Going where cordless has never gone before, Porter-Cable recently introduced the industry’s first cordless router, its model 9290. It features a 19.2-volt battery that powers a 23,000-rpm, 600-watt motor that’s equivalent to just over 3/4 hp. The router includes a 1/4-in. collet, and it will also accept Porter-Cable’s standard 1/2-in. collet.

The battery sits on top of the motor, which makes the router look top-heavy. But I didn’t find balance to be a problem. And without a cord, every task, from bit changing to cutting to storage, is easier.

With the spindle lock, it takes just one wrench to loosen the collet nut. Because the router technically is always “plugged in” when the battery is installed, Porter-Cable made it difficult for the router to be accidentally fired up, designing the “on” switch to require some extra push. It takes some getting used to. Turning off the machine, however, requires little effort.
Collet runout on this machine was 0.006 in. compared with an average of 0.004 in. in our other tests of fixed-base routers. Noise was measured at 87 dB, an excellent score. And vibration was minor.

The base unit may look familiar because it’s the same one used on Porter-Cable’s venerable model 690. The motor also fits the 690’s plunge base and D-handled base.

The handles fit my hands reasonably comfortably. But the thumbscrew system for locking the base to the motor was always a chore to tighten fully. And the opening in the plastic subbase is small (13/16 in.). I had to enlarge it to make cuts with a 1/2-in. radius roundover bit.

According to Porter-Cable, with a 1/2-in. radius roundover bit installed in the machine, model 9290 can cut, on average, either 100 ft. of oak or 200 ft. of pine on a single battery charge. In my test, with a new high-quality carbide bit in the router, I cut 154 ft. of oak, much more than promised, but only 164 ft. of pine. This was after breaking in the battery a half-dozen times by running it to a low level and then fully recharging it. More demanding cuts are likely to result in shorter run times. By the way, all of the tests were done using 1/4-in.-dia. shank bits.

Because of the 9290’s limited cutting capacity, most woodworkers are going to find that it is not a substitute for a corded router. But despite some of the shortcomings, I was surprised at how much I liked using a router without having to deal with a cord. If you can live with the tool’s limitations, it might make a good second router. If I owned one, the 9290 would be the first one I’d reach for to make short, light-duty cuts. Price includes battery and charger.

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