Need a laminate trimmer/router....any suggestions?

General Discussion
1

I don’t have a need for a full blown, large router, this will be dedicated for building surfboards only.  Any advice or things to watch out for?  Looking at the Porter Cable and Bosch at Lowes right now.  Any advice is appreciated!  Thanks.

 

http://www.lowes.com/ProductDisplay?partNumber=226729-353-PR20EVSK&langId=-1&storeId=10151&productId=1062825&catalogId=10051&cmRelshp=req&rel=nofollow&cId=PDIO1

http://www.lowes.com/pd_170344-70-7319_0__?zipCode=92121&masthead=true&firstReferURL=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lowes.com%2Fpd_170344-70-7319_0__%3FproductId%3D3479759%26Ntt%3Dlaminate%2Btrimmer%26pl%3D1%26currentURL%3D%252Fpl__0__s%253FNtt%253Dlaminate%252Btrimmer%26facetInfo%3D&catalogId=10051&catalogId=10051&productId=3479759&pl=1&findStoreErrorURL=StoreLocatorDisplayView&selectedLocalStoreBeanArray=%5Bcom.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%405e8a5e8a%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%405f3a5f3a%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%405fea5fea%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%40609a609a%2C+com.lowes.commerce.storelocator.beans.LocatorStoreBean%40614a614a%5D&currentURL=%2Fpl__0__s%3FNtt%3Dlaminate%2Btrimmer&Ntt=laminate+trimmer&langId=-1&langId=-1&URL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&mastheadURL=TopCategoriesDisplayView&storeId=10151&storeId=10151

2

Don't know how it compares pricewise to the Porter Cable or the Bosch, but I got a used Ridgid (sold new at Home Depot) with variable speed a few years back and it's held up nicely.

3

fine tuning of the depth adjustment is a nice thing to have.  That being said, pretty much any brand will work.  I have a Ridgid, an old Craftsman, a really old Stanley, and a couple others… they all do fine on surfboards.

4

I like my Trend T4.  The variable speed and plunge ability are handy and seem to be nice safety features.

The guys a ProBOx also recommend the Ryobi.

 

http://www.proboxhawaii.com/pages/installation/installation_misc.html

5

Thanks.  Went with the Bosch in the link I posted above.  

6

Bosch and Porter Cable in my opinion are equal and both high quality tools. Having said that;  I used a Ryobi for many years.  The one sold at Harbor Freight also looks like it would do the job good as any.