Looking for a router with good dust collection.

[Dave Zellers]

... when using freehand. Also plunge capability.

The compact size of the Dewalt DWP611PK has a nice appeal since I already have a few old school big routers.

What do folks here like? If I had to list my priorities, I'd say 1-plunge, 2-chip collection, 3-compact size.

[John Coloccia]

I think a Festool is in your future.

[Robert LaPlaca]

Well festool routers have fantastic dust collection, second best is my Dewalt 621

[Clint Olver]

The Triton routers have pretty good DC.

C

[Jamie Buxton]

I used to use DW621 routers, until Dewalt lost the formula for making them reliable. Then I bought a Festool 1400. It is more reliable, so that's good. However, the dust collection design isn't as good as the 621. The ideal dust collection would collect all the dust and it would let me see where I'm working. The Festool doesn't let me see well in to the router bit. It is the one real shortcoming of the tool.

[Phil Thien]

I like the DW611PK. Great DC, nice plunge, and the price is right (compared to Festool).

[Dave Zellers]

I think a Festool is in your future.
Oh No!

The F-word right out of the gate.

I do have a Festool sander that is awesome.

[John Coloccia]

Oh No!

The F-word right out of the gate.

I do have a Festool sander that is awesome.

They're tough to beat. :) I just bought the Dewalt compact router. Dust collection and plunge didn't matter to me. I needed the Dewalt for a pretty specific purpose. My next real router will be Festool. I have a bookshelf full of routers, and I wish they were all Festools except for my one Dewalt that really fits a specific need I have.

[Dave Zellers]

Well after looking at the Festools, I can say with complete certainty, it won't be a Festool.

Sometimes I think the group in charge of pricing over there drinks too much. $825 for a router? http://festools-online.com/festool-tools-1/festool-routers-accessories-1/festool-routers-1/ft574277-festool-router-of-2200-eb-t-loc.html

I'll pass. Looking like the Dewalts are the way to go.

[Mark Smith, too]

I have a Bosch Colt that I purchased the dust collector attachments for and use with my Festool vac. It works great. It is not a plunger, but I'd imagine any of the top brands would perform well if you can get dust collector fittings for them. I have a full-sized Bosch plunger with add-on dust collection and it also works very well hooked up to the vac.

[Jim Andrew]

I bought a Hitachi M12vc, and sent the base to Eurekazone. They drilled out one of the handles, and put a dust pipe on it. They also took clear plastic and enclosed the openings in the base. Now I just hook up the vac hose to the pipe, and it even works when routing dado joints.

[Mike Goetzke]

I like the DW611PK. Great DC, nice plunge, and the price is right (compared to Festool).

I sold my Bosch Colt and picked up this DW611PK and added the optional DC accessories and couldn't be happier.

Mike

[Victor Robinson]

I bought a Hitachi M12vc, and sent the base to Eurekazone. They drilled out one of the handles, and put a dust pipe on it. They also took clear plastic and enclosed the openings in the base. Now I just hook up the vac hose to the pipe, and it even works when routing dado joints.

This intrigues me. Please tell us more or post a pic if you can!

[Tom Willoughby]

I have a DeWalt 621 that has good dust collection. I don't have anything to compare it to other than a big Porter Cable dedicated to a router table but I would buy the DeWalt again.

[Peter Pedisich]

Dave,

I have used a DW618 with plunge base, as well as a Festool OF1400 for routing mortises in a shop made jig. I have routed more than 125 mortises so far split between the two routers and in my opinion the DeWalt is 90% of the router for 50% of the cost of the Festool. I know you say the Festool is out due to cost, but This may help you consider the DeWalt 2.25hp 618.
- The Festool dust collection, when routing mortises 1.5-2" deep, picks up noticeably more dust than the DeWalt, although visibility on both is poor when the top dust fitting is in place.
- The DeWalt motor seems equal in power, both had no problem with 5/16" - 1/2" plunge bits.
- Both depth turrets are not up to the rest of the machine in quality - too much play.
- The DW has a fantastic fixed base for edge work.

I sold the Festool and kept the DeWalt only because the resale was better on the Festool, and the DeWalt was so close in performance that I kept it. Trying to pare down the power tools.

Good Luck,

Pete

[Jim Andrew]

Victor, you might check out Eurekazone, they had a video posted where they were using the same router with dust collection. I found their phone # on this website and called, sent the base to them, and they worked their magic and sent it back.

[Dave Zellers]

... in my opinion the DeWalt is 90% of the router for 50% of the cost of the Festool.

Thanks- definitely zeroing in on one of the DeWalts.

[Mike Heidrick]

The 618s have a lot of issues with speed controls (magnetic discs) failing. I own 7 of them.

[Jim Rimmer]

Thanks- definitely zeroing in on one of the DeWalts.

Only One? :D

[Richard Shaefer]

I own a lot of dewalt and festool and I have to agree that the Dewalt DW621 is the best router for the money on the market and the dust collection is the best of all the routers I own.

[David Kuzdrall]

Festool is the way to go. My 1400 router is amazingly smooth, easy to adjust and very clean when hooked up to a vacuum.

[Dave Zellers]

Only One? :D

Well I do already have 4 Porter Cables. :cool:

[Rick Fisher]

That $825.00 Festool is not the first choice in Festool Routers.. Its basically a bit more powerful than the PC 7518 .. About as close to a hand held shaper that we get in North America.

For hand use, the OF-1400 is my favorite... I have the 1100 as well.. Its sweet, but if I could only save one from a fire, it would be the OF1400.. I think its $495.00 in the USA ..

[Ryan Wood]

I have a dewalt plung router and the dust collection on it works well. I also like how you turn the handle to lock and unlock the plunge.

[Jim Rimmer]

I got my Woodcraft flyer yesterday. They have the DW small router (DW611PK I think) with plunge base on sale for $209 and you get a free DW corded drill with it.

[Julie Moriarty]

I have the 611 and when I've hooked up the vacuum to the dust collector it worked great. And it has plenty of power.

[Jim Becker]

I'm also a Festool fan for routers with dust collection. The OF1400 has several dust collection setups, depending on what you are actually doing, too. It's not just "from the top" collection.

[Andrew Howe]

What about a bosch.router with dust.collection attachment?