Which router do you recommend ?

[Denis]

Hi everyone, as a biginner in woodworking, I am now up to buy a router however I only want to buy one that does it all like one of the 3 models listed below. Any suggestion? I plan to buy it beginning of next year.

* Bosch 1617EVSPK 2HP Router Combination Pack

* Makita RF1101KITK 2-1/4 HP

* Porter-Cable 693PK 1-1/2 HP Router and Plunge Base Kit

Thank you.

[DCH]

Denis, Tough question, I have the PC, and for what I do it works just fine. Now the tough part. I own more Makita tools than the average individual and firmly believe there is not a better power tool out there. Long story on how I ended up with the PC however I have no complaints as of yet.
Bosch makes some darn nice tools, and their new router kit is getting some rave reviews.
As stated above I doubt a guy could go wrong with Makita, although I believe I've read that their router kit is a little spendy. Did that help???
FYI, I just saw the TOH episode where Norm rebuilt his work bench, he only has 20 some routers, so you could just buy all three and be on your way to a router collection.
Dave

[Dave Arbuckle]

Of the ones you list, I have the PC693PK, and the Bosch 1617 (not evs, fixed base).

Both nice machines. I like the 1617 quite a bit more, because of it's fine height adjuster. The stock baseplate is el stinko, though. I have a baseplate from www.patwarner.com on mine, it's great.

But on the plunge front? The 693 plunge base is not all bad. It can be an entire pain in the neck getting the motor back out, though. The new 1617 plunge base (whatever it actually is called), I have fondled. Extremely smooth, very nice action. I could never own one though. I have rather short, stubby fingers and cannot comfortably reach the plunge release. Touching before buying is most important in plunge routers.

Dave

[Bob R]

Denis, I own the P-C combo kit and the Makita, the Makita kit was not available when I bought mine. The Makita is a superior machine. It has more power, soft-start, variable speed, and a quick release for bit changes. P-C has also come out with the quick release and a little more power since I bought my set. I still use both machines - the Makita I have mounted in my router table and the P-C I use for hand operations. If I had to use only one, I would definitely go with the Makita kit.

[Bubba Blue]

I've got the Makita Kit. I considered the Makita and the Bosch Kits about 2 months ago, but went with the Makita because it fits my hands better.

Bought it at a show for about $50 less than normal.

Bubba.

[tplank]

I have DeWalt 614. Small, light weight, good sight lines, turret plunge settings, and great handles and easy plunge (twist right knob). Great for light work but will not bolt up to a craftsman router table. One complaint: you need disjointed fingers to turn the damned thing on and off.

[Reggie]

I have the porter cable and it has done everything I have ask. At the time I purchased it it was the only combo pack you purchase. If I had to do it again I to would go with the bosch. It has soft start and a larger motor. At most places the pc goes for $199. At my local lowes the bosch goes for $219. The twenty dollar difference would be well worth it.

[Tim Pavuk]

I am a huge Porter Cable fan and do own the 693PK kit as well as their 2HP plunge router (7529). I can't speak to the Bosch or Makita since I have not used them at length but I have heard nothing but rave reviews for both.

Instead let me say this: If you are only going to own one router I would be darn sure it has plenty of power and variable speed.

By plenty of power I would say at least 2 HP. This will give you better performance with more aggressive bits. The variable speed is key if you hope to do any work with large bits such as rail and stile sets or panel raising bits. The larger bits require a slower speed.

As much as I like my PC 690 router I must admit that it was not the first one I bought. I went with the 7529 first since it is a more versatile tool. But I also bought the 690 for edge treatments and its great!

I'd be willing to bet that after the first of the year PC starts putting their new version of the 690, the 690LR, in the kit with the polunge base. But that's just a guess. Bottom line is they are all good but I'd be looking for variable speed for my only router. Good luck.

[Bob R]

Tim,

I believe Makita and Bosch are making Porter Cable take notice that their 693K has fallen behind. I saw somewhere in a magazine (can't remember where) that they may be upgrading their 690 to add variable speed next year. I do like the change they made of replacing the bolt with the clip. It was a real knuckle banger for guys with large hands. I still use my P-C for most hand held routing, but I prefer the Makita for the table.

[RGad2]

Regarding Bob R's comment about getting the P-C router out of the plunge base: I had the same problem the first time I used my plunge base. Then I carefully cleaned both the inside bore of the base and the machined outside of the router motor and applied a coat of Butcher's Paste Wax. The motor and base are still a snug fit -- they're supposed to be -- but all I have to do is put a piece of scrap under the collet, "plunge" and the motor lifts out easy as you please.