You Don't Need a Full-Sized Router! (Try This Instead...)

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You Don't Need a Full-Sized Router! (Try This Instead...)

Palm routers, otherwise known as Trim Routers and Laminate Routers, are a great alternative to full-sized routers.

Full-sized wood routers tend to be heavy (approx. 10 lbs), and can be a little harder to handle and manipulate.

Palm routers (trim routers, laminate routers) are half that weight, but still put out 6 to 9 amps. Very powerful for a small tool!

Palm routers fit very ergonomically in one hand, and are often easier to handle. They're great for dressing the edges of boards, and cutting narrow slots and grooves. They also adjust very quickly, which is an improvement over their larger counterparts.

Palm routers also tend to be more affordable...with many budget models below $70!

If you're not doing a lot of heavy shaping, a palm router (trim router, laminate router) may be a better value for you.

Thanks for watching!
The Honest Carpenter

[gillgetter]

As maintenance carpenter for 42 years at a university, I used a trimmer ( router ) ten times more than full size. Especially with laminates, veneers, rounding and dressing edges👍

[alexleanh]

Man, I would NOT mess with this dude. Just look at the callouses on the knuckles on his hands. That must be from a lot of hard and long punching training!!!

Great video, by the way. I'm looking for a router and this is with all the information I need. I will check out all other power tools' videos.

[davidf]

I’ve recently started using my wood working tools again. (Cancer patient) diagnosed me into retirement. I’m using a table saw, chop saw, 10” planer and now I’m ready to break out my router… I’m going to build a table for it and yes… it’s full size. Thanks for sharing your experience and thoughts. I’m ready to start making saw dust

[bv]

Absolutely right, it does 90% of all I need. I mounted my big 3 hp router permanently in my router table. Haven’t used it freehand in years. The best thing I ever did, though, was to trade my corded palm router for cordless. FREEDOM!!

[angellas.]

Also, don’t forget the palm router may be better for ladies whom may have smaller hands. Like me. I’m reading the comments and I’m convinced this is the way to go! Thanks!

[LarryB-inFL]

A good video! One thing to note to folks is that square bases are far too prevalent in palm routers. People seem to not be aware that a round base is tremendously better for a base, as it is not sensitive to small shifts when, for example, following a guide rail when cutting a rabbet. Using a flat edge, even the smallest accidental shift on a square base will move the bit further from the rail, while with a round base you can spin it and the distance never changes. I'm kind of amazed that the basic Bosch Colt has a square base!

[CaptCorpMURICA]

I use my trim routers almost daily in the shop, but I do have a full size router on my router table. It’s an absolute workhorse in the router table. It’s all about using the right tool for the job.

[Bonjour-World]

The router itself may not be expensive but when you start buying a variety of bits ... look out.

[teddybeardiy]

Although this is an old video, I'd like to say that my full-size router allows me to face-joint and edge-joint my boards and this is very handy because I do not have access to a jointer, thickness planer or a table saw and to be honest, using a handheld planer for this is an absolute pain in the rear end because lumber is usually bowed and warped. A palm router is just not up to the task for those applications.

[paulschwartz]

Thanks for another helpful and empowering video, Ethan. I’m a one-handed woodworker so I’ve only used palm routers, but I’ve always wondered if I was missing something not being able to manage a full-size router. I do pretty simple stuff and this video confirmed that the router I have (Milwaukee M18 Compact Router) is all I need. Thank you.

[thecrippledstud]

I love the palm router on site. Even for most DYI projects you’re absolutely right with going with a palm router. If you’re going with a long use definitely use corded, I’ve used battery a lot and too often the battery starts to die before I realize it and you can tell with the tear out and poor cutting.

[Erik_The_Viking]

Spot on - I use the trim router for 90% of my work, and only bring out the daddy router when I need to use my router table. Trim routers are definitely easier and safer for some situations where a full sized router would be too hard to control.

[raywright]

Yep.. Started off as a carpenter for 10 years with only the larger Bosch router but about 5 years ago, I got the palm router about and much more convenient. In addition, the larger router can be a lot to handle when you are first starting out. The smaller one enables confidence and skill at the same time.

[davidsilvercreek]

My best friend is a world class master craftsman furniture maker and has 30 routers from trim to 3 and a half hp set up for verious functions... He uses the big ones as much as the small ones...

[steelcobra]

I'll note that DeWalt makes a plunge base that fits both the corded and cordless trim routers they sell. It's model DNP612.

3x3 Custom also sells an advanced trim router plate kit that can do multiple tasks like edge guides and circle cutting, and Katz-Moses tools has a compact router table that the kit works with and you can buy as a combo.

[Techreux]

Yep, added a trim router to my arsenal in 1993 or 94.. and found it kept up SO well with 90% of trim work - and I now have added 4 more of these little guys to my tool chest. I still use a full size router.. especially for template pattern cuts and deep shaping.. it does the heavy lifting MUCH better.. and for the past 25 years or so.. now resides in my router table for good. To your point: I had a beginning woodworking guy next door.. he used his trim router for 2 + years - before finally having to add a full size router to his router table. Great subject and video.

[williamemerson]

When I began working in the maintenance dept. at the local university we had a Makita trim router that was extremely handy for not only trim but mortising out hinge and latch mortise's in doors. Loved it. But as you might imagine, with the diverse cast of characters in the dept. it didn't last nearly as long as long as it should have. 👍🍻

[BobMuir]

So good to watch!
I bought a big one and it’s never been used other than trying it out! A trim router is so much easier and does everything and more that I need! I wish I knew before I ‘wasted’ £150 on my biggie.
Bob
England

[Spills]

I'm fairly new to woodworking...and if you watch all the different woodworking channels here on YouTube they usually say to get the bigger router in the beginning.
That said I own a palm and a 2hp one and I have used the bigger one the last 8 months less then I have fingers on one hand....I use the palm router constantly.
I couldn't agree more with your advice.
Thanks for vid! 😊

[thomasnn]

I think a bonus to this is to a get battery powered brushless one. So powerful and with the battery you just grab it and use it to round those edges. No need to fuss with the wires, that are specially annoying when using a router