Plunge Routers Reviews

as a body worker, most of my tools comes from Bosch. With this router, I just wanted to make sure that anything from Bosch is great as always, and I beleive, I was right

I have not use it a whole lot yet. However I have noticed some issues. Rather than just talking about how awesome this router is, and it is awesome I will point on some minor things.

The biggest issue is the handles, they flex a little. This causes no trouble what so ever. They are more than adequate, however the slop doesn't fit in with the rest of the super high quality build.

So now that I think about it, that is the only thing i have noticed that i can take issue with.

The speed adjustment wheel is nice and recessed so you wont bump it, yet it is still easy to manipulate.

I recently added a second router with more "umph" (the 1619EVS) to let me handle larger panel-raising bits when mounted in a table, as well as to have a backup for general use to avoid changing setups whenever possible. I have been extremely pleased with the versatility, power, ergonomics, and ease of use with the Bosch. I've found myself going to it more frequently than my DeWalt DW621 for quick hand-held tasks because of its comfortable heft and easy to use controls. Compared to the 3 hp Makita plunge I used recently, the Bosch is more comfortable and easier/smoother on the plunge, albeit somewhat noisier. In my hands, it feels more stable than the Makita. It is arguable whether the additional plunge steps on the Bosch are an advantage over the Makita or merely an annoyance. As noted by other reviewers, the features of the Bosch make it a breeze for table mounting and use. Given that my 1619EVS was refurbished, I got a significantly better price, but I'd have been hard pressed to find any signs of prior use when I unpacked it for the first time. I'm quite content with my Bosch and have no second thoughts.

I really shouldn't complain here. This router is powerful and does a great job. The soft start is nice and it comes with a variety of accessories. But I just saw the Dewalt kit that's coming out. It blows the Makita away. The plunge has dust collection built in that is really slick. And it comes with a D-handle. Something I would really like to have. but it looks like Makita only offer their D handle with a motor. Gee I've got one of those already. Plus the Dewalt did better in a recent shoot out in one of the magazines. Cost savings I'm sure. For things like switch placement, and ease of use.

Oh and the bits that come with the 1/2" capable Makita are 1/4". Hold out for the Dewalt.

Everywhere I went nothing but the best comments about this router. Now I see why. I previously had a craftsman 1 1/2 hp router. In one word...junk. But this router I could tell was high quality right when I opened the box. The plunge base is great. Easy to use and easy to set up. This set comes with a lot of useful items too. The case is very well designed and holds everything well. Even has extra spots to put bits and template guides. And did I mention quiet! This router makes half the noise of my Craftsman router and the slow start is a great feature as well. The variable speed is also one of the most useful features allowing you to match the speed to the material and bit size. The only thing remotely negative about this set is the switch location. An on off switch closer to the handle would have been better but this was not enough to bring my rating of this router down. Bottom line, if you are a hobby woodworker like me or a professional, this is a great router. you wont be disappointed.

This is it. I own a router that cost me about [money] and I can't even stand the thought of using it now that I have this one. The motor has plenty of power and I like the way it starts with out a sudden jerk. The router bits that came with it works great for me. They have 1/4 inch shafts and I prefer 1/2 inch but they do work great and seem to be quality made. I wasn't to interested in the case until I got done using the router for the first time and realized that I had a great place to store the router along with the manual, the router wrenches and the accessories including about 10 router bits. This saves me lots of time and if very convenient.

This router is worth the money so instead of wasting [money]like I did just buy this one and you won't regret it.

I really like this tool. The plunge release/lock mechanism is th ebest around. MUCH nicer than dewalt's or PorterCable's. The motor is smooth and the micro-adjust mechanism works beautifully. My only complaint is that the top is not flat and bit changes are a little less convenient as a result. Pretty minor compared to the tool's overall performance.

It was either this one or the Dewalt DW621, the two best routers in this class. For the readers sake I will compare its features to the Dewalt. Both machines are 2HP, both have a smooth plunge but the Dewalt wins in this respect. They both have dust extraction, Bosch via an attachment and the Dewalt built into one of the plunge posts. If you do not hook up the Dewalt's dust extraction you will inhale the dust and eat the chips. They both employ Soft Start and are variable speed with constant speed technology. As for motor noise the Bosch certainly wins, it has half the noise of the Dewalt, and is comfortable to operate without hearing protection. Both machines have micro adjustment knobs, the Bosch's can be adjusted while the plunge is locked, the Dewalt's cannot. The micro gauge reading on the Bosch is much easier to understand than on the Dewalt. I like the 1/8 step graduations on the depth stop rather than the three post adjustable on the Dewalt. This feature is a user preference you can make your own assumption. The base on the Bosch is larger and more conventional than the Dewalt's. As for quality you can't go wrong with either, time will tell. Bosch makes an excellent product, take the quality for the best and study the features you need.

It was either this one or the Dewalt DW621, the two best routers in this class. For the readers sake I will compare its features to the Dewalt. Both machines are 2HP, both have a smooth plunge but the Dewalt wins in this respect. They both have dust extraction, Bosch via an attachment and the Dewalt built into one of the plunge posts. If you do not hook up the Dewalt's dust extraction you will inhale the dust and eat the chips. They both employ Soft Start and are variable speed with constant speed technology. As for motor noise the Bosch certainly wins, it has half the noise of the Dewalt, and is comfortable to operate without hearing protection. Both machines have micro adjustment knobs, the Bosch's can be adjusted while the plunge is locked, the Dewalt's cannot. The micro gauge reading on the Bosch is much easier to understand than on the Dewalt. I like the 1/8 step graduations on the depth stop rather than the three post adjustable on the Dewalt. This feature is a user preference you can make your own assumption. The base on the Bosch is larger and more conventional than the Dewalt's. As for quality you can't go wrong with either, time will tell. Bosch makes an excellent product, take the quality for the best and study the features you need.

I bought this router because I needed to make some fancy doors on cabinets I was building. This is a great tool. The router is powerful and did not have any problems cutting through hard oak. This is a great kit because sometimes you don't need the plunge base and it's much easier to cut free hand with the fixed base, smaller, more sleek. The dust collection in the plunge base isn't that great but that could be because my shop vac isn't that powerful. I have used this tool a lot and would buy it again if I had to do it over.

I was volunteering in a workshop and they had this Dewalt router kit. I was amazed at how quiet and smooth this router was and bought one myself! It is nicely designed. The grips are very comfortable. It is easy to change between the two bases. I love the rpm ramp up feature...this prevents the router from jolting to a start. It comes with a nice case and 5 router bits.
One slight complaint I have is that the on/off switch is hard to reach when both of your hands are on the handle. It is at the top of the router motor unit and is just out of the reach of my thumb.
Dewalt has another winner on its hands!

I have researched routers for the past 2 months. I've been in stores, felt them all, looked at them all. Read every review here on Amazon.com and all of those "free reviews" i could read on the internet as well as patwarner.com.

I really really wanted a Porter Cable because I heard they are the best. I didn't like the crude nature of the 690 and I didn't want to twist the MOTOR to move the freaking bit up and down. I'm just getting into woodworking and I wanted something that felt just right. After going into Woodcraft and Lowe's and Home Depot, I chose the DeWalt over the newest Porter cable because:

1) the 890 series, while it feels solid and looks great, has some shortcomings with quality parts--especially the plunge base. It has a PLASTIC depth marker--and some aren't even CLEAR so you have no idea what depth you are at.
2) the dewalt's plunge is the smoothest out of ALL other routers with bosch's and makita's being tied for 2nd. Porter cable's was very very stiff and didn't feel natural. I would be scared i would mar the workpeice pushing down so hard on the dang thing.

Bottom line- I tried and tried to love the new porter cable. And I do, but not as much as the newest Dewalt. However, I still will probably go with their 3 1/4 horse, and a 890 D-Handle if they ever make it.

I bought this router to use in my cabinet shop as a dedicated setup to cut circles. The plunge base works smoothly and is accurate, however I have only been using it a short while, only time will tell if the mechanism works smoothly after serious dust buildup.
The look is very pleasing, for what thats worth, and the motor is very quiet for routers of this amperage. It has plenty of power for what I am using it for. I believe it has plenty of power for most routing applications other than large bit procedures.
The storage case is very nice and roomy and better than other brands I have bought.
Overall I am pleased with my purchase and do recommend it to others.
I also have a Hitachi M12V router and 2 14.4 volt cordless drills and have been very pleased with Hitachi products, currently no one makes a better product for the money.
Buy with confidence.

After having such a good experience over the past year with my M12V Hitachi, I ordered this one. My M12V sits solely in the table, so this router is for all my work out of the table. Just like the M12V, it works flawlessly. Hitachi just simply makes good routers, period.

Two big points to make. This thing is really about as powerful as the PorterCable 1.75HP, but lighter. It is also pretty quiet (though I still use ear plugs)........

It comes with about 5 different bushings. That's nice.

The 1/4 collet is solid.

This is a very good router.

I'll have to second the comments by other reviewers. For the money, this router combo-kit is hard to beat. The quality of the tool is excellent and the fact that Hitachi includes 7 template guides is a great bonus. The case is nice as well and is the right size to keep all the tool's equipment together without being too bulky to utilize.

Most routers with soft-start technology are priced significantly higher and do not come with as many accessories. The added sub-base is also a nice addition however, I would have liked to have seen Hitachi include a bit or 2 and an edge guide so that a first-time user would have a place to start from right out of the box. These issues are very minor and with the purchase of a starter bit set, this router will be ready to take on many of the tasks it is intended to do.

Operation wise, the power switch is easy to locate and the motor itself is one of the smoothest and most quiet I have used. I'm not sure if the router is actually putting out the listed 2 1/4 HP; however, I have not come across a single instance where it wasn't powerful enough to tackle the task at hand. I am planning to use this router in a table at some point and fully expect it to be able to handle that as well. As mentioned in a previous review, I wouldn't suggest using this or any other 2 HP single-speed router with raised-panel bits. That type of operation requires a slower speed since so much material is being removed at one time.

Overall, this is one hell of a bargain for a quality router and I wouldn't hesitate to purchase it again.

I received the Makita 3612CX1 from Amazon a couple of weeks ago. Since then, I have cut a few half-blind dove tails with it on a PorterCable Omnijig. It feels well, cuts well and is loaded with nice features such as the soft start and electronic brake. These 2 features enhance the router's utility in combination with templates and machines such as the Omnijig.

The router is also fairly quiet and is lacking that high pitch scream that other routers have. This makes it a lot easier on the ears. This router is going to serve 100% above the table, while my other 2 routers are being dedicated to the router lifts.

I strongly recommend this router, especially if you are only going to have one general purpose router.

Pros:

1) Same as 3612C, but packaged differently for $40 less.
2) Low pitch noise and quieter than my 10-year old single speed Makita 3612 router.
3) Soft start which keeps it from jumping off of jigs.
4) Eletric brake shuts down faster so it can be removed from jigs quicker without taking a bite out of them. Makes multiple cuts faster.

Cons:

1) The coupon for the router bit set is an inconvenience. Amazon should ship the bitset with the router or supply it themselves. Have to find another vendor to order the bit set from.

You can like different routers for different reasons. I had two of the fixed speed version of this router. One got stolen, I replaced it with the variable speed version and I love it for these reasons:
1. It is very quiet even at highest speed for a 3-1/4HP router. In fact it is much quieter than the fixed speed version of the same router at the same speed.
2. It is relatively small and light for its power. It is not a light router, you will have to use with two hands always. But I can do delicate edge treatments with small bits with no issues. It is powerful enough to mount under the table when you need to. That's why I think this is a very versatile router.
3. Plunge action is very smooth and capacity is good. 3 step debt gauge works fine although I use it rarely since the router is powerful enough to do most cuts in one pass.
4. Fit and finish is great. You can tell it is a well-made tool when you hold it. Power cord is long and soft - does not stay coiled when you are using it.
5. You can lock it down using the height adjustment mechanism - not the plunge lever- and it acts like a fixed based router. Therefore you do not have to change bases from fixed to plunge. You always have both at your fingertips. That's why prefer this over the multiple base combo kits.. another reason why I call this a very versatile router.
6. Also the 3-piece door bit set came with the router, not a coupon. The bits are very high quality. Thick carbide tips, nice bearings. Nice wooden box.


Here are some negatives you should consider- but these are not enough for me to give it a lower rating:
1. The plunge lock lever is metal and you have to push it down with the side of your index OR middle finger. With lengthy use, this may hurt your finger. I screwed a small bent extension to mine so that I push it down with tips of my two fingers and it works wonderfully.
2. It does not have a case.

If I lose one of my routers, I would buy a another one of these without a question.

The router is great and works great just like ones i've had before. There was a great sale on it when i got it. I was a bit dissapointed to found out that the router bits that are supposed to come with it, and there was just a coupon for them. You must have to try and get them from a local dealer or somewere else ? rather inconvienent .....

I just used it to cut some mortises in oak. It's sharp and straight. I haven't used it long enough to know how it will hold it's edge. It did a really good job on the mortises. I have been quite pleased with my Freud router bits.

i expect quality when i get freud router bits and this one did not let me down. cuts great and stays sharp a long time. if you want quality get this bit.

I have had two of these for quite a while. It would be hard to find an easier to use lightweight freehand router. It is hard to believe, but it has plenty of power for almost any task. Many routers have low tech collets--massive things with few compression slots. They require a lot of force to close securely on a bit. They also tend to freeze on to a bit making removal a chore. Makita uses a high tech finely-machined collet with many compression slots. The result is a collet that holds securely and releases easily with only very modest tightening required. Height adjustment is primitive by current standards.

We are a cabinet shop, and bought several of these routers many years ago. Now needing more routers, this is our first choice, and are glad they are still offered. Aside from replacing the occasional cord, they have been been totally reliable and a great all around tool to work with- not too heavy, not too light. They are used almost everyday and haven't needed any servicing in 15 years. We can't believe they keep on going.

Not a shill for Makita, and have a lot of tools from other good brands that are great- PC's biscuit joiner, Bosch's jig saw, etc. That being said, when we replace a tool the "M" brand is hard to beat. Hope this helps. -Rob

When I bought my P-C 690 I should have gotten both plung & fixed bases. Now I have a realy usefull tool, in this lightweight router.

Porter Cable's 6931 Plunge router base is an excellent buy. It adds versatility to the #693. I highly recommend purchasing this item for anyone that does not want to go to the expense of purchasing an entire router just to have the plunge feature.

I purchased the Bosch fixed based router last fall before the combo kit came out. I eventually mounted the fixed base to my home built router table. It is a bit of pain to remove the base from the table when I wanted to use it freehand. Since Bosch created a reat quick release for the router motor I decide to Purchased the plunge unit for portable use. The base also has fine depth adjustment (1/64") marks so you can actually adjust within 1/128th depth. The unit stops are easy to read and adjust. The motor slips in and out easily but can't fall out by accident. When you place the router into the base the bit is dead on center. No worry about bit cuts wandering if the base is running against a fence or pattern as you run your router. The plunge base works smoothly and the lock mechanism is easy to use.

If you have the Bosch EVS router then use your fixed base in your table and buy this to make your unit quickly portable again.