Woodworkers - trim router or regular?

Right now I have a big 3HP Milwaukee in my router table and my monster 3HP Porter Cable plunge router. They will rout the heck out of any piece of wood but I’m thinking of getting a smaller hand-held to use for all those edging tasks and smaller things where the big machines are either impractical or just too difficult to maneuver.

One possibility is a small trim router. They’re very light (couple of pounds) but come with a 1/4" collet (no 1/2" available), and I have almost entirely 1/2" bits (which I use in my big routers, they chatter less).

Another possibility is a small “regular” sized router - something like the Milwaukee 5615 body-grip router, it’s a 1.75HP fixed base. It’s a bit larger (around 8lbs) but very comfy to hold, small enough that I think doing smaller tasks in situ wouldn’t be very difficult and it’s more up to “regular” routing tasks where the table router or the big plunge model don’t work or are just too large. Also comes with 1/2" collet so I don’t have to think about that. It’s single-speed (24,000rpm) but I’ve never had to change speeds on my other routers unless I was using very large bits, the sort of thing I’d never put in the smaller router anyhow.

A new trim router is around $100-$130. I can get the Milwaukee as a factory reconditioned for about $80.

Any thoughts or recommendations?

I bought a laminate trimmer at Menards on sale for $20. One speed and 14/" collet. I adore the thing. I use it all the time for edge work or little odd jobs like hogging out a path for laying cable in a wall. Oh, I have other routers, a variable speed craftsman set up in a table, and another larger one that has 1/2" collet that is great for lots, but the little bitty laminate trimmer is what I use most often.

Second the trim router. In addition to my Ryobi table-mounted, I have a standard Craftsman plunge router for which I bought a bearing-equipped trim bit, thinking that was all I needed. It didn’t do the job I wanted. My brother does a lot of laminate trimming (he’s re-doing his kitchen) and let me use it – I fell in love with it. Since there’s one in the family, of course, I don’t have to buy one, but if you do have to buy, I agree with **lee **-- nothing like the right tool for the job.

Thanks for the advice guys. I may pick one up along with a few 1/4" edging bits (roundovers, chamfers). It’s certainly inexpensive enough.

Just rechecked the site that had those recon Milwaukees, they sold out of them in a day. Since that router goes new for about $150 I’m not surprised…drat.

Tool king has reconditioned tools regularly at good prices. I have good luck buy used from them. I think my laminate trimmer is a Tool Shop brand, and it works very well. For small tools, sometimes I find inexpensive versions work well. Now for larger tools, I go with what has the features I want and rates well in comparison tests.

The thing about the trimmer, is it is so small but with plenty of power for the size, it is no hassle to use, so I am more likely to get done the tasks that can be done with it. I used it to cut the mortise for the hinges on the door to my son’s room freehand with no jig. If I had to use a larger router, I would not have risked that, but the control I have over the tiny one is solid.

Would you mind sharing the site with reconditioned tools? I’m looking to expand my woodworking equipment, but new stuff can be pretty pricey.

It was Tool King, the site that Lee mentioned. Amazon also has a lot of reconditioned tools.

Thanks!