What are must have router features?

Len · Post by **Len** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 3:08 pm

Mike, I failed to realize it was you that initiated this thread. My bad. Well, as a man of excellence I would strongly urge you to get a Porter Cable 890 series. That has all that a guy needs to do everything one would want as you go heavy duty and make your own molding, oak work, and raised panels, etc. I believe it will fit into a SS OPR should you go that route. Amazon has sales if you wait and are patient. The other good one, for newbies is the 690 series. I know, it's only money, and it's YOUR money I am spending. Sorry, buddy, bad habits are tough to break. Just ask the government!

http://www.factoryauthorizedoutlet.com/ ... outers.asp

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:06 pm

Len wrote:Mike, I failed to realize it was you that initiated this thread. My bad. Well, as a man of excellence I would strongly urge you to get a Porter Cable 890 series. .........

Like this one? All this router research......the $$ is starting to burn a hole in my pocket real bad. Gotta get one soon.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:09 pm

mickyd wrote:Like this one?

Exactly! That's what we were talking about! Of course the choice is yours!

colday · Post by **colday** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:13 pm

I just got This one.

Not much use yet, but so far it is a dream compared to my old Ryobi (single speed; 1/4" collet).

I'm waiting on a Rockler router table top with fence. I had to think real hard during the recent OPR sale, but for me, my shop, and the amount I actually do it seemed like overkill.

I figure I'll mount the fixed base in the table & use the plunge base for hand held work.

Len · Post by **Len** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 4:30 pm

mickyd wrote:Like this one? All this router research......the $$ is starting to burn a hole in my pocket real bad. Gotta get one soon.

Perfect choice. Even though that will do everything a guy will want to do, another router will come into your life! Make a promise that you will not buy a second router until all four projects are complete! And then wait a year.....but that one will do it all! And fit into an OPR as well.
Oh, and someone mentioned that Freud. I got the previous model.....not really that good....it works, but for something that moves at 3 1/2 it isn't all that well built or engineered. Good price, lousy product. But then that is only one of the 5 I have. Really like Porter Cable.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:30 pm

colday wrote:I just got This one.
..........work.

SWEET! Did you watch the amazon price before you bought or just dive in? Ever notice how high their list price is??

Len wrote:Perfect choice. Even though that will do everything a guy will want to do, another router will come into your life! Make a promise that you will not buy a second router until all four projects are complete! And then wait a year.....but that one will do it all! And fit into an OPR as well.
Oh, and someone mentioned that Freud. I got the previous model.....not really that good....it works, but for something that moves at 3 1/2 it isn't all that well built or engineered. Good price, lousy product. But then that is only one of the 5 I have. Really like Porter Cable.

Right now, I am saying "Why would I ever want more than one router???". reible has about a dozen, you have almost a half dozen.....I believe you though. I said the same thing about people with more that 2 bicycles (one mountain, one road). That was 5 years ago.....now I have 6!!!

Regarding that promise......how about if I just say I'll make every attempt.

8iowa · Post by **8iowa** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:42 pm

I agree with Len. The PC 690 is a great all around router. It's lighter weight makes it comfortable for precision hand held operations such as in a dovetail jig, and it's round body makes it useful for Shopsmith's OPR. You can get it in a package that includes a plunge base for added versitility.

For applications requiring larger bits, such as raised panels, I would rather use Shopsmith's speed increaser set-up in shaper mode.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 5:58 pm

8iowa wrote:I agree with Len. The PC 690 is a great all around router. It's lighter weight .........For applications requiring larger bits, such as raised panels, I would rather use Shopsmith's speed increaser set-up in shaper mode.

Like this one?

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:33 pm

I've got two routers -- a hand-held Dewalt 610 (if I recall) with 1/4" collet and a very large Porter Cable 7518 mounted in a router table (upside down) using the Mast-r-lift package from Jessem.. The PC router is not one I'd probably want to hold in my hand -- that sucker has some serious kick when turned on (3.25HP) but it can be done -- although I just bought the body -- no hand-held capabilities on mine.. The PC takes the larger 1/2" bits..

My only peeve with routers -- if you've got ones with different collet sizes -- you will likely need duplicate bits -- one in each size, depending on what you're doing..

Edit : Ok -- I went poking around and found an adapter from PC that allows the use of 1/4" bits on the 7518.. Whoopee.. Something else to buy..

osx-addict · Post by **osx-addict** » Fri Oct 23, 2009 8:50 pm

By the way.. Here's an article I stumbled across on picking a router.. Perhaps it can provide some additional insight on top of what you've already read here..

http://www.woodcentral.com/cgi-bin/read ... _481.shtml