Intro
Few power tools transform a piece of wood as dramatically as a router. In the right hands, it cuts crisp rebates for cabinet backs, shapes decorative profiles along table edges, plunges clean mortises for strong joinery, and follows templates to reproduce identical parts over and over. A router is the tool that turns basic carpentry into furniture-making. Unlike a saw, which cuts in straight lines, a router spins a shaped cutter at up to 30,000 revolutions per minute — fast enough to leave a finish so smooth it barely needs sanding. For anyone building shelves, fitting kitchen worktops, hanging doors, or making their own furniture, a good plunge router with a selection of cutters is one of the most versatile additions to the workshop. It is the difference between a project that looks homemade and one that looks professionally built.
Generalities
The Einhell TE-RO 1255 is a 1200 W electric plunge router aimed at ambitious DIYers and home woodworkers. Plunge routers are defined by their ability to lower the spinning cutter vertically into the workpiece — essential for cutting stopped grooves, mortises, and internal cutouts that cannot be accessed from the edge. The 1200 W motor provides enough power for most domestic woodworking tasks in softwood, hardwood, and sheet materials like plywood and MDF, though heavy-duty production work in thick hardwood would benefit from more power. When choosing a router at this level, look at the collet sizes — the TE-RO 1255 accepts both 6 mm and 8 mm shank cutters, covering the most common bit sizes for home use. The included 15-piece cutter kit is a significant value-add, providing a range of profiles — straight, dovetail, rounding-over, chamfer, and more — that would cost substantially to buy separately. Also check the plunge depth range and the quality of the depth stop and turret, as these determine how precisely you can set and repeat cut depths. A transparent protective cover, soft-grip handles, and a 3-metre power cable all contribute to safer, more comfortable operation. Einhell is a well-established German brand in the DIY and home workshop segment, positioned below professional brands like Festool or Makita but above generic own-brand tools — their products typically offer good build quality and spare parts availability for the price.
This review looks at the Einhell TE-RO 1255 electric plunge router with the included 15-piece cutter set. We examine the power and precision it offers, how the cutter kit covers typical woodworking tasks, and whether this combination represents good value for a home woodworker building furniture, fitting kitchens, or taking on general carpentry projects.
Description
The Einhell TE-RO 1255 is a 1200 W corded electric plunge router designed for home and hobby woodworking. The 1200 W motor delivers approximately 1.6 horsepower and spins the cutter at high speed — typically 25,000 to 30,000 revolutions per minute — providing clean, burn-free cuts in most timber species. The plunge mechanism allows the cutter to be lowered smoothly into the workpiece to a preset depth, controlled by an adjustable depth stop with a multi-position turret for stepping down through deep cuts in increments. The collet accepts both 6 mm and 8 mm shank cutters, covering the vast majority of router bits sold for home use. A 3-metre power cable provides generous reach around a workbench or assembly table.
The included 15-piece cutter kit transforms the TE-RO 1255 from a bare tool into a comprehensive routing setup. The kit typically includes a selection of the most-used profiles: straight cutters in several diameters for grooves and rebates, a dovetail cutter for strong drawer and box joints, rounding-over bits for softening sharp edges, a chamfer bit for bevelled edges, a Roman ogee for decorative profiling, and several specialist profiles. Each cutter has an 8 mm shank, ensuring compatibility with the router's collet. The cutters are stored in a compact case, keeping them organised and protected. Buying a comparable set of cutters separately would cost a significant fraction of the router's price, making the bundled kit genuinely good value for a woodworker building their toolkit.
In the hand, the TE-RO 1255 benefits from Einhell's SoftGrip coating on the handles — a rubberised surface that provides a secure, comfortable hold even during extended use. The two side handles give stable two-handed control, important for maintaining a straight line when routing along an edge or against a guide fence. The transparent protective cover shields the operator from chips and dust while maintaining visibility of the cutting area — a worthwhile safety feature that also makes cleanup easier by directing debris downwards. The base plate is machined flat and slides smoothly across the workpiece surface. At approximately 3.5 kg, the router is heavy enough to feel stable during use but not so heavy that it becomes tiring during extended overhead or vertical work.
The TE-RO 1255 ships with the router body, the 15-piece cutter set in a storage case, a parallel guide fence for routing straight lines at a set distance from the edge, a guide bush set for template following, and a spanner for collet and cutter changes. The parallel guide is essential for cutting consistent rebates and grooves, and the guide bushes allow the router to follow a template for reproducing complex shapes — particularly useful in furniture making. Einhell provides a standard warranty and has an established spare parts network in Europe, important for a tool with wear items like collets and carbon brushes.
On Amazon.fr the Einhell TE-RO 1255 holds a rating of 4.5 out of 5 stars from 40 customer reviews and ranks #26 in Power Routers — solid social proof for a home woodworking tool. At approximately 124.90 EUR, including the 15-piece cutter kit, this represents excellent value. A bare router of comparable quality from a premium brand would cost roughly the same without any cutters, and a professional-grade router would cost two to three times as much. For a DIYer or hobby woodworker who wants to add routing capability to their workshop without breaking the bank, the TE-RO 1255 bundle is one of the strongest value propositions in its category.
Pros and cons
Pros
- 15-piece cutter kit included — a genuinely valuable bundle covering straight, dovetail, rounding-over, chamfer, ogee, and specialist profiles that would cost significantly to buy separately.
- Excellent value at approximately 124.90 EUR with all accessories — a bare router from a premium brand costs roughly the same without any cutters or guide bushes.
- Dual collet sizes (6 mm and 8 mm) accept the vast majority of router bits sold for home use — no need for adaptors or special-order cutters.
- 1200 W motor provides ample power for routing softwood, hardwood, plywood, and MDF in typical furniture-making and carpentry applications.
- SoftGrip handles and transparent protective cover — comfortable to use for extended periods and safer, with good visibility of the cutting area.
- Includes parallel guide fence and guide bush set — ready for edge-guided straight cuts and template-following work straight out of the box.
- 4.5 out of 5 stars from 40 reviews and #26 in Power Routers — solid customer satisfaction and proven market position for a home workshop router.
- 3-metre power cable provides generous reach — reduces the need for extension leads in a typical home workshop or garage setup.
Cons
- 1200 W is adequate for home use but not professional-grade — heavy production routing in thick hardwood, or extended use with large-profile cutters, will push the motor to its limits.
- Included cutters are starter quality rather than premium — they will serve well for learning and occasional use, but a professional woodworker would upgrade to higher-grade bits over time.
- No 12 mm (half-inch) collet — the largest shank accepted is 8 mm, which excludes the heavy-duty cutters used in professional workshops.
- At approximately 3.5 kg, it is not the lightest router in its class — extended handheld use without a router table, particularly overhead, will cause fatigue.
- No integrated dust extraction port beyond the protective cover — connecting a vacuum cleaner for effective dust collection requires an aftermarket adaptor or a separate dust extraction kit.
Use cases
The Einhell TE-RO 1255 is the ideal first router for DIYers and hobby woodworkers who want a capable plunge router with a comprehensive cutter set at an excellent price — perfect for furniture making, kitchen fitting, and general carpentry.
Furniture Making and Cabinet Construction
Cutting rebates for cabinet backs, ploughing grooves for drawer bottoms, shaping decorative profiles on table edges — these are the core furniture-making tasks where a router earns its keep. The TE-RO 1255's plunge mechanism makes stopped cuts easy, the 15-piece cutter set covers the most common profiles, and the parallel guide ensures straight, consistent cuts. For a first furniture project — a bookshelf, a bedside table, a kitchen cabinet — this router kit provides everything needed.
Kitchen Worktop and Counter Jointing
Joining two sections of kitchen worktop requires a precise, straight cut along the joint line — typically using a router with a straight cutter and a guide clamp. The TE-RO 1255 has the power and precision for this demanding task, and the included straight cutters are the correct profile. The transparent cover helps maintain visibility of the guide line, essential for achieving the tight, nearly invisible joint that a kitchen worktop demands.
Door Hanging and Hinge Recessing
Recessing hinges into a door frame — whether for a room door or a kitchen cabinet — is one of the most common router tasks. The plunge mechanism sets the recess depth precisely, and a straight cutter clears the pocket cleanly. With a guide bush and template, the router can cut consistent hinge recesses across multiple doors, dramatically speeding up a whole-house door hanging project.
Decorative Edging, Trim, and Sign Making
Softening sharp edges with a rounding-over bit, adding a bevelled chamfer to a shelf front, or routing a decorative profile along a picture frame — these finishing touches elevate a project from functional to handsome. The included rounding-over, chamfer, and ogee bits cover the most popular edge profiles, and the router's stable two-handed grip helps maintain a consistent profile along the full length of the workpiece.
Template Routing and Batch Production
When you need to make multiple identical parts — chair legs, shelf brackets, guitar bodies — template routing is the technique. Attach a shaped template to the workpiece, fit the appropriate guide bush, and the router follows the template perfectly, reproducing the shape every time. The TE-RO 1255's included guide bushes and smooth plunge action make it well-suited to this precise, repeatable workflow.