Mastercraft 6.5A Compact Router with Detachable Base

When my Bosch Colt single speed trim router got stolen, I thought it was an opportunity to upgrade to a variable speed Colt. Then the wife and I had a “discussion” about the price and suddenly this MasterCraft model was just what I needed when it came on sale. For the price you get a lot of pluses like good LED lighting, a decently long power cord, a spindle lock, secure depth set, variable speed, and a two-handed base that is very stable. At 6.5 amps, the motor has a bit more muscle than my old router. It could power through a ¾” dado or rabbet in two passes, where I might have to do it with three passes with my old Colt. I’ve heard some people dismiss variable speed on a trim router, but I find it helpful to dial in to the right rpms when using a larger bit like a ½ inch roundover bit or a rabbeting bit. The result is a smoother cut with less likelihood of burning. There are some minuses, though: • It’s tall and a bit top heavy, so using it as a trim router with the small base plate can lead to tipping. The two-handed base can help with that, but sometimes it’s too big. • The bottom of the router blocks can my view of an baseplate from certain angles. • The motor heats up fast. If you are ploughing dados, you will find it getting warm after cutting the first foot. I’ve never got it so hot that it trips the fuse or is too hot to hold. • Setting the depth is a major pain with this tool. The wheel is clunky and it’s hard to make precise depth adjustments, a serious problem for any router. You’ll have to eyeball it and make several test cuts on scrap. Still, for a trim router that came on sale for last than half the cost of a name brand model, it offers good value and performance. I’m happy enough and find myself reaching for this router all the time to take care of cutting flutes, shallow dadoes, inlays, hinge mortices, or flush-trimming laminate or veneers.

Works well. It's compact and powerful. No complaints. Would recommend.

This is the MasterCraft response to compact routers. I bought it because when it's on sale it's very inexpensive. It's not a bad tool, for the sale price. It has decent power 6.5 amps for a compact router but dust control is bad and it tends to be less stable than any other router I've used. I returned mine and bought a DeWalt compact router. The price is not that much higher than the MC one and the build quality is much better and the it performs with less vibration. The DeWalt's power level is lower but it can jobs in a single pass that took two passes with the MC model.

Seems to be a decent little router however the way it is designed all of the sawdust if blown right back in your face as you are trying to work.