Customer Reviews for RIDGID 2 HP Multi Base Router Combo

have used this router for home owner purposes and have been very pleased, its nice to have a plunge and fixed router without having to have 2 seperate tools

Overall this is a good router. It could be improved upon. A "2400" rpm setting would be nice, only goes up to 2300. And the plunge is a bit sticky.

I have only had this router for a few months but it has definitely been put to work. Over the winter I took up log furniture building and bought this router to go on a stand I bought that allows me to cut multiple size tenons at a fraction of the price of individual drill operated tenon cutters. I have made many projects so far and the router hasn't flinched yet, even when cutting out up to an inch of lumber. The one negative is one I've read in many other reviews, the plunge base is very sticky and a little bit hard to ease down into a cut. Other then that a very solid tool.

You can get it for 130.00 right now in the store (april 2011). Great machine for the hobbyist. Depth adjustment not the greatest but good. Plunge router does have a slight side ways play. It a great upgrade for me from the SKIL combination router (which was junk).

I've had the Ridgid combo for a couple of weeks now. Haven't used it too much. Easy to mount in a table and love the features. Lifetime warranty is a big plus!!

I'm a very experienced wood worker and needed a replacement for one of my routers that died in the middle of making kitchen cabinets for my house. I wasn't too concerned with price, I wanted a tool that I liked using. So, I bought this router and four others at the same time. I took two out of the boxes at a time and put the least favorite back until I had only one router. This was the router I ended with. The others were all multi-base routers which included: Bosch, Craftsman, Hitachi, and DeWalt. I would have liked to review the Porter Cable too but I couldn't find one locally. Pros: - Quiet motor, one of the quietest in the bunch - Depth stops are good on both the fixed base and plunge, most have one good depth stop. - Nice wide opening on fixed base for my 3 1/4" panel raising bit. - Plenty of power, I couldn't tell the difference between this one and my 3.25hp Hitachi, I used this one over the larger router for panel raising. - Excellent fixed base dust collection, while making stiles, rails, and panels, I had one vacuum hose connected to the router under the table and one to the top of the router table, it collected 99% of the dust. In fact I may sell my 3.25hp router now since the dust collection is so effective with the fixed base. - Easy in and out of the bases, the spindle stop doesn't get in the way as older reviews have pointed out. - Best warranty of all the routers, you can't beat the lifetime warranty that Ridgid is offering right now, otherwise they still have the best warranty with three years, and 90 day money back trail. I've gone through a few routers now and just want something that works all the time. Cons: - Good but not great depth stop or depth adjustments on the fixed base. The depth adjustments are rather course on the fixed base, and take some back and forth trials to get it just right. When I was matching the stiles to the rails it took more time than I though it should. My Hitachi and the dead Dewalt have much finer depth adjustments. Making a .005-010" adjustment on the Ridgid is a tedious task and easy to do my other routers. If the depth adjustment were better I would give this tool 5 stars. - Spring force on the plunge is too much, I may pull the springs out and grind off a portion until it's how I like it. I don't need to lift any 5lb router bits. - I think because you have to fight the plunge springs and that there is a little slop in the guide bushings it causes the guides to bind slightly unless you use equal pressure with both hands, a couple others have better plunge guides. - Plastic bases require you to align it with the spindle so that its centered. Most of the time you don't need it precisely centered, but if your using a guide bushing you do. They could have either doweled the removable bases to the router or used more precise bases and flat head screws for alignment. I would buy this router again. Because the dust collection on the fixed base is so effective I may sell my 3.25 hp router table router if I can just buy the fixed base unit. Using this router as a hand router with the plunge or fixed base is easy but it's about as big as I would want to go, it's a little heavier and taller than my previous 2hp plunge router that died, but having the two bases is worth the compromise.

I have three high end pricey plunge routers, and I wanted to get a fixed base router for my Leigh dovetail jig. This router has been excellent for jig work. The soft start rivals the high end ones I use. What I really like about this one over the other home store versions is the angled soft handles. Perfect for my taste as it's comfortable grip over the round knobs. The soft start is very gentle easily to hold with one hand and not worry about jump while in the jig. I put it on my work table and turned it on and with just the pressure of my hand on the top while turning it on, it barely moved and would sit there running and not move on high. I don't endorse that, but that was one of the selling feature on my 3 1/4 hp router and I just wanted to compare it. The LED makes it nice as well as the clear base while using a bushing as it's easy to see the fingers on the jig as well as the wood. I worried about scratching the base early, but it's held up well and can be easily fixed by using a headlight scratch removal tool and polish. As mentioned already, the magnesium material is not as slick as polished aluminum, but wax and lubricant fixes that. I haven't used the plunge base at all so I can't comment on that feature, but I got it on sale for $149 so it was a good deal for me just as a fixed base alternative.

Have two of these in a cabinet shop and could not be happier.. Overall was the best investment in a couple of router sets ... they performed great ... one set for the router table and the other for over the table use.. Worked great on the dovetail jig.. This also performed great in the router table.. This 2 hp router was able to handle larger size bits and handled it like a champ...just take a few passes and will end up with a super clean finish.. Even with a 3hp router you should take a few passes anyway.. Better for overall finish on your wood and easier on your expense bits,, the warranty on this router are the best..This routers divinity have taken the place of the porter cable routers in the shop..These have become my new work horse

This is my 5th router (woodworking is my hobby, not my job), and I currently have 2 others - but this is my favorite. The micro-adjustable PC guide fence and the guide bushings fit perfectly. I tend to use this router over the other two probably 99% of the time - the clear base and the great visibility of the work surface - illuminated by the built-in twin LEDs - give great work-surface visibility, better than others I have or have had. The variable speed is wonderful - when I was making a set large doors (quarter-cut white oak, 8'x3'x4" [yes four inches thick] for our house) the slow speed was wonderful when I was doing the jointery (mounted the router in the "router table" insert on my table saw) and it had no trouble turning the 3" panel cutter smoothely through the hard oak when i was making the panels. It also worked well with some of the harder woods (my favorite is purpleheart which is always harder to cut than cherry or hickory) - it does some fairly difficult edges (double ogee's and others) with no trouble at all, something my older 1.5 HP router which I used to use for that purpose just couldn't do. One other thing I love about this router is the 1/64" depth steps on plunge router base - my others only give 1/4" stops, and that is often too big in softer woods which may tear up when the cuts are too deep. The vacuum attachments on BOTH bases work perfectly and I have found no problems with anything about this router . Overall I would recommend this router to anyone - hobbyist or professional - as a first router, or as a third or fourth. And as a bonus the lifetime gurantee means that it's going to run a VERY long time without having to be replaced because "it broke" :-). Defniitely recommended. .

This is my second router, upgraded to this after taking a course. The Ridgid is an excellent router in harder maple or the softer woods. I have the fixed base mounted to a router table - and change it over to the plunge body in seconds. The through the table adjustment feature that this Ridged comes with (the T handle) works great. Very pleased!

It's powerful and nice .. But I can't find a router table and edge guide. I'II return it..

I recently purchased this router for its fair price and value. However I am really unhappy with the mechanical design of the router. The spinal lock can be a challenge to change bits. I find my thumb often gets in the way if router is on a base. It can be quite tricky to remove bits if router is detached from base as you must hold the button and router while at the same time using a using a wrench. I also find the router is quite difficult to remove from bases it is a very tight fit. The fixed base height adjustment knob doesn't work very well. Lifting and lowering the height is tedious and takes quite a bit of effort. I would prefer a base twist similar to porter cable. I love the led lights the soft start is great, and the 2 hp motor is solid. The bag included is really nice, I really like soft cases. In conclusion I will be returning this router back to home depot I really wish Ridgid could address these issues. I still support the Ridgid brand but I just cant justify keeping it.

This has plenty of power. Shipping was ok. Vaccuum shavings control, not effective but the price is right for this item. great performer.

This router combo is a great tool to own. The things I like about this router are it is variable speed for all your needs, it is not as loud as I thought it would be. I also like that it has interchangeable bases too. I would highly recommend this tool to anyone.

While buying a PC 4216 Dovetail Jig Combo, and ordering a Template adapter for my Skill router, I took a look at this Router. It has the HP, 21/4 to do the hardwood and comes with a lot of goodies. One of the sub-bases has the 1 1/8 hole necessary for using the PC template bushings: A big +++++! Buy it, you will definitely love this machine. I do.

I have owned and used this router for over a year now and have nothing but praise for it. The bases change out quickly, the machine works without fail in a Grizzly table making over a thousand feet of tongue & groove and trim boards to date. I guess you could find a better unit but not for this money. Makes me tons of money by making my own trim and siding materials.

I'll say it again, "I Love this tool." I have owned this router for a couple of years now. It has been a real workhorse. The dual bases have been great. This is a great quality product that is solidly built. I highly recommend it!

This router is my first owned, but I have been using routers for a few years now. The bases are easy to switch and use. The base plate is durable and is easy to add and remove. The soft start works well and there is very little torque at startup. Even with low costing bits, this router cuts like a hot knife through butter. The power plug has an inbedded LED that when attached to a power supply iluminates. This is a great feature for use with a router table. Overall the the quality is very high, very easy to use, and no problems to date after 3 month and daily usage.

Great machine for $80 less than what PC would cost, and outstanding performance, plunge can be stciky, wax and cleaning took care of it, the vacum attachments are great for straight or gradual edging but get in the way for intricate cuts, works great in the table setup, was going to get either a Bosch combo or PC but the Rigid seems more durable than Bosch and cheaper than PC but just as capable ,not sure about after market acccesories ie. bushings, guide plates, looks like the base may be thicker than most, soft start, steady when handling and speed adjust easily, low vibration, leb lights are a plus

I'm pleased with it's performance and balance. Plus the changable fixed / plunge bases are great. However, there are no accessories for this model and the 'universal' accessory options just don't fit right.

The tool has plenty of power to handle most jobs. The soft start, work light, dust port, tool bag and long cord are all pluses. No complaints yet.