are welcome.
Bill

[jttheclockman]

Bill

If you read my comments to Clueless in her post about which tools to buy I gave a photo of the trim router I use and a little background as to what I use it for. I will go over them again here if you would like. I have the Porta-Cable unit and bought it as a kit that has some attachments because I do cabinet work at times. These are also refer to as laminate trimers because that is what it started out for. You apply laminate to cabinets tops and trim it off using these routers because they are small they can get in tight corners. You can only use 1/4" bits with this so it is a light duty router. But in the same token it can perform like a 1/4 HP router. The use in scroll work can be used to round over edges used for clocks, and for intarsia work and what I like to use it alot for is pattern work. I gave an example of the guitars I used on the CD racks in Cluless's post. I make a pattern of one and then copy it by using a straight bit with a bearing on the bottom to ride against the master pattern to make the copies. Are they worth it I feel so because I use it alot. Hope this helps. As far as brands go PC is about the top of the line but just about all small tool manufactorers make them. Dewalt has a nice unit.

[PiALaModem]

I use a porter cable, but if I were to buy one today I would want to check out the new Bosch Colt, which is about the same price. It seems to be designed from the beginning as an all-purpose small router rather than as a laminate trimmer you can also use as a router. That's just from reviews that I've seen -- I haven't seen this new tool. The Porter Cable serves me well.

[bronco]

John,
I looked back and found the post from clueless.it sounds like what I need.
Most of my projects are small right now so it would be the perfect size.
Steve I think I'll look into the Bosch as well,Christmas is coming you know
Thanks guys for the help.
Bill