You could get away without spreaders no problem. I use them because they hold everything together, which makes it way easier to assemble to the base and align everything later in the project, but again, no they are not necessary. If you are going to buy a router, be sure to do your research. Don't be tempted by the $40 special at Home Depot, as they are junk. I recommend the Bosch dual base. It's a great router for the money.