Choosing a Router

From Zanecorpwiki

Inexpensive

When my (Father's) 20 year old Black and Decker router burned out (partially because I failed to observe rule one), I needed an inexpensive router to finish up the shelves I was working on. One can find lots of reviews online of higher end stuff, but I went with a Porter Cable 9690LR (TODO: provide link). $130 at Lowes. I had gone in thinking to get the Skil 1825, which was generally well reviewed and feature rich for the $90 price. The PC was simpler, but heavier (good sign in a motor) and much smaller form factor. Really, if the Skil didn't have the large plastic casing, it would be my choice, and for lots of hand routing, the lightness might be a plus. I was going to have the thing in a table 65% of the time, though, and the base and form factor looked much easier to clamp onto.

Workhorse

Don't have one, but generally Bosch seems to be the consensus manufacturer for mid-range routers.

Specialty

I want to get a Proxxon micro plunge router (TODO: provide link) for small word working projects. Again, not something I have experience with, but I want to start inlay and other decorative work on small wood boxes and the like, and this looks like just the thing. Proxxon apparently has a line of micro-tools. I couldn't find much in the way of reviews, but what I did find (including other products) tended to be positive.