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My 27 yr old makita laminate trimmer bit the dust while I was rerouting a binding rabett. It had all the bells / whistles for doing laminate work back in my cabinetmaking days. For those guys using trimmers every day .What would you recommend? I would prefer a well made trimmer with little runout in the collet Thanks for your ideas /suggestions. PS I don/t plan to modify it with a radius jig.

DWP611. I'm converting from Bosch Colt as routers wear out. Sorry for your loss.

LED lighting, easy accurate height adjustment, variable speed, deep collet.

Thanks Mike,
I want to replace my Colt as well. The height adjustment is terrible, and the variable speed changes on its own due to vibrations.
I'll ask Santa to send me one for xmas.
Dan

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Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Thanks mike will check out DWp611
at homeless depot

I have a couple of the DWP611 220v equivalents. Very good router/trimmers and you can get aftermarket collet upgrades for them if you want precision. However, even with Precise collets, they do not run as true as my Makita RTO700C with its stock collet, which is so true I can't measure any runout. Maybe I just got lucky. I use the Makita in my binding channel rig. It has the "standard" laminate trimmer body diameter. The DWP611 has a larger body diameter (and is heavier), so may require you to modify your rig.

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

Tnx for the update on your makita Trev . Mine sure lasted a long time. Yes. I/m guessing many of these quality built routers were built with very close tolerances .I purchased mine in 1987 in new westminister BC.At the time it served me very well for cabinetmaking chores an then luthiery in 1991. I will check out that makita model as well . Once again trev/s the shed !! cheers

The Rigid 2401 lam trimmer is really good. Easy depth adjustment, variable speed, and I haven't noticed any runout with it. And under a hundred bucks.

Bob

I own the Bosch colt. It's actually my first laminate trimmer that I have owned. Always used standard routers. It's a nice tool that's all I can tell you since I don't have nothing to compare it to.

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Another day, another dollar.

Bosch and routers in general have really taken a quality dive in the last decade. The Dewalt 611 seems to be the current best. If you want it to run supper sweet, get an aftermarket collet from these guys.

[url][/url]http://www.precisebits.com/default.htm

Yup on the precise bits collets. The 611 is quickly becoming a CNC fav, replacing the colt because of collet issues. You can read all about that issue at precise bits.

27 year old Makita. Seems like a no brainer Ernie. Of the several I have I always pick up my Makita for hand held use. I like the clear base but haven't checked run out. I have 2 Bosch and the only thing I like about them is the price. I haven't tried the Ridgid but people seem to like them. Maybe the next one if I need (want)
it.
Cheers,
Danny

I've got the Rigid trimmer, and plan to get a couple more. Haven't noticed any problem with runout.

Alex

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"Indecision is the key to flexibility" .... Bumper sticker

For some years the trend on the OLF was the Colt but our apprentice bought one, bought three actually and tested them all for runout and they all were terrible exceeding .005" at best.

Our testing of every laminate trimmer currently available led us to the Dewalt and when combined with an after market collet from precise bits we are getting less than .001" runout. Impressive.

We are still grieving for the PC-310, RIP.

PS: I should have mentioned that we have now tested 4 - 5 of the Dewalts and had similar, excellent low runout numbers from them all.

Does anyone know what the clear base on the DeWalt is made of?

I'm asking because I use my laminate trimmer & a sheet of acrylic with a hole in it to notch the linings to let the braces in - I think I got the idea from a Martin factory video.

Anyhow, I tried putting a clear acrylic base on my trimmer & learned that you can't run acrylic against acrylic because the vibrations will cause the two pieces to form little welds between each other. I kept trying to figure out what the trimmer was getting stuck on when I discovered that.

edit:
I think it has to be Polycarbonate because acrylic would be too brittle, the thing's going to get dropped.

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I'm not a luthier.
I'm just a guy who builds guitars in his basement.
It's better than playing golf.

Hey guys thanks for all the input. I/m getting lazy as I get older and leave the depth settings etc on my lam trimmers .I currently have the ridgid, mounted on a stand 3 HF lam trimmers, and 2 PC. Back to research .Will visit homeless and lowes

FWIW got back from HD I like the look and feel of the makita , the 1 negative was the lockdown lever was very tight. They did not carry the dewalt .The sales rep said it was only sold on line and the quality of the dewalt in his opinion had gone down . The price for the makita was $99. with only1 straight edge guide , no bearings.

On mine, the lockdown lever "tension" can be adjusted (the nylok nut behind the lever).

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Trevor Gore, Luthier. Australian hand made acoustic guitars, classical guitars; custom guitar design and build; guitar design instruction.

http://www.goreguitars.com.au

I have several PC 310 & 7301 and now a couple Ridgids. They seem as good with much better depth control.

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Pat

I have the PC 310 and the Dewalt. I actually prefer the way the Dewalt handles. I'd put the 310 up for sale in a heartbeat if I didn't have the Bishop Cochrane base for it.


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"For some years the trend on the OLF was the Colt "

I remember when that seemed to be the case, everyone extolling the virtues of Bosch's new router, the heir apparent to the recently demised and legendary PC 310. "Runout" seems to be it's greatest failing, which for most handheld operations is probably not significant.
I've used a number of different laminate trimmers, and once you learn their idiosyncrasies, most perform well enough.One of the nicest was the Virutex, but two of it's drawbacks were the price and the fact that it ran on 220 volts.
The Makita trim router kit, with a number of different bases (plunge, tilt, offset, and standard) looks like an attractive offering.
I like the old green Rockwell trimmers, precursors to the PC310. The bases are a bit larger than those of most modern trimmers, but they are open on two sides so visibility is not too bad.

put me in the Ridgid school
for what we do it is perfect

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John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it