Subject: ROUTER

From: "Peter Tennant Woods" <[email-masked]>
Date: 31 Mar 1997 14:58:25 GMT

Hello

What is the best make of routers?
Thanks
Richard Woods
jarwoods@ iafrica.com

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From: "Gregory Dolan" <[email-masked]>
Date: 31 Mar 1997 22:03:23 GMT

That's easy...Porter-Cable routers

Peter Tennant Woods <[email-masked]> wrote in article
<[email-masked]>...

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From: [email-masked] (Charlie Wendell)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 00:01:41 GMT

"Peter Tennant Woods" ([email-masked]) writes:
> Hello > What is the best make of routers?
> Thanks   Richard Woods
> jarwoods@ iafrica.com
> 
 I'm kinda an older newbie, started with a Sears router ( not any more, no
more Sears stuff for me), bought a Porter Cable 690 after lurking here and
reading comments on routers, liked it so much, I bought a Porter Cable 693
( plunge Router)
 Both can use either 1/2 or 1/4 inch  bits.
 
 Posts on router use/safety as a result of your (Richard Woods) are well worth
remembering.

--
Cheers, Charlie

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From: "John Hofstad-Parkhill" <[email-masked]>
Date: 1 Apr 1997 06:35:25 GMT

Porter Cable enjoys what I think is an overly avid following. I find the
690 series overrated in spite of it's overwhelming popularity. 

The better answer to your question is the best router for what ?

Here's why I'm not a big fan of the 69x series (my first "real" router)

1). The start. It starts with a jerk, with the standard base this is made
worse by the fact that the on/off switch is at the top of their universal
motor unit, not anywhere near the handle. This gives you an interesting
mid-air grab of the free handle at times. The "D" handle (691) allievates
this, but does not eliminate the jerk start. 
You must always keep this in mind as it _will_ move the entire router &
bit.

2). The depth adjustment. The entire motor is a "screw" of sorts, as is
standard with all routers of this type. Two problems occur here - first the
turning of the entire unit can offset the bit - just a hair - enough so you
can see it on the second pass. Second really fine adjustments are not that
easy, if you're not careful just tightening the base can change the
setting.

OTOH, getting attachments, guide bushings, bases, etc. for the PC 690 is
extremely easy - due to it's popularity. Also there is a plunge base for it
(it seems bulky to me).

Because of those two points and because it's the 90's I strongly feel an
electronic controlled plunge router is a better buy. 

I can't recommend Bosch because they have plunge problems. I've researched
the problem with mine (1613EVS) deep enough to know that Bosch continues to
work on the problem. I've had reliable reports (and hands-on) experience
with different models of the same family having the same problem. The Bosch
factory was unable to correct the problem on my 1613EVS, after a month of
keeping it. I should also note that Bosch bent over backwards trying to
make me happy, excellent customer support.

DeWalt's new 621 is a dandy router, it has somewhat "quirky" controls and
I'm still not entirely sold on the dust collection. It plunges beautifully,
and is light enough to work well as a hand-held unit. However the downside
is the footprint given up for dust collection (there's not much of a base)
leaves it less stable than others in similar situations. Noting that this
is only my personal experience, but I've never had a DeWalt tool fail on
me.

The one edge the 69x seems to hold over the plunges is that it holds a
lower center of gravity.

Then there are the "big" hummers. I have the Freud FT2000E as well, but
it's never seen anything bit the bottom of my router table. I've never felt
comfortable using a big 3hp router as a hand-held unit, nor have I needed
the power to do so.
The PC 3hp unit weighs in at 17lbs last time I checked. That's heavy.

Frankly, once you hit the PC/Bosch/DeWalt level you're looking at a good
machine regardless. Most of the stuff ends up being subjective. I'm sure
many will tell you their 1613 works perfectly in every way, or that you'd
be an idiot for not considering the 69x the "best". Whatever. PC's
following stems from a long history with construction use as well, but it's
the only router I've had where a bearing has failed.. so what does that
mean ? I hardly subject any of my routers to arduous, daily use.

Of the three bench routers I have (PC 69x, Bosch 1613EVS, DeWalt 621) I
find myself reaching for the 621 more often than any other. I like the
ergonomics, but you might hate them. Also the 621 does not yet have a
factory supplied edge guide so the 1613 still gets called. Rarely, rarely
do I ever reach for the PC.

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From: [email-masked] (John Paquay)
Date: 1 Apr 1997 14:49:26 GMT

In article <01bc3e67$0404ac60$c89e09ce@horizons>, [email-masked] says...
>do I ever reach for the PC.

Good points, John.  My 690 had a bearing problem as well.  I don't think
it actually means anything, since PC doesn't manufacture bearings, and
it was not some cheap, no-name bearing.  They obviously just got a bad
lot from the bearing mfr.  I sent the 690 to PC and they had it rebuilt and
returned to me within a week, and there hasn't been a problem with it
since (5+ years).  I have to admit that I like the idea of the interchangeable
PC bases -- I have one conventional base as well as the plunge base for
the 690.  But changing between them is not the simplest task.  It's not
something I do without reconsidering whether I really want to do it, though
it's great to be able to.

My favorite router is still a very old flea market Stanley 1.5 hp.
Go Figure.

-- 
John Paquay
Dept. of Physics, Purdue University
[email-masked],  [email-masked]
http://www.physics.purdue.edu/~jep/cshop.html
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