I’m about to buy my first router and am comparing hand-held to table. Most of my work will be bookcases and simple desks. I saw a D-handle that looks like it will do what I need. just don’t want to regret the decision. Another consideration is space; not much. Also, how important is the plunge capability?
Any comments appreciated
Replies
the porter cable 690 with the dual base kit is a good start,its got good power a 1/2" collet,a case to store it and for a reasonable price ,just dont buy something with SEARS or B&D lable they are crap.good luck.Pete.
Actually there is one Sears model I would purchase! It is made for them by Bosch and is identical in every way to the 1617EVS kit. The Sears/Craftsman part number is #00926620000 Mfr. model #1617-12.
i have a bosch 1617 ev and i love it. it is easy to handle and works fine in my table. it's 2 horse and i'm sure has the capability of adding a plunge base. i am seriously thinking of getting a second one.
Micky,
You'll quickly determine that both hand held and router table mounted are desireable features depending on the situation. Yes, plunge is a very important feature(mortices). Eventually, you'll probably want more than one router...a smaller for hand held and a larger for the router table. However, the larger for the router table is not really necessary a two hp will work fine in either positon. The double based options would be a great place to start...like the 690.
"...like the 690." Hmmmm, BG, we gotta get you up to speed here! It's now the 890! Not that I don't like my little 690, but looks like the new one is better........forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
I kind of partial to the Bosch, in any configuration. D handles have their place, and come in very handy in many situations. If you want one router, look for a good deal on the PC 690. The design is old, but the machine is extremely versatile. For the money, Amazons package deal with the router, multiple bases and table is a good start for a beginner. Many people have more than one, but a 690 isn't usually the one that ends up on the shelf catching dust.
With 2 casting choices in fixed base, Dee & 2 handled, the Dee is the more expensive with the least application and control. They don't work well with edge guides and routing along the edge of stock is teeter/totter city.
Plunge-ability, important? Indeed ,and for your safety and max application, the plunger would be a wise, first choice.
For more on router selection.
Pat, where is a good site/source for additional bases for the 5625.
Joe
Castings or subbases?
Castings: Would start with Milwaukeetools.com for a dealer near you.
Subbases: Here.
I am in the market for a new router and have been "studying" all the reviews including yours (even paying for some) and pretty much came to the conclusion the Dewalt6183B or the Bosch 1617 evspk. Its really a flip of the coin at this point for either but nowthe thing is I can get the 1 3/4 HP Dewalt 616k for $143 at Lowes 1) Do I really need 2 1/4 HP (I plan on just being a weekend warrior with projects consisting of bookcases, small dressers,dovetails, etc..) 2) Is this to good a deal to pass on (it also comes with a 4 pack of chisels I know its nothing fancy but hey). Also ifI do go with this router do you make the subbases for it as well?
Good choice for your application. Keep cutters to <1-5/8 in length and diameter and single speed will be no problem.
And yes I make subbase for all of the extant DW & PC routers.
Thanks! I will be picking it up next week. On your web page I only saw the bases for the plunger 6182 not the fixed 616.
I have plates, offset & round, for all of the DW routers ('cept their trimmers).
Both of those are good routers. They will do you very well. All that talk of 2 + horsepower is bull, that started quite a few years back, and it seems none of the exagerators are willing to back out of their salespitches, and return to giving us real horsepower figures.
There will always come times that you will wish for more, but either of those two will do most anything except handle large horizontal panel raising bits.
They have vertical bits now, so it isn't like you won't be able to get the job done, in spite of that.
You can go weeks at a time and never use the plunge, if you are making desks and such. If you stay fixed base and fairly cheap, you can afford two, which gets to be rather important if you want to start doing dovetails.
The first router I bought was one of the first 3 hp. monsters, and I seldom use it. What I use most is a Dw610, or a PC laminate trimmer.
Also, as far as regretting decisions, just quit that, and your whole world will be a nicer place.
Many years agoI bought a three horsepower router-bigger was better- It shortly ended up in a table mount and has worked well ever since. Craftsman it was! Then I was given a Stanley 1/4 horse which I mounted in a horisontal mount - works well for mortises. Last purchase was a 690 which works well for whatever I want . Both plunge and fixed base. Good luck!
I have two routers: 3 HP Fein plunge router and the Bosch kit that features both plunge and fixed bases. I'm happy with both, but wish the Fein has a regular switch.
Although the kit price is more than the dedicated router price, it's a much better value. Besides Bosch, I think Porter-Cable and Milwaukee sell kits.
Go to http://www.patwarner.com and read his router reviews. They are the best reviews I have seen. His advice is very sound. He covers more than 50 routers.
Tom ---
I'm at patwarner.com but I'll be darned if I see those 50 reviews you're talking about. I see one for the Dewalt 621, and one for the Dewalt 618PK (links in the leftmost column under "Understanding Routing").
Clicking the "Routers" link there gets me a list of routers, but all links got to Amazon to buy.
Where are all the reviews? Sorry if I've just missed it somehow...
--- John
I went looking for those reviews and couldn't find them either.
I've got 3 routers, and my favorite is the BodyGrip 5615 by Milwaukee. It feels great in my hands, is very high quality, has a 1/2" collet, and is amazingly powerful for it's amp rating. Amazon often has refurbs for ~ $120 delivered. If I were looking to own only one router, I'd get the 5616 so I could have variable speed.
Hi, Micky,
Here in England I have never seen a fixed base router for sale, so I cannot give an opinion. What I can suggest, is that if you are considering using it in a router table, to make sure it has a switch that you can switch on, and then take your hands away. I have a DW621, and the switch requires you keep your hand on it - I can understand the safety angle, but useless in a table.
Good luck,
Ozzy
Ozzy,
When I put the #621 in the router table, I duck taped the handle/switch, trigger and plugged the unit into a power strip...along with a small shop vac the power strip has them both going on at the same time. However, about 6 months later I took off the tape to use the unit in the hand held position and it would not switch off...
I guess that's progress! I think these large companies could spend a little more time actually finding out how their customers use their products.
Take care and stay in touch
Ozzy
I have a bunch of RYOBI routers.. 1/4 / 1/2 chuck About 90 bucks..
And two PC.. I usually use my RYOBIES.. Soft start and a nice one wrench bit change.. PC has better control of the bit in a 'plunge' but not by much..
I cut Oak, Hickory, Ash, Purpleheart, and whatever.. I use them free hand AND in router tables..
I would get a better router if I found it was needed to do the job.. However I haven't needed a better one.
I AN NOT saying that a 3 HP expensive router is not needed.. Just I use mine every day and they work for me!
I have several Ryobi tools, that I grabbed when I needed something right now and they were cheap. I still use the Ryobi drill more than anyother electric. (I gave up on battery power several years ago).
I also have a Ryobi angle grinder that has been abused more than the law allows, and it has never skipped a beat in a little over 3 years now.
Dang ya my kind of guy! Nobody believes me in here!I do NOT work for RYOBI!
I think Ryobi is just down the road from me. They have a plant in Mauldin, SC, but I don't know what they make there.
Actually the next router I want is that little Rigid laminate trimmer.
I believe ya, Will. I've used several Ryobi tools for the last few years and they work great.
Hi Micky,
I am throwin' in my two cents here. I have both a dewalt 621 and a pc 690 system. I have a variable speed 690 in a plunge base, I have a vs. 690 in a d handle base, and I have a 690 in a basic two knob base. By the way the micro adjust fence pc offers for the 690's is terrific.
I have mounted the 621 in my table, (a real pain. In my opinnion, the 621 was not designed to be used in a table as the base is eccentric to the bit centerline and the screw holes are not in a regular pattern, thus making it hard to mount in some tables, also the base openning is not very large). However the 621 is a nice router. Also one poster said that his 621 wouldn't lock on but mine does I don't know if there was an upgrade or improvement at some point that resulted in a lock on feature.
I also like the looks of the pc 2hp. plunge router. I think it is model 8529? The bosch routers are nice as well as the new Makitas, and Hitachis all with two base packages-plunge and two knob.
I like the 800 series pc's however they are 2hp and seem kind of big and more akward compared to the 690's.
I have to respectfully disagree with one poster. He said one would have poor control with the dbase. I had poor control until I got the d base, now I can waste out a large dovetail almost right up to the line and you have to have excellent control to do that. The d also offers a trigger switch and that coupled with a soft start motor leaves no initial starting torque causing the router to jerk a little; all in all I use the d base for 100 percent of the work I do with a full size non plunging router. One thing to note is that if you buy the dbase seperately for a 690 router you have to modify/shorten the cord for the router as the cord from the motor plugs into the handle.
That being said Once you get the hang of routers in general, and plunge routers versus non plungers, you can use a plunger for everything you do with a straight router plus some. One thing to mention about the basic pc plunge base is that it lacks a micro adjust feature, the makita plunge base and bosch all have this feature, the pc 690 plunge base is just older than these others however it is still functional.
As for mounting in a table a pc 690 is by standards, underpowered for large tasks, but there are ways around this, by limiting the bit height or by limiting the bit depth during cutting, and making multiple passes. The pc however is great for general table work the base is easy to adjust, and companies like Rockler woodworking offer a base just for monunting the 690 in a table. It is just a stansdard 690 base but with the gripping knobs removed giving more room to allow easier removal of the plate and router.
As for plunge capability, it is a great help. With a straight edge and clamps and by carefully measuring one can cut mortises, and dadoes both thru and stopped, Both are necessary operations in many cabinetry and furniture making projects.
Well, I hope this helps.
Webby
Edited 10/17/2005 3:19 pm ET by webby
He said one would have poor control with the dbase??I did too! But I think it is just what is comfortable in your hand for control.. NOT the style of handles.. Just me..
Hi, you are probably right in that it is a subjective issue. I just felt like I had very little fine control with a two knob base. My first router was the pc 1.5 hp commemorative router. It came with the knob base, and I was a lot younger than I am now, and had no experience with routers until then, so I might feel differently now.
I also didn't know about breaktime and the knots forums for gaining really good advice.
About all.. (sorry I just locked this keyboard into italic mode and can't get it out I am a wood guy not a computer guy.)
Any way about all I had in the way of instruction was watching Norm on pbs. I still watch and I still learn.
I noticed that he used pc equipment and I wondered how he seemed to be so steady with his router. He often then used a makita d base router. When I bought my first router naturally it was a pc because of their reputation, and it baffled me because I felt like I had no control. When I broke down and bought the dbase form pc the light came on and it was like whoa! Now I see. Plus with the regular base one has to take the hand off the knob to turn it off kind of awkward . I am a fan of the trigger switch.
I agree though that the dbase doesnt work well with an edge guide mounted to it.
webby
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