Woodworker's Central Woodworker's Gazette Gazette Archive 2/17/00

First Impressions on the Fein RT-1800 Router By Chuck Knarr Today, August 25, 2000, I was at the IWF2000 Show in Atlanta. I was able to get my hands on the new router from Fein. I was able to play with it for about 5 minutes so this will not be an in-depth review of the machine. However, I will give you my impressions. Specifications (from data sheet) Model : RT-1800 Horsepower : 3 1/4 Amps : 15 Speeds : 8,000 : 22,000 Collet : 1/2" Plunge Depth : 3" Height : 11" Width : 11" Base Size 6 1/4" Weight : 12 lbs. The machine has a soft start which is very effective. I turned the speed adjustment to its maximum speed and hit the trigger. The torque was minimal. I had no problems keeping the router stationary. Height adjustment is achieved in two ways. There is a 3-position stop turret to stop an adjustable depth rod. The depth rod can be adjusted by means of a rack and pinion arrangement controlled by turning an adjustment knob. Plunge locking is achieved with a swing lever locking arrangement close to the left handle. The power switch is a trigger on the right handle. Bits in the 1/2" collet are changed by depressing a button and rotating the collet until the button goes into a detent to lock the shaft. A 22-mm wrench is then used to loosen the collet and remove the bit. Impressions: The switch, locking lever, and the handles are all conveniently arranged. The soft start feature is excellent. The speed control is a knob you rotate to adjust the speed. There is no indication of the actual speed. There are only numbers 1 through 6 to give you a relative speed indication. When I released the power switch the bit seemed to run on much longer than normal before coasting to a stop. Dust collection was very good. The hose attaches to the front of the router. Finding the detent to lock the shaft for bit changing can be a challenge. At 12 lbs. the router is lighter than my PC 7518 and is well balanced. Would I buy one? If I wanted a powerful router to use freehand I would definitely put this on my top 3 list for consideration. Chuck Knarr You can see photos of the new router here.