The Ultimate Guide to the Best Woodworking Router of 2018

A Woodworker‘s Tales: My Journey with Routers in 2018

So, picture this: I’m sitting in my garage one chilly afternoon in early October of 2018, half a cup of coffee down, the smell of sawdust swirling around me like a warm blanket. My workspace? Oh, it’s a glorious mess—power tools scattered here and there, the half-finished woodworking project that had been staring at me for weeks, and my trusty old router sitting in the corner. You see, I’ve had my fair share of ups and downs with that router, and let me tell ya, it’s taught me more lessons than I can remember.

The Router Dilemma

You’d think picking the right router wouldn’t be so complicated, right? Well, I can assert that it is, especially for someone who just jumped into woodworking. I mean, there’s a thousand options out there! I remember the first time I decided to buy one—went to my local hardware store, and my head started spinning. I had read about the Dewalt DWP611, you know, the one that everyone seems to rave about. It felt solid in my hands, and I was sure it could handle just about anything I threw at it.

But then there was the Bosch PR20EVS, which had this nifty soft-start feature. There I stood, going back and forth like I was at some fancy auction. After a cup of coffee, I finally decided on the Dewalt, thinking, “Hey, it’s got the reputation, right?” Were it only so simple…

So, About Those Mistakes…

Fast forward a month or so, I’d finally found some time to work on my first project: a simple coffee table for the living room. I planned on using some gorgeous oak. I can almost still smell the sweet, earthy scent of the wood as I unwrapped it, all polished and waiting for me to create something incredible.

I secured the oak to my workbench, the router in hand, and then I hit a wall—well, not literally but you catch my drift. My mind was racing, wondering if I had made the right choice by going with a fixed-base model. I remembered how everyone online had voiced their love for plunge routers, claiming it’d open up a whole new world of possibilities. But hey, I was already knee-deep in my project.

I turned the router on and took a deep breath, letting that buzzing noise fill my ears. It felt a little intimidating—you know the feeling, right? I pushed the router towards the wood and… bam! It jolted in my hands. Here I was, ready to shape this piece of art, and I almost messed it all up in the first few minutes. I must’ve looked like a deer in headlights. After that, I almost gave up right there. It seemed so easy on YouTube.

Finding My Groove

But you know what? I didn’t give up. I took a step back, took a sip of my cold coffee—ughh, note to self: don’t let it sit there too long—and thought about what I could do differently. Maybe I was trying to rush it. So, I dialed back the speed and tried again. Slowly but surely, that router found its rhythm, and I was carving into that oak like butter.

I remember laughing when it actually worked! The noise of the router blending with the clatter of wood flying off and the smell of fresh shavings—it was something else. The table came together beautifully, and I felt this rush of pride wash over me. I even let out a whoop, which startled my dog and sent him scurrying under the workbench. It was such a simple moment, but it resonated deep within me.

Lessons Learned and Moving Forward

Looking back, I can’t help but chuckle at my impatience. I nearly tossed the router aside more than once, but I learned more about patience and technique through those frustrating moments than I could ever have from a fancy guide. I also got to know the ins and outs of my Dewalt. I learned how to clean bits, adjust the handles, and even the nuances of different woods. Like, did you know that pine can be a bit more forgiving than oak? I certainly didn’t!

As the 2018 project list piled up—shelves, frames, you name it—I found myself experimenting more. I often think of all those other woodworkers who say finding the right tool for the job is half the battle. It might be true, but it’s also about learning how to wield that tool in ways you never imagined.

A Toast to New Beginnings

So, here’s the takeaway from my rambling today: if you’re thinking about diving into woodworking—or even just trying a new hobby—just go for it. Don’t let those initial hiccups take the wind out of your sails. You’ll figure things out, sometimes the hard way, but that’s part of the journey.

Heck, I’m standing here now, savoring that journey, most thankful for the router that almost drove me up a wall. It wound up being my trusty sidekick. And, honestly, while I wouldn’t want to relive all those blunders, they made every project worth it. So grab your tools, breathe in that sweet smell of wood, and dive in—you’ll surprise yourself with what you can create.