My sweetheart bought this for me....pre xmas gift. I wanted another large router to install in a second router table, so I could do multiple routing without having to change bits. I intended to buy another of the Freud FT2000EP 3-1/4hp routers. I have one of these in my primary router table and am quite happy with it's performance(see review). She didn't go to the local wood worker store I normally frequent, they would have known better,but instead to one of the "famous" national stores. This is what they recommended she buy, so of course she did. If I return it, I will have to live with the "LIP" for quite a few years. I'm sure most of the male woodworkers out there know all about the "LIP". Oh well, its the thought that counts.
First impression...man this thing is heavy...thought the Freud was a beast but this one even tops that. Gonna have to reconfigure my second router table as the Triton is shaped differently and make a set of plates for it as my Freud plates won't match up. The learning curve on setups and controls will of course be different and it feels kind of weird in the hands. Not unstable or anything, just strange. Haven't used it much, just some playing around to make sure everything works. It is as loud as the Freud and the plunge mechinism is stiff and kind of awkward. You have to stand above the router to push it down,or you will strain an elbow joint, perhaps that will loosen up with use. Will post an update later on. Would like to see a little more metal in the machine, but thats a trend for everyone now.
I guess the best I can say is that it seems to work ok. For this much money I really expected to be wow'd and I'm not. Hope that improves with use.....well now I can get that "D" handle I've been wanting.
UPDATE...I've had this router about a month now and have used it a few times to make decorative molding for jewelry boxes. I've found that once you get used to the location of the adjustment mechnisms they are fairly simple to use. I can't say that it is a better router than the Freud, they both seem to work well and are easy to adjust. I found that the built in dust chute doesn't work all that well, so have fitted the router table with a 4" connector and use that instead. Still feel that for the difference in price I would go with the Freud. Will have to wait a few years to see which one outlasts the other.
My sweetheart bought this for me.... pre xmas gift. I wanted another large router to install in a second router table, so I could do multiple routing without having to change bits. I intended to buy another of the Freud FT2000EP 3-1/4hp routers. I have one of these in my primary router table and am quite happy with it's performance(see review). She didn't go to the local wood worker store I normally frequent, they would have known better,but instead to one of the "famous" national stores. This is what they recommended she buy, so of course she did. If I return it, I will have to live with the "LIP" for quite a few years. I'm sure most of the male woodworkers out there know all about the "LIP". Oh well, its the thought that counts. First impression... man this thing is heavy... thought the Freud was a beast but this one even tops that. Gonna have to reconfigure my second router table as the Triton is shaped differently and make a set of plates for it as my Freud plates won't match up. The learning curve on setups and controls will of course be different and it feels kind of weird in the hands. Not unstable or anything, just strange. Haven't used it much, just some playing around to make sure everything works. It is as loud as the Freud and the plunge mechinism is stiff and kind of awkward. You have to stand above the router to push it down,or you will strain an elbow joint, perhaps that will loosen up with use. Will post an update later on. Would like to see a little more metal in the machine, but thats a trend for everyone now. I guess the best I can say is that it seems to work ok. For this much money I really expected to be wow'd and I'm not. Hope that improves with use.... . well now I can get that "D" handle I've been wanting. UPDATE... I've had this router about a month now and have used it a few times to make decorative molding for jewelry boxes. I've found that once you get used to the location of the adjustment mechnisms they are fairly simple to use. I can't say that it is a better router than the Freud, they both seem to work well and are easy to adjust. I found that the built in dust chute doesn't work all that well, so have fitted the router table with a 4" connector and use that instead. Still feel that for the difference in price I would go with the Freud. Will have to wait a few years to see which one outlasts the other.