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The Ryobi RE1803BK Router is numbered 22th among 33 in 1-2hp Fixed Base Routers analysis and 59th among 93 in the Routers category. It is the 16th ranked product among 46 in the Ryobi brand.

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grade C
WHAT'S THIS?

Comes with Several Accessories, But Could Use Electronic Feedback
Wood Magazine, Volume 159, 2004-11

The reviewer said this is one of the routers tested that does not have electronic feedback, which means the router takes longer to recover when the bit first enters the wood. There was no problem with the routing itself, though, which in the test included routing 1/4" deep dadoes in oak-veneer plywood with a 1/2" straight bit at a rapid rate of 12 feet per minute. This router is one of several routers with a spring-steel collet, which the reviewer found were better than thick-wall steel collets with respect to gripping. One high points is that the kit includes two fixed bases, five plastic guide bushings, an edge-guide fence, and dust-collection adapter. The grips are well-designed and comfortable. Some additional low points are that the lowest speed is 15,000 rpm, which is too fast for large diameter bits, the placement of the dust collection shroud forces removal of the adapter whenever a bit is changed, there is no depth-stop turret on the plunge base, and the depth-of-cut cursor is difficult to read reliably since is far from the scale. One somewhat unique feature of this router is that the locking lever is normally in free mode, and must be pulled in order to lock the cutting depth. An included fabric bag holds the kit, but this bag tends to jumble the parts, which a plastic case would not do.