- Jun 6, 2004
- 6,354
- 547
- 66
- Disclosures
- Owner and builder Clementbass
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Router Recommendations
- Thread starter tjclem
- Start date
I'm a DeWalt fan, but mostly because my wife worked for them for about 18 years. I own a LOT of yellow tools. Currently using the DW618, I have both the fixed and plunge bases for it. Brand new retails for roughly $200, I found mine on OfferUp for way less than that, think I paid $80 for it.
That being said, I'd like to get a smaller DeWalt trim router for some of the more tedious work.
That being said, I'd like to get a smaller DeWalt trim router for some of the more tedious work.
I've had several over the years. My current favorite is my Bosch fixed base / plunge router. It's hands down the smoothest and best built router I've had, and is even relatively quiet compared to all my others.
I own a bunch of DeWalt tools, but mostly because they are less expensive then the better options. When they work they're great, but I have had some aspect of every DeWalt tool that I own develop some sort of problem that seems to prevent use just when I'm in the middle of something.
My 4" right angle grinder has an unsealed switch that fills up with dust. I've had to totally disassemble the tool to open the switch and clean the dust out so it will work again. It's on it's 4th or 5th go around at present.
Trim router? Broken spindle lock, stripped height adjustment, "difficult" collet lock nut system, and same "dusty switch" problem. Twice through for that.
The last DeWalt purchase was the job site radio. I've been using an old Sony boombox for several years and when my wife asked me what she could get me as a gift I suggested that. What could they possibly do to make a $180 radio unusable? It is so poor at rejecting noise from the AC power wiring that the Sony is sitting beside it so I can actually hear something.
Drills seem to last about a year, with the keyless chuck providing a reliable source of problems. I'm on my third DeWalt drill. I like the form factor as well as evidently being a bit of a masochist.
So far the chop saw fairs the best overall score, with my heavy duty string trimmer being a close second. I've found a source for the 5AH 20 volt batteries on ebay that seem to be just fine at less than half the DeWalt cost. Sometimes I think they must have noticed the marketing for printers and adopted it. Sell 'em the tool cheap, stick them for high-profit batteries!
I own a bunch of DeWalt tools, but mostly because they are less expensive then the better options. When they work they're great, but I have had some aspect of every DeWalt tool that I own develop some sort of problem that seems to prevent use just when I'm in the middle of something.
My 4" right angle grinder has an unsealed switch that fills up with dust. I've had to totally disassemble the tool to open the switch and clean the dust out so it will work again. It's on it's 4th or 5th go around at present.
Trim router? Broken spindle lock, stripped height adjustment, "difficult" collet lock nut system, and same "dusty switch" problem. Twice through for that.
The last DeWalt purchase was the job site radio. I've been using an old Sony boombox for several years and when my wife asked me what she could get me as a gift I suggested that. What could they possibly do to make a $180 radio unusable? It is so poor at rejecting noise from the AC power wiring that the Sony is sitting beside it so I can actually hear something.
Drills seem to last about a year, with the keyless chuck providing a reliable source of problems. I'm on my third DeWalt drill. I like the form factor as well as evidently being a bit of a masochist.
So far the chop saw fairs the best overall score, with my heavy duty string trimmer being a close second. I've found a source for the 5AH 20 volt batteries on ebay that seem to be just fine at less than half the DeWalt cost. Sometimes I think they must have noticed the marketing for printers and adopted it. Sell 'em the tool cheap, stick them for high-profit batteries!
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I bought a Porter Cable 2.25 hp router about 2 years ago, and am pretty disappointed with it. No complaints on the power, but a few gripes that make it a PITA to use:
1. No work light. Really? I stupidly assumed it would have one, no simple aftermarket attachment by PC or anyone else to solve this. I have a flashlight sort of jury-rigged to it. Most of the other brands include that as standard.
2. The teeny little button to lock the collar doesn't have a locked position, so you have to hold it it the whole time you are tightening the collet. The button is not accessible for the whole range of up/down movement either, so it's fiddly.
3. The clamping collar just doesn't work smoothly. You can adjust the initial tightness range by a set screw, but the difference between "tight enough to clamp" and "too tight to allow the motor to travel up and down smoothly" is tiny. I have to fiddle with it almost every time.
4. The top side mount control is not intuitive at all, you have to take one hand off the router to get to it in most circumstances.
5. No dust port attachment. This thing throws mountains of dust, most of the other brands have a built-in dust port. You can buy aftermarket bases with a dust port, but shouldn't have to.
Given these issues, I've relegated the PC router to router table only use, and use the old Craftsman router I bought the PC as a replacement for as my hand-held router. It's a 30 year old router and has a double handle with switch, a built in work light, and a big, easily accessible collet lock. Thing still runs great, only downside is it's 1/4" collet only.
If I had to do it again, I'd get a Dewalt, sorry I can't recommend PC at all. If anybody has any good hacks to improve the PC router, by all means, school me!
1. No work light. Really? I stupidly assumed it would have one, no simple aftermarket attachment by PC or anyone else to solve this. I have a flashlight sort of jury-rigged to it. Most of the other brands include that as standard.
2. The teeny little button to lock the collar doesn't have a locked position, so you have to hold it it the whole time you are tightening the collet. The button is not accessible for the whole range of up/down movement either, so it's fiddly.
3. The clamping collar just doesn't work smoothly. You can adjust the initial tightness range by a set screw, but the difference between "tight enough to clamp" and "too tight to allow the motor to travel up and down smoothly" is tiny. I have to fiddle with it almost every time.
4. The top side mount control is not intuitive at all, you have to take one hand off the router to get to it in most circumstances.
5. No dust port attachment. This thing throws mountains of dust, most of the other brands have a built-in dust port. You can buy aftermarket bases with a dust port, but shouldn't have to.
Given these issues, I've relegated the PC router to router table only use, and use the old Craftsman router I bought the PC as a replacement for as my hand-held router. It's a 30 year old router and has a double handle with switch, a built in work light, and a big, easily accessible collet lock. Thing still runs great, only downside is it's 1/4" collet only.
If I had to do it again, I'd get a Dewalt, sorry I can't recommend PC at all. If anybody has any good hacks to improve the PC router, by all means, school me!
Sorry, didn't mean to trigger your hatred for DeWalt.
FWIW, I've had the same DeWalt cordless drill (DCD791) for about 6 years now and it still works great. And, my previous 18v DeWalt cordless drill (DC720) still works as well, I've had that one for a solid 12 years now.
I've also got the miter saw (DWS716) and we even have a DeWalt 60v lawn mower that has been awesome for the last 4 years.
By the way, the Porter Cable 691 series routers can be repaired and rebuilt. All the parts are easily available.
I'll just point out that Porter Cable is also owned by..... Stanley-Black & Decker.....parent company of DeWalt. 
Which also means, if you have a local DeWalt service center, you might be able to get parts there and possibly even get it serviced there too. Just a thought. I used to send all my Black & Decker tools with the wife to have them serviced when she worked at the DeWalt Service Center in Seattle. Because.....same company. Stanley, Black & Decker, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Bostitch, Proto, Irwin, and now Craftsman. Same company.
Which also means, if you have a local DeWalt service center, you might be able to get parts there and possibly even get it serviced there too. Just a thought. I used to send all my Black & Decker tools with the wife to have them serviced when she worked at the DeWalt Service Center in Seattle. Because.....same company. Stanley, Black & Decker, DeWalt, Porter-Cable, Bostitch, Proto, Irwin, and now Craftsman. Same company.
I can only say that Dewalt tools are nearly universal at jobsites I go to, in use by pretty much every trade, the way Makita used to be. ALL the carpenters use the Dewalt jobsite tablesaw, and most use Dewalt routers, with a sprinkling of Bosch and Festool mixed in. They beat on this stuff all day every day, so I watch what they buy. I cant remember the last time i saw a PC router at a jobsite.
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I've got a Dewalt 610 and a Porter Cable 690L. Both have been fine although I wouldn't mind a plunge base for one or the other that didn't cost more then the router did used.
I've been beating the living crap out of Ryobi corded and cordless tools for 20+ years and haven't had any real problems. None of them owe me a nickel. I mean hard miles on these things.
I got the DeWalt 12" compound sliding miter (corded) and portable stand a few years ago because it was on sale and it's turned out to be a really good saw.
As for routers, I have a nice Bosch that needs a brush replaced and I haven't put back together yet. It was a good router from what I remember. I've been using the corded little Ryobi router I borrowed from work for bass stuff. It's okay, but I wouldn't do any heavy lifting with it. It's been good for pup routs, truss rod channels, 1/4" round overs, planing boards flat on the sled, etc. I also have the little cordless Ryobi trim router that I've used for little stuff like FB radiuses with the sled.
The Ryobi stuff is good for stuff like that and not so expensive that the rare breakdown is upsetting. Especially if it's already paid for itself.
I know @ChickWithaRic just bought a cool 36v cordless router that can handle some heavy lifting and has some cool features.
Depends on what you'll be doing with it and how much you wanna spend.
I got the DeWalt 12" compound sliding miter (corded) and portable stand a few years ago because it was on sale and it's turned out to be a really good saw.
As for routers, I have a nice Bosch that needs a brush replaced and I haven't put back together yet. It was a good router from what I remember. I've been using the corded little Ryobi router I borrowed from work for bass stuff. It's okay, but I wouldn't do any heavy lifting with it. It's been good for pup routs, truss rod channels, 1/4" round overs, planing boards flat on the sled, etc. I also have the little cordless Ryobi trim router that I've used for little stuff like FB radiuses with the sled.
The Ryobi stuff is good for stuff like that and not so expensive that the rare breakdown is upsetting. Especially if it's already paid for itself.
I know @ChickWithaRic just bought a cool 36v cordless router that can handle some heavy lifting and has some cool features.
Depends on what you'll be doing with it and how much you wanna spend.
I read her post about that in her thread. It's been a long time since I've had guitar envy but I get router, bandsaw, etc envy pretty regularly.
I'm still using my PC690, though after the way its saw-companion decided to smoke the armature, (nope, don't need the new brushes - the old brushes are fine. The part that costs more than a new saw, that's not fine.) I probably won't go there again if it heads the same way.
I'll point you to an excellent recent router review (and cawdless, even, and not one, but two, even...) right here...
Down the rabbit hole again - Project 4350
The green angle grinder bought about the same time has been put through worse treatment than either the saw or the router and is still working just fine.
I'll point you to an excellent recent router review (and cawdless, even, and not one, but two, even...) right here...
Down the rabbit hole again - Project 4350
The green angle grinder bought about the same time has been put through worse treatment than either the saw or the router and is still working just fine.
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I'm sorry but have had great success with them and own an entire arsenal of Dewalt tools, including a 20v router that I've used the heck out of.Sorry, didn't mean to trigger your hatred for DeWalt.
FWIW, I've had the same DeWalt cordless drill (DCD791) for about 6 years now and it still works great. And, my previous 18v DeWalt cordless drill (DC720) still works as well, I've had that one for a solid 12 years now.
I've also got the miter saw (DWS716) and we even have a DeWalt 60v lawn mower that has been awesome for the last 4 years.
Also have a corded Ryobi that's a beast, but now mounted on my Kregg router table, since the smaller Dewalt is much easier to carve with.
The only Dewalt I've ever had issues with was an impact tool that I used to torque in 200+ 6" 3/8" lags into treated 6x6 posts, pre drilled but wet wood is tough on an impact tool… it eventually started smoking
but after that kinda abuse it felt like I had gotten my money's worth!
Sorry, didn't mean to trigger your hatred for DeWalt.
FWIW, I've had the same DeWalt cordless drill (DCD791) for about 6 years now and it still works great. And, my previous 18v DeWalt cordless drill (DC720) still works as well, I've had that one for a solid 12 years now.
I've also got the miter saw (DWS716) and we even have a DeWalt 60v lawn mower that has been awesome for the last 4 years.
Don't worry, you didn't trigger Dewalt hatred. I'm an equal opportunity tool purchaser, so I simply like for buyers to know what they are spending thei money on.
I own other Dewalt tools, too. I have a rule of not owning anything I can't move by myself, so I also have a DW745 10" portable table saw. After a two years of moderate use the blade adjustment is REALLY dicey, and feels like it's just on the brink of total failure.
Anyone seeing a pattern here?
LOL I thought you were talking about Web routers !! Never mind
LOL that would be a controversial subject for sure!
I'll keep my WiFi 6 and long range signal extender comments for another thread.
DUHHH lol !LOL that would be a controversial subject for sure!
I'll keep my WiFi 6 and long range signal extender comments for another thread.
- Jan 26, 2014
- 768
- 1,555
- Disclosures
- Endorsing artist;DNA Amplification, GHS strings
Not a luthier, but a cabinetmaker. The older
porter Cable tools were work horses. Though PC's laminate trimmers and belt sanders are decent, nowadays I'd go with Bosch.
Just a quick list:
Bosch-routers, jig saw, belt sanders and bigger rotary hammers.
Milwaukee-sawzall and drills. (I do like the worm drive saw, but it's pretty heavy.)
Dewalt-mitre boxes, cordless drills, oscillating tool and impact drivers. (The brushless versions are awesome.)
Skill-worm drive saw.
Just my opinion, been doing this for 33 years.
porter Cable tools were work horses. Though PC's laminate trimmers and belt sanders are decent, nowadays I'd go with Bosch.
Just a quick list:
Bosch-routers, jig saw, belt sanders and bigger rotary hammers.
Milwaukee-sawzall and drills. (I do like the worm drive saw, but it's pretty heavy.)
Dewalt-mitre boxes, cordless drills, oscillating tool and impact drivers. (The brushless versions are awesome.)
Skill-worm drive saw.
Just my opinion, been doing this for 33 years.
I have the Triton TRA 001 router in my router table, it's an absolute beast. I use the Bosch MRC23EVSK for large plunge routing operations and the Colt with plunge base for smaller stuff. Love all of these routers, I do not miss my old Craftsman POS. 
The porter cable 691 with the d-handle has always been my favorite. If I were to buy a new router today I would stick with the porter cable 691, or get the bosch 1617. These are my two picks, but there are lots of decent routers out there. The market is quite competitive these days and all of the top brands are pretty close as far as quality, it's hard to go wrong at certain price points.
