# Woodworkers: Is a router (power tool) hard for a rookie to use?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworkers-is-a-router-power-tool-hard-for-a-rookie-to-use/321709>\
**Category:** In My Humble Opinion\
**Created:** [September 15, 2005, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworkers-is-a-router-power-tool-hard-for-a-rookie-to-use/321709 "2005-09-15T02:20:13Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 2\
**Page:** 2

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**Author:** ![danceswithcats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/9e8a1a/32.png) [@danceswithcats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/danceswithcats)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 5:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworkers-is-a-router-power-tool-hard-for-a-rookie-to-use/321709/21 "2005-09-16T05:30:26Z")

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> [@FordPrefect](#):
>
> I am guessing your D-handle is not a plunge router, which is yet another consideration.

Very true. The D-handle Bosch is my utility router for ordinary door/carpentry work. The large Bosch/plunge is for extra heavy duty stuff. My original Craftsman homeowner grade router stays married to the router table. One of the nicest things about the D-handle unit is the depth adjustment, accomplished by a spiral cam built into the base, within which the motor unit rotates. Instead of loosening a clamp and dealing with the slop of a rack and pinion, this sytem spins the motor unit within the base, eliminating lost motion. Fine adjustments regarding depth are no big deal.

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**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\
**Post date:** [September 16, 2005, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woodworkers-is-a-router-power-tool-hard-for-a-rookie-to-use/321709/22 "2005-09-16T12:00:44Z")

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> [@danceswithcats](#):
>
> My original Craftsman homeowner grade router stays married to the router table.

That is precisely what I did with my noisy cheap old Craftsman router.

I agree about the convenience of a plunge router. My good router is a plunge router, and it is very handy. I also heartily recommend buying a foot pedal that you can plug various hand tools into. I use it for the router and several other tools: it allows me a greater degree of control.

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