Attention! The accuracy of the information and the results of the ranking is subjective and is not an advertisement.
Top 10 frezerov
Make it easier and do not miscalculate
Author: Stepan Kagner
One of the most useful tools for a carpenter, whether he is an amateur or a professional, is a manual router that allows you to speed up many joinery work. It is enough to use it once instead of chisel, in order to have a desire to buy something similar for yourself.
Today we will try to deal with what the mill market of 2017-2018 offers us, and choose the best milling machines in several categories:
- Vertical Milling Cutter - optimal tool for sampling grooves, undercuts. Its only drawback is that the sampling angles will have a radius equal to the radius of the installed milling cutter. Making such a router sample under the door hinges, the corners will have to be cut manually. When choosing, it is worth considering the type of adjustment mechanism: for fixed “verticals”, the cutting depth is set before starting work and does not change along its course, for movable (submersible), thanks to spring-loaded guides, the cutter can be removed without detaching the platform from the part.
- Edging (edging) milling cutter At first glance it may seem like a reduced copy of the vertical, but this is not so: the design of the supporting platform here is designed for the possibility of running the tool along a ruler or a template for cutting grooves, chamfering (for this, the router bends relative to the plane). The fact that it can also work as a vertical one makes the edge-milling cutter a very versatile tool, and in many cases it may not be necessary to acquire a powerful “vertical” separately.
- Keyway or lamella milling cutters - a professional tool, they are good if you need to cut a large number of standardized grooves (for example, for splicing blanks of wooden window frames).
| Category | A place | Name | Rating | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| The best vertical milling machines | 1 | Bosch GMF 1600 CE | 9.8 / 10 | 37 493 |
| 2 | Makita RP1800F | 9.3 / 10 | 20 793 | |
| 3 | Hitachi M12V2 | 9.0 / 10 | 17 600 | |
| 4 | Skil 1840 LA | 8.3 / 10 | 17 600 | |
| The best edge milling machines | 1 | Bosch GKF 600 Professional | 9.7 / 10 | 12 418 |
| 2 | Makita 3709 | 9.0 / 10 | 5 739 | |
| 3 | Hammer FRZ710 PREMIUM | 8.9 / 10 | 8 270 | |
| 4 | DeWALT DWE 6005 | 8.7 / 10 | 14 225 | |
| The best key grooves | 1 | Makita PJ7000 | 9.7 / 10 | 16 139 |
| 2 | Bosch GFF 22 Professional | 9.5 / 10 | 16 139 |
The best vertical milling machines
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37 493
A good multifunctional router, belongs to the category of professional. It combines traditional German quality with a high level of service and a pleasant design. The engine with a rated power consumption of 1600 W, equipped with a system for maintaining constant revolutions and a smooth start, provides the speed of rotation of the head in the range from 10 to 25 thousand rpm. The maximum depth of the cutter is 76 mm, the special AfterLock system provides depth adjustment with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. The diameter of the collet - 12.7 mm. It is convenient to work with the router. Despite the significant weight for machines of this class (5.8 kg with a submersible base and 4.3 kg with a copying machine), it easily moves along the treated surface. LED backlight in combination with a transparent base provide excellent visibility in the work area.
Of particular note is the excellent ergonomics of this router. The model includes:
This frezer deserved a place in our ranking of the best thanks primarily to its wide functionality. Main advantages: · The thought-over ergonomics. · Versatility. · Rich equipment. Minuses: · High price. |
 9.8 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Since the release of the series, three years have passed, all the “childhood diseases” have been removed, and the GMF1600 has become a truly “workhorse”. |
|
20 793
The RP1800F milling cutter is not Makita's flagship, but the ratio of quality and price here can be called the best.The six-kilogram milling cutter thanks to the 1.8 kW engine easily copes with a cutting depth of up to 70 millimeters, developing up to 22,000 revolutions per minute. So it is slightly inferior to Bosch GMF 1600, and it costs almost two times less.
The motor is equipped with a system that maintains the spindle speeds constant regardless of the load and ensures a smooth start - there is no jerk at the time of launch, no voltage drops in the network. The collet in the kit is only one, under a 12-mm cutter. If necessary, you can purchase and 8 mm. In the model, we liked the ergonomics - the trigger on the right arm of the platform can be considered the most convenient solution, with the thumb latch holding down the trigger. The working area is illuminated by bright LEDs. Do not forget about the shortcomings: after the "Boshevsky" mechanism for adjusting the immersion handle "Makita" look very pale, using them is much less convenient. Less and accuracy - but on the other hand, is it always necessary for a carpenter to set the size to one-tenth of a millimeter, given that the tree is “breathing”? A parallel emphasis was not made in the best way - no, of course, it can be used, but again a comparison with “Bosch” suggests itself - just until the moment when you remember the price difference. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.3 / 10
Rating
Reviews
For its price, it more than does an excellent job, it lacks only a vacuum cleaner - with a large depth of cutting, chips fly in all directions. |
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17 600
Not only engineers, but also designers obviously worked on the Hitachi router - it rushes to the eyes on the window from a distance, but it was not because of this that it ranked among the best router models.
A two-kilowatt motor, a softstarter and maintenance of revolutions is already a good recommendation for a tool. Add to this the possibility of deepening to 65 mm, and, as in the previous nominees ranking the best vertical milling machines, there is the possibility of stepped deepening in several passes. Cutters can be used as a 12-mm collet, and put eight-millimeter through the supplied adapter. However, we turn to the minuses. Design by design, and ergonomics is more important to us - so we will lower the score for the awkward power key, which seems to have been picked up from what was available. It is not very pleasant to press it with a solid thumb. Accuracy has also suffered: the adjustment mechanism here is rougher than the "Makita" and, especially, the "Bosch", although the adjustment handle itself is better done than that of the "Makita". Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.0 / 10
Rating
Reviews
With the exception of some flaws - an excellent frezer for work that does not require delicate precision. |
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17 600
The first three places in the ranking of the best vertical milling machines were taken by quite expensive models, but it is worth considering the tool of the budget segment. In the price category of “up to 5,000”, the Skil router has earned attention - to some extent due to the brand’s reputation remaining (alas, falling lately), and to some extent due to its good performance.
The whole “gentleman's set” is available here: cutting depth up to 60 mm, which is very good for a 1.3 kW motor, turns can be adjusted without taking your hands off the handles, and their constancy is monitored by electronics. What is especially pleasing is the regulator of the depth of immersion - in terms of convenience and accuracy it leaves behind both Hitachi and Makita, even though they are more expensive at times. The frezer weighs less than 4 kilograms and can easily be used “from the hand” if the need arises. Of course, it is not intended to make chips in a shift per shift - this is indicated by both the motor power and the diameter of the collets (6 and 8 mm).But in amateur practice, he will be a great helper, and much more affordable than professional series of famous brands. However, the price has its drawbacks: the manufacturer had to save a lot. For example, the joints of the plastic parts of the body are coarse and have obvious burrs. Everything would be fine, but such joints are on the handles, before starting work they will have to be cleaned. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 8.3 / 10
Rating
Reviews
After drooling on the tool for the pros, I chose the Skil mill - it has been working for me for three years without any problems, it makes a lot of noise, but it lets the chips run properly. |
The best edge milling machines
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12 418
In the category of edge milling cutters, the German mark also won a victory - Bosch GKF 600, from our point of view, can be called the best professional router in this market segment. With a weight of only one and a half kilograms, it has a “serious” 600-watt motor, which easily unwinds the collet to 33 thousand revolutions per minute. The complete collets themselves have a clamping diameter of 6 and 8 mm, so that the router can use the entire range of cutters used in edging work.
Unlike many edge milling cutters on the market that have a transparent plastic platform, the Bosch all solidly cast aluminum base inspires confidence in the strength of the tool, and adds little to the weight. The base is fixed by the latch-flag; the cutter's overhang is adjusted in the same way: by loosening the flag, you need to move the base to the desired division on the mill body, and then precisely adjust the size with the wheel at the base of the base. The body, by the way, is quite convenient for the hand, so by removing the base altogether, if necessary, you can use the device as a powerful engraver. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.7 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Once again, I made sure that the “blue” series of Bosch is working out their money to the penny. |
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5 739
Japanese frezer deserved a place in the rating mainly for reliability and performance - a little more than half a kilowatt of power at 30 thousand revolutions per minute will allow you to quickly cope with viscous and solid wood varieties, and the maximum cutter immersion here reaches 40 mm. The rest of the duel “Bosch-Makita” looks exactly the same as in the rating of vertical milling cutters: the “Japanese” is three times cheaper than the “German” and slightly inferior in performance, but the equipment suffers because of the price.
Base Makita 90% consists of transparent polycarbonate, and the clip is also plastic - screw tightens two ears. To a certain extent, with a transparent base, it is more convenient to control the course of cutting, but here are certain concerns about durability, even knowing the characteristics of polycarbonate, remain. We also note that there is a shortage of 8-mm collet, the kit comes with only 6 mm. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.0 / 10
Rating
Reviews
For professional practice, I would not have dared to buy, but for me, the “house master”, Makita came up just right. |
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8 270
It would be fairer to call this router universal: the set includes both a vertical base with handles and a snap for edge work. But versatility is not always good. Judge for yourself: if you use the Hammer as a vertical mill, its motor will not be powerful enough (only 700 watts, the system for maintaining revolutions under heavy loads works almost at the limit), and the immersion depth of 30 mm cannot be called serious. In the end, in this incarnation, it is simply inconvenient - there is no smooth lowering, and it has to be turned on and off, taking one of the hands from the arms.So the vertical base here rather refers to the snap-in of the “to be” series.
As a Hammer drill, Hammer is too heavy and sits in the hand in the most convenient way - lining is asked for a polished cylindrical part, and in this case the vibrations would be less transmitted to the arm. So this router can be called the best option for home use - it will at least replace two tools, and will not be used in a large amount of work. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 8.9 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Two in one for 5 thousand is interesting! Moreover, the budget will not pull the purchase of two milling cutters of comparable quality. |
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14 225
Frazer from the well-known and well-established company, alas, took the last place in the ranking. There are two reasons: firstly, this is the price, which almost came close to “Bosch”, in the second - a very controversial structure.
The base of the router is entirely made of polycarbonate. We will not re-quote your opinion about this material, let's also add DeWALT proprietary adjustment system: the router rotates in the base, rising and falling along the spiral groove, while the power cord may be in the most uncomfortable position. There are, of course, DeWALT and its advantages. This is one of the quietest milling cutters that fell into our rating: if the rest of the noise level exceeds 80 decibels, then here from only 77 - this is quite noticeable by ear, and long-term work is less tiring. The 600-watt motor spins up to 34,000 revolutions per minute (and the revolutions, as befits a quality tool, do not change depending on the load), if you wish, you can buy a vertical base for the router, but again face the same inconvenience as Hammer ). Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 8.7 / 10
Rating
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The best key grooves
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16 139
In the third category, the battle of the two “whales” of the power tool market was finally won by the Japanese - with more than twice the price gain, the Makita router turned out to be more convenient and more productive than the Bosch competitor.
The 710-watt motor of this milling machine spins up the spindle to 11 thousand revolutions per minute, so the processing speed here deserves only praise. The maximum diameter of the cutter is 100 mm, but its choice should be approached carefully - the slightest imbalance on a high-speed tool will turn into a powerful vibration. The design of the base can be considered optimal - the desired angle is set quickly and accurately. Cutting depth is adjustable in steps to all standard slots from 8 to 20 mm. In the end - a solid first place. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.7 / 10
Rating
Reviews
Although the fact that the quality of “Makita” has now fallen, a lot is said, but in this case I will say this - it works and it works perfectly! |
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16 139
GFF 22 is purely mechanically close to the angle grinder of the “blue” series, only the gear ratio of the gearbox is different - the run-in solutions guarantee reliability and quality. 670-watt motor spins the mill up to 9000 rpm, and its maximum diameter can reach 105 mm, so the router has more than covered all the needs of professional practice.
The ergonomics of the instrument at the level - this applies to the body grip, and the handle for the left hand. And it is for the left: the milling cutter is “sharpened” exclusively under the “right-handed majority” and will be extremely inconvenient for a left-handed person, as, indeed, almost all power tools of this type. Not quite liked the regular dust collector - “vacuum bag” should be used only as a last resort, preferring a vacuum cleaner. Main advantages:
Minuses:
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 9.5 / 10
Rating
Reviews
A tool for serious production, able to work from one shift to another. He pays back his money and continues to work on. |
How to choose the best frezer?
Regardless of the type of router, its two main characteristics are power and speed: the first one determines the productivity for rough processing with a large thickness of the layer being removed, the second parameter is responsible for the quality of finishing, especially for small-diameter mills. In addition, the higher the revolutions, the easier it is to maintain a uniform cut, especially along a curved surface.
For mills with adjustment of turns specify the principle of operation of the regulator before purchase: on a cheap tool, turns will fall with increasing load, and the stronger, the smaller they are - more expensive mills use regulators with stabilization of turns, which are much more convenient and provide better quality processing. Previously, such a solution could be found only on expensive models, now, as the example of Skil and Hammer showed, it is possible to pick up a “smart” router, among the available tools.
Do not chase for versatilityif the mill will be used in professional practice: branded "generalists" are extremely expensive, more accessible, being suitable for all types of work at once, lose to the specialized tool in each of them separately. For home use budget "universal", by contrast, may be more profitable acquisition.
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Updated: 12.02.2018
Rating in categories:
