This category covers woodworking routers and electric hand planers for carpenters, joiners, furniture makers and home workshop users. The range centres on Makita, Bosch and DeWalt, with Black & Decker and Dremel also represented. Over 30 models are listed, from lighter tools for occasional DIY to heavier ones for daily site work.
How to choose a router or planer
Tool type. A trim router is light enough for one hand and suits edge profiles, laminate trimming and hinge recesses. A plunge router lowers the cutter into the workpiece, which makes it the better choice for grooves, mortises and stopped slots. A hand planer removes material from edges and faces, and is used to fit doors and square up rough timber.
Corded or cordless. Corded tools keep full power through long sessions and are usually the cheaper route for a workshop with sockets nearby. Cordless tools make sense on site or on ladders, and they share batteries with other tools from the same brand, so check which battery system you already own before choosing.
Power and speed control. Higher wattage matters for deep cuts in hardwood and for larger cutters. Variable speed is worth having on a router, because large-diameter bits should run slower than small ones, and softer materials such as plastics and laminates need lower speeds to avoid burning.
Collet size or cutting width. Router collets are commonly 6 mm, 8 mm or 1/2 inch, and the size decides which bits fit. The 1/2 inch collet takes sturdier bits and suits heavy profiling. For planers, look at the cutting width (many handheld models cut around 82 mm) and the maximum depth per pass, since these set how quickly you can remove material.
Dust extraction. Both tools produce a lot of chippings. A port that connects to a workshop vacuum keeps the cutting line visible and the air cleaner, and a built-in chip bag is a reasonable alternative for short jobs.
Brands we carry
- Makita: the largest group in our range, known for its 18V LXT cordless platform and for compact trim routers and planers used by joiners.
- Bosch: sells its blue Professional line for trade use and a green line for DIY, so you can match the tool to how often you will use it.
- DeWalt: known for its yellow XR cordless system and for tools built for site conditions.
- Black & Decker: focused on home and DIY tools, a sensible match for occasional jobs around the house.
- Dremel: best known for small rotary tools, which suits fine detail work rather than heavy timber removal.
Also in our range: 3M and Einhell.
Routers and planers: frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a router and a planer?
A router spins a cutter to shape wood, cutting grooves, edge profiles and recesses. A planer shaves thin layers off a surface or edge to make it flat, smooth or to size. The two tools do different jobs and are not interchangeable.
What is a trim router used for?
A trim router is a small, light router used for finishing work such as rounding over edges, trimming laminate and cutting hinge recesses. It can be held in one hand. For deep grooves or large profile bits, a full-size router is the better option.
Is a cordless router or planer powerful enough?
Modern cordless models handle most jobs on softwood and many on hardwood, especially planing doors and routing edges. Long, deep cuts drain the battery faster, so a spare battery helps. For continuous heavy work, a corded tool still has the advantage.
What size router bits do I need?
Use bits with a shank that matches your router's collet, most commonly 6 mm, 8 mm or 1/2 inch. Check the collet size in the specifications before buying bits. Some routers accept several sizes with different collets or reducing sleeves.
