Over at Home Depot, this Ridgid woodworking deal bundle has returned. In this Ridgid R24011 corded power tool bundle, you get a 5.5A fixed base trim router and a 2.4A 1/4 sheet finish sander for $95.
The trim router (R24012) typically sells for $129 by itself, and the sander (R25011) typically sells for $45 by itself.
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The router is sized for light duty woodworking or trim applications, and comes with a 1/4″ collet, while 1/4-sheet sanders are typically suited for finish sanding and for getting into corners and edges.
While I haven’t tried any Ridgid routers yet, I owned an older Ridgid random orbital sander that I was quite fond of. It produced a uniform scratch pattern, was comfortable to use, or at least as comfortable as a sander can be, and it offered okay dust collection. I passed it on to a family member after upgrading to a 6″ sander.
If you’re in the market for a compact trim router, this is a great combo to consider.
The router has a variable speed motor with soft-start feature, micro-adjust dial on the base, and LED work light. It also looks to have an easy-to-read speed settings dial, which is always a plus.
Buy Now via Home Depot
Compare: Router
Compare: Sander
This is a deal of the day, ending at 3am ET 4/9/2021 unless supplies sell out sooner.
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This bundle is only available online, with free home delivery or “ship to store” shipping options.
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Sale Price History
- November 2014: $99
- November 2015: $99
- April 2021: $95
This post was updated on 4/8/2021.
Henry
I have this Ridgid trim router, and really like it. The only issue I’ve had with it is that the two third-party base plates that I have (mini router table, sign maker) don’t have holes pre-drilled for it. They all seem to be made for the Bosch, DeWalt, and Porter Cable ones.
Tom
Does anyone have a recommendation on where to get a nice starter set of bits for one of these trim routers? I just picked up the Craftsman one on clearance this week, but don’t know where to start with bits (it’s my first router).
Mine uses 1/4 shank, which is what I suppose this trim router uses as well.
Stuart
I like Freud bits, but have a couple of Bosch and other brands’ bits in 1/4″ sizes.
MLCS is one brand that’s known for making decent inexpensive bits. Their 15pc bit set ($44 via Amazon) offers a good selection to start out with.
Jimmie
I agree. If you’re starting out, buy a collection of bits from MLCS. They’re service bits comparable in quality to Woodcraft’s “Woodriver” line (better than, say, HF) and you’ll have enough profiles to cover most projects. After a couple projects, you’ll have a feel for what profiles you use most frequently. *Those* are the only bits that you should consider upgrading to premium brand (Whiteside, Freud, Eagle…) if you get the itch to spend more money…
Jimmie
Err “serviceable bits”
fred
Whiteside (USA Made) bits and sets are excellent quality – but as you point out – quite a bit more costly:
http://www.amazon.com/Whiteside-Router-Bits-402-4-Inch/dp/B000CSBAKY
Amana also makes some decent bits (in Israel) – but their starter set is even more expensive.
BTW – Eagle (Tool Catalog Co.) that I think you mention has several offerings – but you may not have heard that Eagle was bought by MLCS.
Tom
Thanks for the recommendation! This is a new tool for me, so the guidance is most appreciated!
fred
You may also wish to compare prices on MLCS directly at their site:
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/set15piece.html
Its_Jake
It’s worth just buying it right from MLCS I think- they always offer free shipping and are a local business worth supporting. Well, local to Philly anyway, but they aren’t some absolute behemoth of a corporation- I’m sure Amazon takes a cut
Andrew Wagner
Tom, I know I’ll get mocked and laughed at here for this but … if you’re looking for the basics, and just starting out with a router, do what I did and grab a few basic bits from Harbor Freight. I picked up a couple of round-overs (1/8 1/4 1/2) a few straight bits and a cove bit for about $15-$20. They’ve lasted me a year and are still in excellent shape — I use them with this exact same router.
Robert Perez
Hey Tom, how are you….First of all I would recommend not to buy router bits from either Amazon or Ebay reason being that there are sellers that are selling many fake imitations of the real ones….if I was you I would go to like rockler, woodpeckers.com, websites that just deal with router bits or woodworking they sell router bits and are authorized dealers….as well….Amazon, ebay and etc are not authorized dealers……
Stuart
I’ve purchased quite a few brands of router bits on Amazon without issue. While I steer clear of Amazon for certain products to the potential for fakes, I wouldn’t think this to be a problem with router bits as long as you buy from them directly or reputable 3rd party sellers.
Julian Tracy
Woodline bits are decent too, and they (used to anyways) offer a lifetime exchange for them.
Years ago, I picked up an 88pc set at Amazon for what seems like was close to $66 or so.
Might be worth a check on Amazon or Ebay.
JT
Craig
I’m commenting on the router only, since I’ve had mine for several years now. First, I really like this router, I use it weekly on the job, but I don’t have any recent hands on experience with other brands of trim routers to compare with. My observations: 1st…On-Off switch is on the top, recessed when Off, pull up to On (protruding) position. Good safety provision as it’s easy to turn off, but I too often accidentally switch mine off during use by trying to hold the top of the router, “palm sander style”. This has proved a hard habit to break, as the top of the motor housing overhangs the main body of the tool, which forces the user’s hand grip location too low and too close to the bit, sight line, etc., especially with gloves on.
2nd…Comes w/two clear plastic base plates, one square and the other round. I prefer the square plate when a larger base helps to prevent tipping and and when doing longer straight-fence work, but I mostly use the round plate. Pet peeve; like most clear plastic compounds, these plates scratch too easily from sliding against sharp cut edges of the work. Mine are now both opaque from use, almost eliminating the benefit of the clear, see-through plate.
3rd…The micro-adjust wheel markings are not intuitive (to me). I seem to mostly turn the wheel in the wrong direction, raising instead of lowering, or the opposite. This is frustrating because when I use this on the job, most of my cuts are done with an initial test cut on a scrap, then a test fit, and then readjust depth by eye. If I mistakenly move the bit depth the wrong way by several thousands, it’s a pain to readjust to the starting cut depth so I can move the bit in the other direction.
4th… The provided shaft spindle lock works, but because of the narrow width of the base housing opening and the placement of the shaft detent with the lock engaged,
there isn’t enough room to swing the collet wrench the minimum 1/6 turn so it can be reset to the next flat on the collet nut. Fortunately the tool comes with two wrenches and the shaft has accessible machined flats, so the two wench method is the only one that works. I’ve considered enlarging the base opening width or grinding relief cuts on both sides of both wrench handles to increase the single wrench swing travel, but one would think that the tool designer(s) should have noticed this pre-tool release.
5th…My router came with a bad metal base casting fit to the plastic motor housing, causing excessive resistance to sliding depth adjustment…the Micro adjust wheel was unusable at both upper and lower depth ranges because of this. I didn’t have the time to take this back to the dealer, so after trying graphite, silicone & etc. dry lubes, I had to disassemble the base from the motor housing and file/sand both the plastic motor housing exterior and the interior of the silver colored (I believe magnesium) base casting until they would slide in the unlocked position. (I checked both parts for signs of molding/casting finishing problems but didn’t find any, hence my need to re-machine them on the job). Several of the above points may be due to my router being an early version (unknown how early mine was). These issues might be solved now.
6th…Comes with a soft case which fits well, but doesn’t leave room for anything but loose bit storage, which I’m loathe to do.
7th…I wish this came with an offset bit collet attachment, like the Bosch Colt, but that was the only negative I initially noticed comparing the Ridgid to the Bosch. The other brand’s versions of trim routers either hadn’t been introduced or were not readily available when I bought mine, so comparable features at little more than 1/2 the Bosch price were what sold me, and despite the above points, I still prefer the Ridgid’s bang-for-the-buck. I also wouldn’t buy a trim router kit because it came with a plunge base, as the advantage of a plunge base is most evident with heaver, higher H.P. routers. If you like the better grip provided by two handles, you could do like I did, and make an oversize base plate out of acrylic or hardboard with two knob handles of your choice for very low $.
That’s enough for now…sorry so long.
Adabhael
Thanks for the thorough comments. I have the cordless version and agree and the same experiences.
fred
The Ridgid trimmer continues to get pretty good reviews so this once again deal might be right for some users. As Stuart says – there are other choices in compact routers and trimmers from Dewalt, Porter Cable, Bosch and Makita that may be worth a look. If you are serious about laminate work – you probably also know about Betterley :
http://www.betterleytools.com/laminate_tools.htm
ktash
If you get this router, or any other Ridgid tool, make sure to register it for the lifetime warranty. I think you have a limited time to do so, though not sure of any of these details.
miss franciene
I jumped right this one for my home workshop on Wednesday morn and I come home today just two freaking days later and it’s sitting on my porch. I like the sander and the router is so cute. It fits my dainty little hand so nicely I guess some whiteside bits are now in order!!!!……
Joe S
I bought this bundle about two years ago. I really like the router… it is my first one, so I dont have much to compare it to, but it’s done everything I’ve needed it to easily.
G Laru
Does anyone know if the bundle comes in 2 individual factory boxes or one? I already have the sander, but would love to buy the router and give the “extra” sander as a gift.
Stuart
I ordered a deal bundle today, but unfortunately it will be a week or so before I can answer this for you.
The listing doesn’t mention the tool bags that come with the individual products, and unless that’s an omission I’d lean towards the assumption this is a prepackaged bundle rather than bundle of two separate boxes.
MattW.
I ordered it last year and it was a box with the 2 products and a the accessories. Kinda sucks not to even get a soft case but it cheaper to buy a tool bag or use one of the 10 you have laying around. Mines in a kobalt blue bag but it works. FYI the power switch will drive you nuts on the router till you use to it!
Anson
I *had* that sander, that front plastic retention clip wears out pretty fast. Ridgid also only warrantied one replacement. They said that the parts for life didn’t cover that front retention clip.