Craftsman 17543 11 amp 2 hp Corded Fixed and Plunge Base Soft Start Router with Electronic Feedback Reviews

The router is fantastic, it was described and pictured well, no complaints there. However, the case; LAME! It comes with a soft case like the lower end of this series. My biggest buying point was the hard case. I was very bummed about that, even considered a return, but needed the item to complete a few projects.

Again, I love the router, but this soft case offers only Dust protection. I worry that I might break the shields in this case with the plunge housing and guide all loose in the bag together. Also for a bag, everything fits tightly when sipping it closed, again another worry.

Maybe its...

I purchased this as a first router and I am pleased with both the router and the value. There are certainly better routers available, but they come with hefty price tags.

This may not be the router for you if you are making your living this way, by it is an excellent choice for a hobbyist.

My only complaints are that on line, the router was advertised with a case. It comes with a bag, at least if you chose "Store Pickup". Also, the depth adjustment (rack and pinion) is not the best. It can have some "play" in it. This is not a serious issue, as you are normally going to measure or visually verify...

I decided to pick this router up after reading a review from a fellow Craftsman Club Community member, Hillbilly-N-Tn. As I sat here reading and looking at my bank account I wasn't sure how I was going to justify spending the money on a new router even though I also needed one capable of spinning 1/2 inch shank bits.

I started looking around the shop and found an old 1 hp Craftsman router sitting in the corner attached to a cheap plastic router table. That old router had been sitting in that corner ever since I bought if from a friend who was strapped for cash. I gave him $50 (all I had to spare)...

This router is a great one for the price. I payed just under $80 for it and I couldn't be happier. The soft start works really well. I used it to make some dado cuts for a set of shelving and it worked very well. The motor runs so well that it was hard to tell if I was even cutting the board because it was so smooth. The router guard that comes with the set does not work very well when trying to start off the edge of a board but that is the only flaw that I can come up with. Overall this tool has great power, and runs very well. I can't wait to see how it performs on a router table!

I did not use the plunge base, so cannot comment on it. I bought this router combo for under $80 with tax to make some base shoe and other type of molding around the house. Instead of paying around 50 cents/foot for shoe in ********** I made it in my garage. So, the router (and accessories) paid for itself after the first project I finished.

Depth adjustment is not well made, so you will not get repeatability. But if you run all your stock at once through all the depth settings you need, then the depth is not critical. You only need all the pieces of the same project to fit together.

Good cheap...

Just bought this so I have only been using it for about a week or so. Router seems fairly well built (solid). I would also agree with others that the depth adjustment is a little sloppy and I am by no means a professional...

Price wasn't bad (on sale), plus I was given a 10.00 gift card at Sears.

I purchased also purchased the Craftsman router bit set (that overpriced one thats normally 100 bucks of so, on sale at the same time). I would have been nice if Sears had thrown in a router bit or two, so you could try it out (for those like me who are just starting out).

I too was a little cheesed...

This combo set is a good buy at $130.   Has good power, low vibration and variable speed.  The only complaint I have is the locking mechanism of the depth adjustment.  It is very sloppy and poor designed, but once it gets locked for sure this tool performs as any other router you can buy.  I would have like the d handle option as well even for a few extra dollars but overall good buy for any woodworking.

Great value...got it on sale for only $80. Lots of power and lots of features only found on much more expensive competitors' models.

This is a great value, especially now that it is on clearance. While the depth adjustment is a bit sloppy, I always double check my depth manually anyway, so it's not that big of a deal. If you need a plunge and a fixed router, this combo is the way to go...at $79, it's a steal.

I run a commercial manufacturing business, and I use this router hard and heavy about 6 hours a day. I push it extremely hard, and with over a years worth of use, I am just now having to replace the brushes. With the replaced brushes (only a few bucks each) it's as good as new.

I just went out a bought a second one because the price is so good. It takes a few days to get the brushes, so getting a new one was worth it.

The pluge can be a bit sticky at times if you're not holding it just right. The depth gauge can also move around a bit after you set it, but it's nice that it has the gauge and...