Plunge Router Question

[Jay Jolliffe]

Is there a plunge router that will plunge 2 1/2". I have to make 10 doors & I want to use a router to do the mortising. The plunge cutters I have will go to 2 1/2" so I'm looking for a router that will do it. I also have a Powermatic hollow chisel mortiser that will go to 3" but I think the router will do the job faster & neater

[pat warner]

Fein 1800, PC 7539, & DW 625.

[Jamie Buxton]

You may not need to buy a new router. You can do the job in two passes. You rout the mortise with a short bit, going as deep as it can. Then you put a longer bit in the router, one that sticks beyond the base. You plunge it down to cut the remainder of the mortise. I've cut 4"-deep mortises like this with a router that only plunges 2". You can get long router bits from many of the usual sources, or get long end-mills from machinist-supply places like Enco.

[Jay Jolliffe]

That might work if I had a few to do but each door will have 12 & there are 10 doors. I think having a router that can do that depth in a few passes would be a lot faster.