Hitachi KM12VC 11 Amp 2-1/4 Horsepower Plunge and Fixed Base Variable Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets
 | Average Customer Rating: Recommend REVIEW: The KM12VC delivers smooth results with power and precision. Plunge and fixed base attachments detach with a simple release clamp facilitating quick tool-free changes. Hitachi's KM12VC: an Ideal Router for Woodworkers and Carpenters This 1/2-inch router kit from Hitachi is built to handle all the precise groove cutting, chamfering, trimming, shaping and pattern cutting that a detail-oriented professional requires. Tough, powerful, and ready to work,… Product details and pricing info |
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30 Customer Reviews Posted
- Nice Router
- Bought the Hitachi KM12VC router kit while Hitachi was offering a mail in rebate for the palm sander. I still have not received the sander, but the router is great. It has plenty of power and it is very quiet for a router. I am still looking for the edge guide...it is proving to be quite elusive...I may just have to buy a universal guide. Overall, the router seems very solid and should last a long time. 4 stars due to hard to find hitachi accessories.
- 2006-01-24, 12 of 14 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Good, but the Bosch is better
- I'm a sucker for a deal, and probably came out ahead with the price match guarantee and free finish sander, but I have a feeling that I'll be missing the better quality and design of the Bosch down the road.
There are a number of reasons for this conclusion. Here are a few:
1)The Bosch has a better balance in my hands, and I believe is slightly lighter.
2)The Bosch fixed router base has a better design, allowing the user to change the depth of the collet without akwardly twisting the entire router motor around in the base -- it has a simple knob that changes depth as you twist it.
3)The Bosch template guides are of a much better design.
4)The Hitachi router came smothered in grease, which is fine, I guess, but if I'm going to fork over 200 bucks, they could at least realize that the collet wrenches, bases, and motor casing don't need a slathering of thick lubricant -- only the parts that move need oil, guys.
5)The Bosch router has a much better collet. The Hitachi has two collet adaptors (1/4 and 1/2 inch shank) which are okay to deal with and are also covered in a hopeless amount of grease, yet still tend to stick to the shank when attempting a switch.
6)The Bosch motor works more smoothly than the Hitachi, which I've noticed can lag and suddenly change speeds to catch up to the variable speed dial as I twist it.
Most of my complaints are minor, and I still think I'll enjoy my purchase, but sometimes the difference between getting the job done and getting it done with an expertly designed tool is a lot bigger than the difference in purchase price. - 2005-08-21, 42 of 60 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Returning to wood working
- Its been awhile, I like the soft start and quiet. Tools are getting better. Worked great in a jig I made. I put four stars for I don't know what a five should be.
Dan - 2005-04-12, 7 of 20 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Dare I say it? Yes, I dare: Better Than Porter Cable
- I played around with a bunch of routers and router combo packs before settling on this one. I played with the Bosch, Porter Cable, Dewalt, Milwalkee, and Makita, but none of them felt so solid in my hand or ergonically precise as the Hitachi.
Getting it out and using it (a lot already) has only confirmed my decision. This is my first router to own, but I have used and fidgeted with a number of them. I couldn't be happier with my purchase.
I really like the smooth feel of the locks on these, and the precision with which you can set them. The depth stop on the plunge base has a great design and the spring is firm enough to force you to make a smooth entry, rather than the motor 'falling' into the workpiece.
The motor is a work of art. It is so smooth and quiet compared to many routers. As sound is a product of vibration, I tend to think that a router that is quiet and powerful at the same time is going to be more precise and smooth than a loud and powerful one. It's true that you have to use 2 wrenches to loosen the collet, but I feel more confident in its durability than a locking collet (as noted by another reviewer).
I really think this the best 2 1/4 HP router combo on the market. Yes, even better than the old vanguards like Porter Cable and Bosch. It doesn't hurt that it is also a bit cheaper than most.
Now if Hitachi would make a D-handle and include the edge guide in the package, then it truly would be the perfect router. But even without those, I still highly recommend this router, whether you buy it with the combo or just the fixed base. - 2005-03-03, 53 of 54 people found this review helpful, Rated:
- Impressive quality right out of the case
- The first thing that I noticed about this router is how solid it is. The motor is surprisingly hefty for its size. I love the ease at which I can switch from the fixed base to the plunge base. The soft start is smooth and yet powerful. One of the things that made me decide on this Hitachi was the fact that I was constantly seeing it being used in the background of woodworking magazine article photos as well as on the covers and in advertisements for different products related to routers. The base locks are a breeze to use, they hold tight and are easily adjustable. I would have been satistied had I paid even more for it regardless of the free palm sander which is also a fine piece of equipment. It is true that it takes two wrenches to loosen the Collette but that is a give and take situation. Locking colletes are convenient but all that extra engineering in the motor housing just isn't necessary and I feel that it would tend to detract from the solid feel and quality of the motor. The router maintains it's RPM under a considerable load. I love this machine and would highly recommend it!
- 2005-02-23, 50 of 50 people found this review helpful, Rated:
