Testing the CHEAPEST Woodworking Router on Amazon

Click "Read more" to see all of the tool links.
Watch Next: How to Use a Router (basics) – https://youtu.be/xLxCEBb-74s?si=oBrH5zxT6JXaj4m4
Tools in this Video:
Vevor Wood Router – https://amzn.to/3IfBKp0
Whiteside 4 Router Bit Set – https://amzn.to/3wBdVpl
RZ Mask – https://amzn.to/49wLqaW
Makita Corded Router – https://amzn.to/42Zj06L
DeWALT DW618 Router – https://amzn.to/49SQ6rq
Bosch 1617 Router – https://amzn.to/3TdlD1A
Router Bit Tray – https://www.731woodworks.com/store/router-bit-organizing-tray-walnut
DeWALT Cordless Router – https://amzn.to/49uiT5N
Makita Cordless Router – https://amzn.to/49MPvas
Milwaukee Cordless Router – https://thetoolnut.sjv.io/AWKeBR
FLEX Cordless Router – https://acmetools.pxf.io/EK25r9
Ryobi Cordless Rotuer – https://homedepot.sjv.io/gbjJ5O
RIDGID Cordless Router – https://homedepot.sjv.io/m539jX

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Review the Hercules router!

After watching this video I purchased this tool through their Canadian website. What they sent was a broken tool that looked like it had been used. The height adjustment on the fixed base didn't work or lock. the housing looked like it had been beat up in a shop setting. And the plunge base didn't go up or down. I asked for a refund and a return shipping label, and they bargained with me!! The offered me $32 after I spent $100 on a piece of garbage. After I turned it down they countered with $64. I took it because I was pretty sure I was never going to get a full refund. This was unlike any other 'business' experience I've ever had, and I do not recommend purchasing directly through the VEVOR website. Buyer beware. I wonder if the product and service would be consistently better through Amazon where you can more easily leave a rating?

Great review (thanks for not spending 20 minutes cutting tape with a stupidly large knife and painfully unboxing). I like the way you quickly cut to the chase and started using the tool. Unfortunately, Vevor routers are no longer available. How about a 2025 update with something like workpro?

"…another route."

As a dad, I'm offended you did not make a router pun at this moment. 😉

When starting out with router, its suggested to start with 1/2" collet router and bits. Im sure this is 1/4" collet only. Nice trim router. 😊

Thank you for the review.
I want to get a palm router. I'll only use it 2-3 times a year so didn't want to spend a lot.
The Vevor is about half the price of a Makita, $72 vs $150, in Canada.

A beginner here, and on a budget! I bought a Vevor pocket hole jig with acessories and was very surprised at the build quality of it. It worked just fine and while it is no Kreg tool it was perfectly good for my level. I have just bought the Vevor router demo'd on this video above, so I am curious to see how it performs. Great video and I enjoy your work.

Vevor seems to be making some good quality tools. I bought a set of their aluminum set up blocks and they don't just look good, they are dead accurate. Used my calipers and they are just as accurate as other more expensive sets I have bought. Great review. For this price, you can just get a scrap piece of acrylic and make a larger base.

Matt have you tested the Wen compact router ? I’ve noticed you have tested many Wen products and have been satisfied with most of them

I'm looking for a router to make some wooden flutes, which would require routing out two 1/2" deep rounded channels in hardwood. Would this router be viable for this (with the correct bit)?

The spinning numbers are used to micro adjust the bit height. Spin it to zero facing the front and then when you dial the height you can see where the spin numbers move to

I just purchased same router for 90aud never use it a router before this video help alot thanks mate

They're getting cheaper! minus extras for under $30

6:26 'Knob on the side'
''…lets you lock it in when
you tighten it.'' NOTE;
The tip of that knob
actually pushes in as well,
this disengages the mating
threads allowing the rod
to freely slide up or down.
I found this just by chance on
mine, a good feature, I think.

6:01 'fine tuning knob'
The white lettered indicator
under the knob on mine spins
freely, I guess it is supposed to. shrugs..
Does the stop-rod on the one you
are reviewing have quite a bit of
side to side slop?

I like those for setting them up with and leaving bits in them dedicated….

So I bought this router, but I’m not sure if this chucks have to be swapped out to allow a 3/8” bit, I’m not sure if I’m missing something or if I’m just not smart enough to figure it out plus I’ve also inserted the 1/4 bit but it seems to not fully go in or is it normal for it to be out more than normal, I’m not sure what’s going on, a little follow up video on this would be great.

I'm concerned about people using this router as it may be dangerous. The 8mm collet is correct, but the 1/4 inch collet is an er style collet. The problem is, the router does not have an er taper, so it won't clamp to the bit properly. The taper looks like the one used by makita, so the makita collet may work the way it should, but i haven't tried it yet.

Well I bought one….the dang collet or arbor is warped…crap

Vevor appears to have two lines of power tools: Blue and Orange. Does anyone know the difference ?
For the record: I prefer the orange color as well. Well I purchased the Orange one.
Turns out the difference in then the blue one has a knob for depth adjustment on the trim base.
* BOTH HAVE THE WORST DEPTH TURRET IMPLEMENTATION ONE CAN IMAGINE !!! *
It wobbles like a drunken sailor and is is unreliable, non-receptive with cupped adjustment screws.
I replaced said screws with M5 by 20 mm Hex cap screws for some improvement.

The Vevor also comes in a kit that includes a tilt base. My first question is what does one use a 'tilt base' for ?

For the first 20 sec I was thinking, what an odd looking router. I was searching for budget router… Wifi router.

Just bought this router based on your review. Thank you man

Crazy enough I bought this on feb 6 on sale but the green version with all the exxtras I have the dewalt cordless but i use it as a table router.love both tyvm for the vids

I'll just call this a Fake-ita router.

I can’t find it in Amazon

I'm new to woodworking (but mostly on the carpentry/DIY homeowner side for now) and have watched many of your videos – they are SO helpful! FYI, this kit is now on sale at Amazon for $52! And they have a kit that includes a tilt base for $72. And the Skil 14amp router kit (plunge + fixed) is on sale too for $118.

I can’t believe they’re charging almost $60 for this router and it’s not even CORDLESS?!?! What a RIPOFF! I mean, SERIOUSLY???

No. Not seriously! Joking! JOKING!!!

Seriously, though, it IS hard to believe you get that much router for less than $60. (Closer to $50 as I write this.) My only concern(s) would be longevity – especially if you pushed it for more than just a couple minutes – and runout after it’s seen a little heavy use and gotten hot. Especially over time. For $52, it’s pretty much a disposable router. And once you’re disposing of your second one… you could have bought the Makita.

Another good video, Matt! Thanks!

15:12

I really like Matt's channel, but I strongly disagree on getting this router. Buyer beware. This is without a doubt the most dangerous piece of equipment I have ever purchased. Received it today and returned it today. Opened it up and the accompanying manual appeared to be written for a different router. Got a scrap piece of wood to try it out. Inserted a small round-over bit and got ready to see how well it worked. Turned it on and it immediately threw the bit. It shattered the plexiglass in the base, with a piece hitting me in the eyebrow, causing a cut that took my wife three or four minutes to stop bleeding. Of course, I got sucked in because of the price, so according to my wife it's my own fault.

I have been woodworking for 45 years and have never had a piece of equipment attack me right out of the box. I would encourage everyone to stay away from this brand. If you already have one of these, I hope you can replace it as soon as you can. If you have kids, please keep them out of the shop if you must use it.

My favorite router for plunge is my Festool OF1400. I wish it had lights though.

Hello Matt, I have the original Makita that this router is copying (although it looks like straight knockoff and I wouldnt be surprised if they had some legal trouble over some of their tools). Your amazon link does not work in my country (they show just similar products they ship here) and I cannot see whether or not hey show the cam lever for the fix base, particularly the knob for depth adjustment, my makita has it, and all the knockoffs I see have it too. DId Vevor had the knob on their product photos and shipped it without it, or were the pictures faithful to what was sold to you?

I am a poor woodworker that has bought multiple tools from Vevor, The first was their 10inch table saw, learned the hard way to look at reviews on YouTube before buying. The fence does not align with the blade when moved as shown in several YouTube videos. Also bought their planer 13 inch it is failing after 4 months of use. Vevor does not honor the 1 year warranty. Any time you contact them it turns into a weeks long back and forth with them wanting videos of problem and their website does not accept android videos from your phone. They offered me 10 then 20 percent of the purchase price instead of honoring warranty. The table saw problem has had no resolution. Don't buy anything from Vevor it is junk.

This looks almost exactly like my Makita trim router – hmmmm.

I like the QUEEN reference 😅

Congrats on being the first person… EVER! To hook up a Vevor to a Festool extractor 😂

This type of router would be good for Apprentices

Hi Matt, thanks for the review. Although they don't sell this model on my side of the world, they do have a different looking version that also comes with a tilt base but costs about 3 times more. What I'd like to know is if this model is dual voltage? The model sold over here indicates that it supports both 110 and 220 volts (not sure how that works on a motor, though).

Thanks for sharing. An excellent demonstration of the versatility of these little trim routers. Never actually seen this make – I'm in the UK – but I do own the Makita and the Makita 'knock off' Katzu. I did purchase the Katzu pre-pandemic, so only paid around £30. It came with only the fixed base, but at that price, well, can't really grumble. Besides, the Makita came with every base known to man, and they all fit the Katzu.
It is a strange world we life in, where tools are getting cheaper by the day, while the price of material is taking off like an F-16.

Thanks for all your video, reviews, tips and tricks that are affordable for a newcomer in woodworking. Always tought that was to costly to start woodworking and when i found your channel i was finaly able to go foward and make it possible. You made a dream come true for myself keep your good work and cant wait your next video 🙂

Does the edge router by Ryobi, have an available plunge base?

Everything looks oddly similar to the makita palm router that i own, the plunge base looks identical, very curious if they fit each other or how they stack up to each other.

To me, it looks like someone was watching "Honey I Shrunk the KIds" and took a Titan router and shrunk it..

Did anyone else notice that at 1:40 the way you had it turned the router looked like Hello Kitty?

The Makita trimrouter-fixed base i just bought did came with a edge guide.

Will the plunge base fit the makita ?