Review: DeWalt Router Combo Kit DWP611PK

From afar, DeWalt’s new compact router looks like a laminate trimmer, but upon closer inspection you see that it’s a true variable-speed combination router, with fixed and plunge bases. Though it has only a 1/4-in. collet, which limits the bit sizes you can use, its big-router features make this tool a real winner.

The DeWalt router can do anything a laminate trimmer can do: edge details such as chamfers and roundovers, flush-trimming, and mortising for hinges. But its unique plunge base makes the DeWalt ideal for inlay work. Its small size and two-handed grip give great control for these precision cuts. And with two bright LED lights in the motor housing, you’ll see your layout lines clearly. What’s more, this small router has enough juice (1-1/4 hp) to power through joinery cuts, such as dadoes and small mortises.

Back in fixed-base mode, the router is easy to control with one hand. For fast depth-of-cut adjustments, the base uses a rotating adjuster ring, which threads on the motor.

The plunge base features a generously sized plunge lever, which was easy to lock and release, and the plunge action was smooth. The plunge depth is limited by a turret with four fixed stops and one adjustable stop. And you can dial in the depth of cut precisely using the micro-adjuster on the tip of the depth rod. The whole system zeroed intuitively, and quite efficiently, holding its adjustment incredibly well.

You can also get a bunch of handy accessories that you’d be more likely to find on a bigger router, such as an edge guide, a guide for a track system, and even a dust-collection shroud. Plus the router accepts standard Porter-Cable guide bushings, which readily install in both the fixed and plunge bases.

Though it behaves like its larger cousins, the DWP611PK is not suitable for heavy-duty jobs, such as excavating large mortises in hardwood or making miles of molding, where you need more power and mass to handle the larger bits. But it’s more than able to handle most other routing tasks typical in a home shop. Bottom line, you’d use the heck out of this little router.

Revolutionary router. In fixed-base mode (left), DeWalt’s compact router can profile an edge one-handed, like a trim router. In plunge mode (right), the tool becomes a precision router for inlay and small mortises, with two LEDs lighting the way.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Makita SP6000J1 Track Saw

With enough power to slice through thick hardwoods, the Makita makes smooth, chip-free cuts in all materials.

Buy at Amazon

Milwaukee M12 23-Gauge Cordless Pin Nailer

This tool is designed for convenience. The battery and pins are easy to load, and the safety lock operates with the same finger you use to pull the trigger. The depth of set is adjustable, there’s a work light, and there’s a hook for hanging the tool on your toolbelt. A gauge lets you keep track of when you’ll need to recharge.

Buy at Amazon

Bosch 12V Trim Router

Trim routers are easier to handle when you cut the cord, and the Bosch’s compact, curvy shape and unique base give it unmatched control.

Buy at Amazon