metabo 600738000 Review

Precision woodworking demands tools that do not just cut — they cut exactly where you want, every single time. Whether you are shaping a decorative edge on a hardwood tabletop, cutting a perfectly straight dado for a shelf, or creating a template-guided recess for inlay work, the router is the tool that separates rough carpentry from fine joinery. A quality router needs to combine raw cutting power with the kind of stability and control that lets you focus on the workpiece rather than wrestling with the machine. The best options in this category feature rigid guide systems that eliminate play, electronic speed control that adapts to different materials and bit sizes, and a build quality that holds its precision after years of regular use. For the serious hobbyist or professional who values accuracy over gimmicks, investing in a well-engineered, mains-powered router is a decision that pays off with every clean, burn-free cut — and it is the kind of tool you only need to buy once.

Metabo is a German power tool manufacturer with a reputation built on engineering precision and jobsite durability — the kind of brand that professional carpenters, joiners, and cabinet makers reach for when the work demands consistent results day after day. Their routers sit in the upper-mid to professional tier of the market, competing with names like Festool, Makita, and Bosch Professional. The OFE 738 is a corded fixed-base model that brings Metabo's signature build quality — die-cast aluminium construction, a rigid two-column guide system, and electronic speed control — into a package that balances power, precision, and price.

This review walks through everything you need to know about this router: the motor and electronics, the build and handling, how it performs across different materials and tasks, and what accessories come with it. We also look at the strengths that set it apart from competitors and the honest limitations you should weigh before buying — so you can decide whether this German-engineered tool deserves a place in your workshop.

The Metabo OFE 738 is powered by a 710-watt input motor that delivers 430 watts of output power to the spindle, spinning at up to 27,000 RPM. This wattage class puts it firmly in the mid-range for fixed-base routers — enough muscle for edge profiling, dado cutting, and template routing in hardwoods without bogging down, but not so powerful that it becomes unwieldy. The Vario-Constamatic (VC) full-wave electronics system provides two key benefits: it maintains constant speed under load, so your cut quality stays consistent even when the bit bites into a knot or dense grain, and it allows you to preset the rotation speed to match the material and cutter diameter — essential for working with heat-sensitive plastics or large-diameter bits that need lower RPM to avoid burning.

Build quality is where this router really shows its German heritage. The body rides on a stable two-column guide system — a design that minimises lateral play and keeps the bit perpendicular to the workpiece, which directly translates to cleaner, more accurate cuts. The bearing flange and base plate are both made of die-cast aluminium, giving the tool a solid, vibration-dampening feel that plastic-bodied rivals cannot match. The base plate has a special low-friction coating that helps it glide smoothly across timber surfaces without scratching. The motor block mounts into the base via a bayonet fitting — a smart detail that makes it possible to remove the motor and use it to drive flexible shafts for other applications, though this is more of a niche bonus than an everyday feature.

In everyday use, the router handles with the kind of confidence you expect from a 3-kilogram machine built around a metal chassis. The soft-touch grip surfaces make extended routing sessions comfortable, and the spindle lock button simplifies bit changes — press it, swap the cutter with a single spanner, and you are back to work in seconds. The on/off switch is positioned so you can start and stop the machine without releasing your grip, which is a genuine safety advantage. The side guide slides on a prismatic rail for smooth, parallel-aligned edge routing, and the router is also compatible with Metabo's guide rail system (6.31213) for perfectly straight cuts across large panels.

Practicality extends to the details that make workshop life easier. The router has a dust extraction port for connecting a vacuum cleaner, which keeps your work area and lungs clear of fine wood dust. The auto-switch carbon brushes cut power when they wear down, preventing motor damage and giving you a clear signal that it is time for a replacement — a small feature that can save an expensive repair. The hardened and ground collet clamp is replaceable and designed to maintain precise bit concentricity over the long term, so you do not get the wobble and vibration that plague cheaper routers as they age. The router ships as the tool unit itself (German import), with the side guide included — bits, guide rail, and flexible shaft accessories are sold separately.

At 3 kilograms and with a die-cast aluminium build, the OFE 738 is not the lightest router on the market, but that weight works in its favour — it sits steady on the workpiece and resists the tendency to tip or wander that lighter routers sometimes exhibit. The tool carries a 4.5 out of 5 stars rating from 18 customer reviews, which is a strong score for a specialist power tool, and it ranks #107 in Power Milling Machines on the industrial tools category. Metabo backs it with their manufacturer warranty, and given the replaceable-wear-parts design philosophy evident throughout the tool, this is a router built to last well beyond the warranty period.

Ideal for serious hobbyists and professional woodworkers who need a precise, durable fixed-base router for edge work, joinery, and template routing — particularly those who value German build quality and long-term reliability over lightweight portability.