Hey Board repair crew, looking to buy a router for board repairs. What am i after? Small laminate router? Or big two hand model?Whats the go? Also what bits are commonly used/ needed?Cheers
I recently bought a new one and I dismissed the laminate trimmer as not up to the job.
You need a router with a collet that can handle 1/2" shank bits. Look for one that takes both 1/4"and 1/2" shanks. Bit size should be 10mm to 20mm and at least 40mm deep. Even larger is recommended for deep cuts (finboxes etc).
Most laminate trimmers do not have the fine adjustments and capacity to fit accurate guides like larger 'routers'. Laminate trimmers also generally do not have the ability to plunge into the work from above and probably don't have the grunt to use larger bits.
If you are mainly using it for board repairs you could go a 1/4 inch or 1/2 inch. The 1/4 inch will be lighter and easier to control. A 1/2 inch will (as DAR says) be able to take longer bits (good if you want to router out a finbox- using something like this one with 63mm cutter depth https://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/product/3_85X1_2TC/4/28/two_flute_cutter_127mm_diameter.html) and also have more grunt to do this sort of work.
Clarence
Select to expand quoteDar said.. Bit size should be 10mm to 20mm and at least 40mm deep. Even larger is recommended for deep cuts (finboxes etc).
If you're only working with soft foam, I don't think this is such a big issue, there's no where near as much pressure on the bit with soft foam as there is with timber. Just don't press too hard. I've used a 1/4" bit for ages on deep fin boxes without a problem. But if you're removing large amounts of foam a bigger bit is much quicker.
^^^ agreed.
You don't need to run an inch wide cutter to fit fin boxes - you can make more than one pass.
You don't need a 40mm deep cutter, again you can make more than one pass.
1/2" collet is overkill
I use a mega powerful trade quality 1/4" shank router - only as I got it free.
It has plenty of grunt and easily cuts through anything on a board - but the trouble is
(1) the weight of it compresses foam so it cuts "over deep" just a little if used on foam. And this is just with a good 1/4" collet router, a heavier 1/2" would be worse
That's why surf shapers use a little trim router to inlet for fin box installs.
(2) the limiting factor is often the bit. I find cheap bits overheat and blunt in composites. So the one you use often needs to be quality. $10 ones from eBay or Bunnings' cheapest at about $15 work a couple of times then they're stuffed. Well, still good for foam but not glass and wood sandwich etc.
I really think you kinda need both. Unless you are sure all you will ever do is tear out sandwich for repairs (powerful 1/4" router with a $40 bit) , or only ever do FCS box installs and foot strap inserts (trim router with any old bit).
I use the big router (1/4" collet but big motor) for cutting thru composite skins and removing a whole mast track or something.
I use my Dremel with an extra long 1/8" mill bit for foam only, to freehand a surf box install or similar.
If I had to pick only one, I'd go a quality trim router as they are light and the Hp matters less than a good quality bit and revs.
Oh - and get one with plenty of gap from motor to base plate so you can see what you are doing and also hold a vacuum cleaner hose in there whilst cutting. Seems dust is not as annoying as fibres hitting your face and throat at 300kph.
Given your intended use go a GMC style router that fits all the above suggestions. A trimmer one is great but will cost more that a larger one. BTW I use both....ex chippy 
