Trend T12 - First impressions [video 489][Gifted**]

This is a first look at the #Trend #T12 #router - the T12 and T14 are the first routers I've seen that have been refigured to comply with the legislation that came in last year, and that I discussed during my router bench build. Long story short, all new routers need to have the equivalencies of an NVR switch built into them, and this makes it challenging to use them in a router table.

Trend’s solution is two models, one for hand-held use, and one made for table-mounting, and in this video I take a quick look at the hand-held Trend T12.

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About that legislation…

OK, so I had many, many questions about this and I only know what I’ve been told; it's really hard to get solid information on the legislation without buying a copy pf the IEC standard (link above, ~£120 - feel free to go ahead and tell me what you find...) but from what I'm told, the legislation is really for manufacturers, it doesn't effect legacy routers, only new sales, and retailers have 12 months to sell their existing stock.

The legislation came into force on December 21st last year, and the principle change is the addition of a built-in equivalent of an NVR switch, which would make routers difficult to use in a table. There was talk apparently of expanding the reach to include routers used in 'professional' workshops, but that seems to have been dropped as I'd imagine it would be impossible to police or enforce.

That's all I know!

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Videos mentioned / of interest

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Wherever possible links are to actual products used, but this is not always possible e.g. some products are not available in the US, so something [similar] has been linked to instead.

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Handy gear:-

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[tonyalways]

Cheers for the very thorough review. It seems to have all the bells and whistles (apart from that dreadful box FFS!) but I think that 75% of the quality of cut lies in the bit. A 100 quid erbauer from screwfix with a quality sharp bit will knock the socks off any router with a blunt chipped bit so for me the bells and whistles don’t equate to a good result. At that price I’ll stick with my Makita and spend the saving on decent bits.

[elguapo]

After about 7 years of using one of Rutland's motorised router tables I was thinking about a Trend in a table myself. Well, it gave up the ghost so I bought the Trend workshop router table and the T14. Luckily I'm already divorced so money was no issue but the router was £570 so it has obviously come down in price significantly. I'm glad I bought it...unlike my Rutland's machine, the shaft is perpendicular and concentric! 😁 It's a nice machine and worth the money in my amateur opinion. BTW, the table's nice to use too!

[chrisgriffin]

I agree with you about the case issues. Having got a t10 and t11 the have the same issue with the dust spouts and case placements. I’ve broke no end of clear spouts getting them in and out off the case. I did tell trend many years ago about this issue. I guess they didn’t listen. I think all manufacturers only look at how it looks as a brand new item, not as a tool in use when it comes to moulding the case.

[petermoore]

Hi Peter very helpful review in fact I've resently bought the t14 router also the CRT mk3 table both excellent and go well together the under table power switch works well . The top table adjustment is a boon for accuracy, the motor runs smooth and not too noisy, the dust extraction is also good I'm going to attempt my first build this week 5 DVD cabinets with shaker style doors as demoed by your good self I'll let you know how it went thanks for all hard work to help us less experienced wood workers

[carllamb]

Hi Peter
Great review mate interesting to see the difference between them both.. now iv seen this video I’ll be going for the T11 now to attach to my new Trend router table…. Thanks again Peter👍👍👍👍

[paulhodgson]

Stuart over at Proper DIY has just installed the T14 into a table lift that has the "NVR" type switch. Looks like it solves the reaching under the table issue pretty well. These new Trend routers look like proper beasts!

[rfriday]

I love trend routers. Was a big upgrade from my scewfix one I had before. But buying good bits made an even bigger difference.

[jrsuk]

I've got 2 trend t7 routers which I use solely for worktops. One set up with a worktop cutter and 30mm guide bush and the other set up with a flush cutter. They are cheap as chips and all I need for worktops. Cut great too!
I used to use a festool of 1410 but it cut the worktops very badly because it was poorly balanced and a bit under powered for the task. It also had tons of features I'd never use that came at a hefty price.

[thetallcarpenter]

Great video Peter, and it seems slightly odd to me that Trend integrated 'NVR' capability into the portable, site based T12, when they could have just deleted the switch hold down function on the trigger. Its makes sense on the T14, shop based model, but not on a model that is clearly aimed at mobile, site work🤔Having said that, Trend are the absolute KINGS of portable routers anyway, and my little Trend 1/4" one is still going strong after 26 years of site use👊

[chipped]

Great information video, like always!
As the owner of 5 Bosch 1617's, Milwaukee 3hp, and cordless Makita.. My thoughts are safety is good, as long as it doesn't remove situational awareness.
I work at a custom cabinet shop, and also use my routers primarily in a bench.
The cordless Makita has a activation switch which times out in about 20 seconds, if the power button isn't turned on.
It is very annoying when ready to be used, and the 2-part process needs to be restarted.
Once a week I manually push door stiles and rails through 2 separate jointers.
Tactile feedback is very important.
I've used the Bosch since 1994, very simple and intuitive design.
As in all things, different products should be available for folks using them in different ways.

[bryandavies]

A good honest and considered review Mr M, thank you.

[skippyab]

Nice review Peter, although I was waiting for comments on the power cord length LOL!!

[theofarmmanager]

A good, balanced review. If I ask myself why would I opt for a Trend router, the answer from your review seems to be not particularly. I’m almost 100% workshop based and really only take tools away if I’m doing a job for family and friends.

I own 2 Trend routers (T10 &T11) one of which is in my Incra table. I also have a Festool 1410, a small Makita and a Katsu cordless. In my router table, the Tremd is fine; it does its work well but a couple of reasons why I would not replace it with another. Firstly, the above table height adjustment isn’t very friendly; I have already it repaired once because that mechanism broke. Secondly, that the bit change necessitates lifting the router and insert out of the table as you can rarely change bits with the router still in place.

The other Trend now sees no work at all. I much prefer the Festool 1410 for a few reasons. It’s dust collection goes from good to very good but still way better than the Trend. The bit change is on a ratchet and is very easy to use. Lastly, its a personal one, I just prefer the pistol style grip - as I do on my Makita jigsaw.

I also steer clear of Trend router bits because my experience is that they are not sufficiently resilient- burning or blunting all too quickly.

For all these reasons, there is no way that I would mentally place Trend stuff at the premium level. If Trend want a place on that premium table, then I think that they have their work cut out to deliver products that are worthy of it. It seems the T12 and T14 have missed it .They also have, I think, a mighty job to persuade people like me to go back to them. As the saying goes “it takes years to get a good reputation but only minutes to get a bad one”. I don’t think that Trend have a bad one, just an average one.

I believe they are still made in the UK? If so, that’s a very good thing but, for me, it only comes into play if every other aspect of the tool matches it’s rivals; it’s not a reason for me to buy something inferior.

[Pistol_Knight]

'Hand held' thing looks massive!!!

[colindoesdiy]

Right on Trend as usual Peter, the T12 looks quite big for a Handheld Router, but I suppose it is half inch.
I wouldn't like to use my half inch 2400 Watt Triton router as an every day hand held router, it's quite a beast and imagine the T12 is similar so the T14 must be a monster 😁

[SnowyAspenHills]

Had my Festool 1400 stolen and looking for a new router. Used ELU for many years when workshop based but can’t use them as they are 240V and I need 110v.
I used the ELU so much and was used to the balance and ergonomics of it that I never really got comfortable with the Festool. Torn between the T12 and the T11 which almost a copy of the ELU. Appears the T12 has a light, does the the T11. Never had luxurious like that with the ELU. My Makita trimmer has a light which I find very useful.
Used to be proper metal boxes for the ELU routers, that horrible plastic box would go straight into recycling and the router into a systainer box. I still have some custom radius jigs made by an engineer next to one of the shops I worked in.

[ralphrowlands]

Great informative video, as per usual. Very descriptive and covers everything. Thank you

[steveposey]

Excellent and fair review as always, bravo ... Great Job Peter

[nicowilson]

Good video. Completely agree with criticism of the carry case.

[gordy]

Good review Peter. Just checked stock and prices at my local supplier. The T14 is coming in at £549.60 inc vat which seems a bargain compared to the price you mentioned. I'm looking for a good table router and don't want to spend too much on the likes of the Festool OF2200. I have just purchased the Festool OF1400 and love using it as a hand router.