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Router Recommendations

#41
T_Bone_TL said:
Looks like it was stored under the grinder and got an unhealthy dose of grinding wheel particles (or sandpaper particles, grit of some sort) to grind the <bleep> out of it like that. My 25 year old 690 has no similar wear pattern, and it does get used.
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Yep, several of my Porter Cable routers have wear like that (although not that bad!). It's from steel or abrasive particles getting down in there. You can feel it grinding as you twist the body, but you just keep going....and it gets all scored up like that. I've repaired mine by filing them gently to remove the raised ridges, cleaning thoroughly, and waxing them.
 
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#44
tjclem said:
Thanks I like the large base on the PC is the DW that large?
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Not the stock base. I use many different bases under my routers, some only as large as the housing, others larger than an 690, and some that are offset.

I get free materials out of the Lexan scrap bin at my local glass shop for shop-made baseplates. Just use the stock plate as a drilling template.

Be aware, the 611 will not replace ALL routers in all uses. For me, it's been enough of a size / power / handling trade off that it's the one I grab most. for heavy cuts like shaping a body with a template, a 690 or Bosch 1617 would probably be better with a 1/2" shank bit.

I work with many routers. If you want one, as your only router, go with a bigger tool, as in another 690, 1617, or Makita's version in that size class.
 
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#45
Bruce Johnson said:
Something to understand about the differences in designs and brands of routers:

Most of Porter-Cable's routers are designed and intended for production use. Woodworking factories and cabinet shops.

Other brands like DeWalt, Bosch, Milwaukee are designed for contractor use. Out on filthy outdoor job sites, a series of small jobs, many different setups, physical abuse from getting dropped and overloaded and thrown in toolboxes.
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I'm not so sure that's still true. Stanley owns DeWalt, PC, Black and Decker, and Craftsman. They seem to have positioned DeWalt as the top line, PC in the middle, and B&D as the homeowner brand. Lots of Craftsman power tools are rebranded Bosch, PC, or Chinese imports.

My neighbor is an executive at Stanley HQ here in CT.
 
#47
tjclem said:
What parts do I order to fix this. She looks pretty worn out
View attachment 4686231
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rudy4444 said:
My Porter Cable 691 looks exactly like that one, so it must not be all that rare.
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I have the same router with the same scoring, though not as bad. One thing to look for; at the very start of the helical groove in the base, the top edge makes a little point that can get bent and start digging into the body of the router. I have had to file that down on mine.

Of course, as stated above, cleaning and waxing helps too.

@tjclem the spot I'm talking about is almost dead center in your pic.
 
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#48
RichterScale said:
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.
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1.

Yes I bought the Hitachi/ Hikoki/ Metabo HPT (depending on what Hitachi feel like calling themselves in your territory) 36v 1/2" cordless. Best router I'ver ever used, and I use them professionally as a carpenter.

Pros: Very light, powerful, no start-up kickback, well balanced, handles beautifully, freedom from the cord.
Cons: Expensive, often out of stock in the US - they sell like hot cakes. I ordered mine from New Zealand.

Consider a good used Makita C3612CX or Hitachi M12VE. You can often find the Makita as NOS, brand new in the box. I've used both, for both heavy and very fine work. Nice machines.
 
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#51
I just saw a post in Fine Woodworking from 2020 saying that Porter Cable has ended production of routers, all models. Any in stores are NOS. That's news to me; I hadn't heard that. Supposedly replacement parts will still be available for a long time from the usual sources. There are a lot of PC routers out there. I'll keep using mine.
 
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#52
Bruce Johnson said:
I just saw a post in Fine Woodworking from 2020 saying that Porter Cable has ended production of routers, all models. Any in stores are NOS. That's news to me; I hadn't heard that. Supposedly replacement parts will still be available for a long time from the usual sources. There are a lot of PC routers out there. I'll keep using mine.
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It's been a thing for a couple of years. I became aware of their product shift when I was looking at buying a new 20 volt cordless drill around three years back. I owned an older Porter Cable battery drill and loved it, so I thought I'd be able to swing into Lowe's and buy a similar new one. All the new Porter Cable tools had a completely different look and they felt and looked incredibly flimsy. The Lowe's manager told me they were "scaling back" all of their corded tools and concentrating on the battery stuff. I switched to DeWalt for my new drill.

There's been a lot of shuffling around in the last couple of years and Porter Cable is now a Tractor Supply Company exclusive brand. In the meantime TSC has dropped DeWalt and other brands, so the whole retail sales thing looks like a giant shell game.

All this posturing and inability to even have certain brands is why so many consumers are simply turning to Amazon to make their purchases. Al this was in progress before the pandemic, so we don't even have that to blame.
 
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#53
This is what happens when one company buys up all the rest.
It hasn't been Porter Cable in a while.
Eventually everything will be owned by Google and/or Disney and manufactured by the lowest bidder.
It won't matter if they own the name and decide to keep printing it on the side.
That company doesn't exist and doesn't make your product.
 
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#54
RichterScale said:
This is what happens when one company buys up all the rest.
It hasn't been Porter Cable in a while.
Eventually everything will be owned by Google and/or Disney and manufactured by the lowest bidder.
It won't matter if they own the name and decide to keep printing it on the side.
That company doesn't exist and doesn't make your product.
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Wasn't that in The Idiocracy? All the restaurants were Taco Bell and all the stores were WalMart or some such. I should watch that again…



Speaking of the lowest bidder:

 
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#55
Matt Liebenau said:
Wasn't that in The Idiocracy? All the restaurants were Taco Bell and all the stores were WalMart or some such. I should watch that again…



Speaking of the lowest bidder:

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I remember seeing part of that movie a while ago. Seems like it might be worth a revisit.
Also, it drives me nuts that I don't know how I should pronounce your name every time I see it (it's only in my head and doesn't really matter, but it does).
Do you say it Lee, Lay or Ly?
And Ben-oh, or Ben-wah?
 
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#56
RichterScale said:
I remember seeing part of that movie a while ago. Seems like it might be worth a revisit.
Also, it drives me nuts that I don't know how I should pronounce your name every time I see it (it's only in my head and doesn't really matter, but it does).
Do you say it Lee, Lay or Ly?
And Ben-oh, or Ben-wah?
Click to expand...


Lee-ben-ow is how my family says it. There's at least one Liebenau town in Germany. I'm told it means something along the lines of favored field or beloved meadow. Mildly ironic because I hate yard work although my son is in landscaping and does reasonably well at it.
 
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