In June 2021, the spotlight fell on HiKOKI’s 36v brushless router at its UK launch.
The HiKOKI M3612DA became the World’s First ½” Cordless Plunge Router.
Kitchen Fitters, Site Carpenters and Residential Joiners were blown away! And applause is still spirited over 3 years later 💫
I get a commission for purchases made from links to this review: ninja wages haven’t gone up in 300 years!
So you have 2 trusty routers set for regular tasks 💪💪
A lightweight ¼” for hinge recesses. And that ‘heavy duty’ ½” ready to tackle worktops.
Both have guide bushes good to go. And no faffing around removing/inserting collet sleeves between operations.
Except you may have missed a beat…
The HiKOKI M3612DA hit UK tool suppliers towards the end of Lockdown, 2021.
And they’ve been flying off the shelves ever since 💨💨 💨
Now, the HiKOKI brushless plunge router has company.
After a huge head start over other brands on social media.
And site word-of-mouth…
The HiKOKI 36v router has earned a ‘must have’ reputation. And become a top recruiting sergeant for TEAM GREEN!!! 💚
Here’s why.
The HiKOKI ½” Multivolt Router and its Game Changer status
Image © Koki Holdings Co. Ltd. 2025
HiKOKI had no special claim in the router stakes before the launch of their 36v cordless tool.
The chorded HiKOKI ½” router is still a top piece of kit.
But focus on HiKOKI gear (more often than not) is centred around their nail guns, drills and plunge saw designs.
Like all major platforms, HiKOKI have their top tools — and after that the landscape levels.
Pick any brand.
Some models will outperform, others work really well, and a few lag behind their competitors.
If you simply want to crack on with a job, leading brands have you covered for most tasks. With decent engineering across their product range.
So when a real innovation shows up on the Carpentry scene, there’s INSTANT INTEREST!
“It was absolutely revolutionary for a ½” cordless router to be powerful enough to cut your kitchen worktops.”
Dave Finnegan
That, and more besides:
- The cordless HiKOKI 36v router is actually more powerful than its corded predecessor
- Yet notably Lightweight at 3.8kg
- With a compact body at 280mm (H) 275 (w) 148mm (D)
- And easy change collet nuts for ¼” or ½” tasks
Plus, it’s a real space saver in an ever-expanding galaxy of everyday gear!
And without question: the M3612DA is a handy 2-in-1 router for the general carpenter.
Light and easy to handle on fixed door linings. Yet with enough grunt to fit all your kitchen worktops.
Even oak — without a wheeze, or any strain on battery performance.
Expect to fit:
- A Mason’s Mitre worktop joint + bolt recesses on a single HiKOKI Mutivolt battery.
- Or 4 worktop joints — in the time it would take a second battery to charge
So what’s the HiKOKI multivolt router like for work feel and sense of control?
The HiKOKI M3612DA In Action: a Green Hulk with Goblin Guile!
The HiKOKI M3612DA is particularly comfortable:
- The handles simply ‘feel right’ — and stay that way for multiple passes of material
- So there’s no fatigue from constantly keeping a firm grip
- A crafty plunge lock switch is set with one hand — a slick way to work
- Same with the trigger for power/safety switch/and constant cutting mode — a smooth style is always better than clunky!
- And again, it’s a remarkably Lightweight piece of kit — so forget about balancing/tipping while you work
- Even the wing nuts for the edge guide have springs — to stop them vibrating loose and getting lost!
Image © Koki Holdings Co. Ltd. 2025
All the control features on the HiKOKI Cordless Router are a flick away.
And the plunge is a delight for smooth operating motion 👌
In short: the HiKOKI M3612DA takes the toil out of work!
Now how about strength?
How powerful is the HiKOKI ½” Cordless Plunge Router?
We’ve looked at battery stamina for kitchen fitting performance.
And how a typical kitchen sees no time lost with 2 x 2.5Ah batteries.
Well this month HiKOKI have just launched Tabless T-PWR batteries.
Taking the stamina of the 36v HiKOKI router beyond standard site tasks.
Towards more challenging, prolonged router activity eg chamfering a stack of boards over a day and a half… we’ll see!
(An early finish is always a sweet perk!) 😉 🍺🍻
As ever, professional judgement will tell you how far the motor & battery capacity should be pushed on any given day.
There’s no point slogging any power tool into submission!
And besides, up to 50% more battery power should increase Earning Potential with even less shunt and haste.
On particularly tough materials, such as acrylic worktops; a mains router might still be the better option.
Otherwise, the HiKOKI Cordless Router is all about versatility.
An impressive weapon for professional carpentry tasks.
That certainly packs a punch beyond its weight! 👊
So is the HiKOKI ½” Cordless Router the best buy in 2025?
If you want a top-quality, powerhouse tool for a sensible price — the answer is definitely YES!
You can always check out the price range on rival router releases since 2022.
And when you do, it should be obvious the HiKOKI M3612DA is a blatant bargain!
Is the HiKOKI ½” Cordless Router better than other brands on every count?
Nope!
- the depth gauge has no micro-adjustment knob — just a standard 3-screw turret selection
- there are higher watt motors available than 1500w
- and at 50mm maximum body stroke: the HiKOKI has less plunge depth than other makes
So a shank any longer than 35mm can cause bit protrusion… although it hardly matters where a guide bush is fitted for kitchen jig work.
That said; the issue has led to improvisational measures, best avoided with a design review.
Otherwise, most carpentry pros realise HiKOKI released a landmark router in 2021.
And a lot of M3612DA routers were bought while rival brands took their time over development.
Curious carpenters and joiners simply lost patience — got in on the HiKOKI buzz — and didn’t look back!
Anyone who’s been using routers for decades, could look on the M3612DA as an apex of product engineering ✅
It’s certainly a mean, green, Grooving Machine!
So check out the HiKOKI ½” Cordless Plunge Router for yourself. And Up Your Routing Game Today!
Original reviews of HiKOKI products
Disclaimer: The advice, guidance, and principles outlined in this review are not guaranteed to be appropriate for your unique situation or business.