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The December 2012 Woodworkers Journal did a review of small routers/laminate trimmers with plunge bases. They reviewed the Bosch Colt, Porter Cable, DeWalt, Makita, and Trend T4.

Having a small plunge router would be handy at times and I have been considering getting the new $99 plunge accessory for my Bosch Colt. I was not familiar with the Trend laminate trimmer but it got high marks from the reviewer, especially for price and dust collection, which my Bosch lacks (and dust is something I focus on eliminating).

I looked for reviews here on the Trend and found almost nothing. Youtube has two reviews:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StdKIb3LG_g
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=StdKIb3LG_g

The Trend T4EK variable speed router/laminate trimmer is rated at 1.1HP 6.6 peak amps which is higher than my Bosch 1.0HP 5.6 peak amps and comes with the plunge base, enclosed dust port, 3 different sized collets, adapter for standard sized template guides, edge guide and case - all for $79.95 delivered free without tax at Klingspor (use coupon code FSRMEX for free shipping) http://www.woodworkingshop.com/product/td40000/

I am weary of cheap tools. I'm sure the Bosch plunge base would be stouter and have better precision (but enough to make a "do or die" difference?). The Bosch and all other major players reviewed in the magazine have no dust collection (or other extras) and cost much more (of course I could go to Festool to get dust collection for about $400 or more). So I decided to try this router at only $80 delivered to my door.

I'll see.

If it's any good, that's some deal!

I just got a flyer from KMS Tools in B.C. and they have the same deal for Canucks. http://www.kmstools.com/trend-1-1-hp-pl ... -kit-10758 I ordered a few items from them last week, and they have free shipping for the holidays.

Alex

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

I have a 3hp trend in my router table and really like it. I also own dewalt, stanley, makita, rigid and mastecraft (low end local) routers and the trend is high on my like list. I own over 10 routers of various sizes.

Shane

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Canada

I've got a couple of Trend router, including the T4e, it's the perfect bridge router between the laminate trimmer and the full size router. Like Shane I have a T5 in the router table, but use the T4 for any plunge routing I need to do on the guitar itself like cutting the slots on the headstock and the pocket for my neck extension. They do a large range of accesories for the router, as do many third party makers. If my T4 went down, I'd buy another without any hesitation.



Colin

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I don't believe in anything, I simply make use of a set of reasonable working hypotheses.

when i got my router i thought about the T4, but the reviews on the axminster site were not over-enthusiastic, so i went with the bosch GKF600 (similar to the colt ?). maybe i should´ve bought the Trend, as i´ve heard quite some times the T4 is not inferior to the Bosch - IIRC the depth adjustment is easier on the Trend.

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member of the guild of professional dilettantes

Interesting comment about the depth adjustment, because I am hoping the adjustment on the Trend is better than the Bosch Colt. I do not like the depth adjustment on my Colt. I have to fool around with it several times to finally get it where I want it. Its a pain and Porter Cable palm is not any better. (I bought the depth adjustment tool with the Trend today hoping that it would make fine adjustments much more precise and practical.)

Yeah, the fine adjustment on my Colt is a joke. You have to unlock the router from the base to use it, hoping the base does not move or fall off.

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wah
Wah-wah-wah-wah
Wah

Based on the above comments, I just ordered one plus the fine depth adjustment
screw. I've also got a couple of colts and a Porter Cable, and don't like the depth
adjustments on any of them.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

I ordered one plus the fine depth adjustment earlier today as well. I only have a Colt and an old junkie Skil Router that MAY still work but the T4 plunge attachment looks like a very good addition and different collet sizes too.

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Thank You and Best To All