Three compact routers by their makers' figures
| Router | Power | Speed range (rpm) | Collet | Largest bit | Bases in the documents | Depth adjustment |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bosch Colt GKF125CE | Corded, 120 V, 7 A | 16,000–35,000 | 1/4 in | Cutter 1/4 in smaller than the 1-9/16 in opening | Fixed; plunge (PR111) sold to fit | Scales in inches and millimetres; 1-3/16 in fixed-base range |
| DEWALT DCW600 | Cordless, 20V Max | About 16,000–25,500 | 1/4 in | 1-3/8 in cutting diameter | Fixed, plunge | Ring: 1/64 in a mark, 0.5 in a turn |
| Milwaukee 2723-20 | Cordless, M18 | 10,000–31,000 | 1/4 in | 1-1/2 in | Fixed; plunge and offset listed separately | 1/16 in a mark, with a micro-adjustment dial |
Each row is that maker's own figures. Speed ranges are the routers' dials, not ratings for any bit; DEWALT calls its figures approximate. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
Palm router
Bosch GKF125CEN Colt
Bosch's Colt from the table above: 7 A, 16,000–35,000 rpm, a 1/4 in collet and 4.4 lb, by Bosch's published figures.
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What to compare
- Collet. All three take 1/4 in shanks; none takes 1/2 in or 8 mm. Your bits must match: router bits.
- Largest bit. 1-3/8 in on the DCW600, 1-1/2 in on the 2723, and on the Colt whatever leaves 1/4 in clearance in its opening. Bigger profiles need a full-size router.
- Speed range. The low end matters for larger bits, which every bit maker rates slower: see the speed chart.
- Bases. A fixed base for edges and trimming; a plunge base for stopped grooves and recesses; Milwaukee's offset base drives the collet off the motor's axis. Check which are in the box and which are sold to fit.
- Depth adjustment. How finely it moves and how it locks.
- Guides. An edge guide, and a sub-base for template guides — Bosch's PR110, Milwaukee's 5-3/4 in template sub-base for guides to 1-3/16 in. See jigs and templates.
- Dust. Bosch sells a dust hood for the Colt's plunge base; Milwaukee's shroud has a 1-3/8 in port and must not be used when plunge cutting with a larger bit.
- Corded or cordless. A choice of supply, not of cutting ability; the battery side is covered in choosing a cordless router.
Compact routers and tables
| Router | Its maker's statement |
|---|---|
| Bosch Colt GKF125CE | The manual and product page say nothing about table use either way |
| DEWALT DCW600 | 'Not recommended for use in a router table' and 'Do not use in a router table' |
| Milwaukee 2723-20 | 'NEVER use the plunge base in a router table'; 'Only operate the routers when held' |
Two of the three makers rule table use out in some or all bases; the third does not address it.
So the honest answer to which small table suits a compact router is: only one whose router's maker allows table use, in the base you would mount, and whose own maker lists that router. Of the three here, two makers say no and one is silent; where a maker is silent, ask it before mounting the router. Bosch's RA1181 benchtop table, for example, lists full-size routers, not compact ones. If table work is the goal, a full-size router its maker allows under a table is the safer starting point — see router tables and choosing a benchtop table.
Before buying a compact router
- Your bits have 1/4 in shanks, or you will buy them
- The largest bit you plan to use is within the maker's limit
- The speed range goes low enough for that bit's rating
- The bases you need are in the box or sold to fit
- Edge guide and template sub-base for your jobs
- If a table is planned: the maker's written statement that it may go under one
What a compact router does well, and how to hold one, is in palm and trim routers; the whole family is in the router guide; bits drawn by profile are in the bit profile chart.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own for the router named. Horsepower and amperage are listed as published and not used to compare cutting performance. No router was tested, none is ranked, and no prices are given.
- 1.
GKF125CEN Colt 1.25 HP (Max) Variable-Speed Palm Router. Bosch.
Used for: The Colt's published specification: 7 A, 120 V, 1.25 HP (max), 16,000–35,000 rpm, 1/4 in collet, 1-9/16 in base opening, 1-3/16 in fixed-base depth range, 4.4 lb; works with the PR102 guide, RA1051 centering device, PR110 sub-base and PR111 plunge base.
- 2.
GKF125CE Colt Palm Router Operating/Safety Instructions. Bosch, 2018.
Used for: 1/4 in shank bits only; the cutter at least 1/4 in smaller than the opening; speed dial 1–6; depth scales in inches and millimetres; finger-support pockets with guards; template guides on the PR110 sub-base; a dust hood for the plunge base; no statement on table use.
- 3.
DCW600 20V Max* Compact Router, Instruction Manual. DEWALT, 2022.
Used for: 20V Max battery; seven settings from about 16,000 to 25,500 rpm; 1/4 in shanks; cutting diameter no more than 1-3/8 in; fixed and plunge bases; depth ring at 1/64 in a mark and 0.5 in a turn; soft start and electronic speed control; 'Not recommended for use in a router table' and 'Do not use in a router table'.
- 4.
M18 FUEL Compact Router, Cat. No. 2723-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: 18 V M18 battery; 10,000–31,000 rpm; 1/4 in collet; 1-1/2 in largest bit; fixed base, with plunge and offset bases listed separately; depth scale at 1/16 in a mark with a micro-adjustment dial; dust shroud with a 1-3/8 in port; straight edge guide; template guides to 1-3/16 in on a 5-3/4 in sub-base; the plunge base never in a router table and the router operated only when held.
- 5.
RA1181 Benchtop Router Table. Bosch.
Used for: A benchtop table's list of compatible routers, by maker and model.
About this buying guide
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