Hitachi TR-12 3 HP 1/2-Inch Plunge Router

Comment: I've had TR-12 for over 15 years, more or less, and it is a pain most of the time. Heavy, awkward, and not well thought out. The cord is continuously in the way. Changing bits is a pain, what with two clunky wrenches. The documentation is a direct translation that is sparse, poorly written, and painfully quick to read. I have no idea what the template guide does. I cannot attach bushings to it, while there is very little support from Hitachi in any manner. The scale fell off, the column are as sticky as can be so there is no "return" left and the body simply "stays" down. I have taken it in twice to have it worked on. Am ready to go and chuck it from time to time, but...... After reading the other guys words, I must have gotten the first one off the line and later they worked the bugs out!?! But when it does work, 3 HP is a lot muscle!

Comment: I have had mine for years and years . It does not have the soft start as meantioned , it does not have variable speed , who cares .
What it does have is power , balance , smooth bronze bushing plung action and an easy to reach on/ off switch mounted on the tools body .
I dropped mine with the edge guide in place and cracked the base long ago but it still has held up , the nice depth knob handle is gone too .
Still it is my favorite plunge router of all time . Even at its size it is light and very stable and easy to control .
I want another but they are not made any longer , now we have the MV-12 which personally I don't feel is a nice or as well made as this older TR-12 .
I am going to spring for a new base and brushes and cord rather than but something new , I feel this router is well worth the repair . I happen to like a round base , I'm used to one . I don't need soft start or variable speed , you hold the handles , that's what they are there for .
Why not just leave well enough alone or keep making this one hitachi ? Give the consumer a choice the old reliable and the new high tech version . I truely do not understand what the benefit is of having soft start on a plunge router , the bit is well away from the wood and no router I have ever used was so powerful that it jumped out of my hands on startup , so what's the point ? Something else that can and will fail and cost a fortune to repair ?
This to me is one of the largest mistakes manufacturers make , all trying to keep up with the competition when in fact they were ahead of the game long ago .
A tool is something people become adjusted to and are then comfortable with , not a fashion statement .

Comment: Without a doubt this is the best router value on the market. I state this owning 24 routers and I have at least one of nearly every model available. For the price of a PC 690 you get an extremely powerful PLUNGE router with the best balance of any plunger. It is not an accident that nearly every time you see someone in Fine Woodworking cutting a mortise with a plunge router they're are doing it using the TR12. It doesn't have variable speed or a soft start feature which would be nice but unless your doing raised panels the lack of variable speed is inconsequential. This is the best balanced hand held plunge router at the best price in the world.