Freud FT1700VCE Variable Speed Router

The collet will stay locked until you are done changing bits. My last table router was a 3hp Hitachi. It was inconvenient to reach under the table and bang your knuckles to change bits. The Freud makes it easy to change bits, and I don't feel like I lost anything with power (13 amp Freud vs. 15 amp Hitachi). This 13 amp Freud offers an advantage over the 15 amp Freud plunge router: the height adjustment proceeds quickly and is accurate. The big Freud plunger has a tedious depth adjustment that takes too long to set. The FT1700/1702 offers a quick-release to rough set the depth in an instant. Then you use the knob to set exact depth of cut. I use the fixed base as my dedicated table router. No router lift is required. I think this is one of the best table routers on the market. This is one of the few routers with a large enough opening in the base to accept panel raising bits. If you primarily need a handheld router, I would look at the Dewalt 618 combo, Dewalt 621 plunge, or Bosch 1613 plunge. Why? Because the power switch on the FT1700 is a tricky push and slide type. However, when it is mounted in a table, you will use a power switch on the table. For these reasons, I can give the Freud FT1700 a glowing review for a dedicated table router.