GMC R1200 Router: Discontinued — What to Buy Instead

The R1200 was GMC’s 1200W plunge router. GMC Australia was placed in receivership in 2008 and support ended with it.

What to check on any old router

Collet condition. This is the safety item. A collet is a precision part — it grips the bit shank along its whole length, not just at the nose. If the collet is scored, rusted or has been used to grip a bit inserted only halfway in, it will not hold. A bit that creeps down mid-cut ruins the work; a bit that leaves the collet is dangerous. Clean it, and if the slots are damaged, replace it or retire the router.

Bearing noise. A router spinning at 20,000+ rpm on dry bearings is loud and short-lived. A rumble that changes pitch as the motor spins down is a bearing.

Plunge action. Both columns should slide with no rock. Grease-hardened columns make the plunge sticky, which shows up as a stepped cut.

Brushes. On a universal motor, brushes are consumable and generic sizes are still sold. A router that sparks heavily or cuts out under load usually just needs brushes — worth the few dollars before scrapping it.

The good news on bits

Router bits are not brand-specific. 1/4in and 1/2in shanks are the two standards and always have been. Whatever bits you bought for this router fit any modern router with the same collet size. That is the reason old routers keep getting used.

What to buy

The Triton MOF001, linked below, is a 2-1/4HP dual-mode plunge router. Its distinguishing feature is the one that matters if you plan to mount it under a table: the plunge lock releases into a rack-and-pinion height adjustment that works through the table with a winder, and a safety interlock stops the collet lock unless the spindle is raised. That removes the usual reason for buying a separate router lift.

If you only round over edges and cut shallow grooves, a compact 1/4in trim router is lighter, cheaper and far easier to control one-handed.