What plunge router do you have?

[Jim Riseborough]

Just checking to see what people think a good plunge router is?

[Keith Hankins]

I have a few. I bought the PC 890 combo pack back when it first came out and it's ok. I liked some of the features like on/off at two locations. I like either cutting it off on top or the side (near the handles). Only drawback is its very tall and can be top heavy. It is a great little router. For plunge cuts though my Festool of1400 is the best for so many reasons. Ergonomics is great, and the DC is unmatched in any other router i've used. IT works great with my CT33e DC auto on/off and the attachements and rails it's just the go to router for plunging. The 890 is a joke for DC. When fully plunged it gets in the way of the hose so really impracticle. Now fixed base routers I still use the old 690 in a D-handle base. For pure power the PC7518 in a plate. OK I know I have a thing for routers.

[Metod Alif]

Jim,
I have two 'big' Makitas. The first one (from ca. 1983) is a single speed, now in a router table (I have a speed control for it). When I was looking for another, hand held, I went with Makita again. At that time, variable speed was available. I am happy with both, and would buy Makita again.
However, many other woodworkers love other makes. So, pay attention to what (I hope) they contribute. Add pros and cons, subtract the hype, and get out your wallet.:)
Best wishes,
Metod

[Edward Dyas]

I have a Harbor Freight 37793 plunge router. Its cheap and gets the job done.

[Jim Riseborough]

I have my eye on the Makita RP1800, anyone have that? I can get it cheap, just over 200$

[Mark Patoka]

I have the PC690 and Makita M12V. The Makita sits in my router table. The PC I bought about 14 years ago with the plunge and fixed bases but I found out that swapping the bodies was a hassle and I rarely used the fixed base so it became my stand-alone plunge router. Someone gave me a Bosch fixed base D-handle a couple years ago so I'm pretty well set. If I ever decide to get a new plunge router, dust collection would be something worth looking into.

[scott spencer]

I've had the Freud FT2000 & FT1700, the Bosch 1617, Hitachi KMV12V, Hitachi M12V, and Milwaukee 5615/5616 plungers here.....I like the MW plunge mechanism best.

[Mike Heidrick]

Dewalt - 625 and a bunch of 618s. I have one 618 with the mag disc gone so no speed control but it runs full speed.

[Bill Huber]

I have 2 Bosch 1617 EVS and for small stuff I have a PC 611.
The Bosch have been a very good routers, I had one in my table for a long time and have never had a real problem with them I did have dust in the switch but that was cleaned out with no problems.
The little PC 611 is getting used more and more, the more I use it the more I like it.

[Mike Cutler]

I have two Porter Cable 8529's, and a Festool OF 2200.
the Festool is clearly the better router ( It better be for the price.), but the PC's aren't junk either. Their plunge lock mechanisms could have been a little more robust though,and if you don't have largish hands, you'll probably have issues with any of my routers.
The Festool has a three sided base, so you have to pay attention to which base edge your referenced too. They're not all equidistant from the bit. The dust collection is outstanding though.

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

I have a couple of "antiques", a Makita 3612 BR, which has been a real reliable router. It is from the 80's, no variable speed, and it doesn't like long bits. The other one is a Bosch 1611 EVS, 220 volt, from the 90's. This one has tons of power, but doesn't plunge as precise as the Makita. Also have the Bosch 1617 EVS combo kit. I don't have much time in on this one, but I'm liking it so far.

[Jim Riseborough]

Thanks, I ended up getting the Makita RP 1800 which is a 3.25 HP Its not a variable speed, but for a plunge router I wouldnt think thats important. If so, I will work around that. I did get it for $218 so seems a good deal.

[Erik Christensen]

Dewalt 618 - liked it but after buying festool routers I do not use it for plunging - it is setup with a fixed base and dedicated to the leigh d4r jig
festool 1010 - lightweight, decent power, great dust collection and used a lot for shelf pin boring
festool 2200 - current favorite - power to spare, great dust collection and very versatile when combined with the rail system

[Keith Christopher]

Porter-cable 8529, I LOVE this router, solid built. I will use it until it stops and there is no replacement parts for it. This is a SOLID slow start router.

[Rick Fisher]

Festool OF1010
Festool OF1400
Festool OF2200

[Cary Falk]

Hitachi M12V
Dewalt 618
Dewalt 611

[Paul McGaha]

I have a Porter Cable 8529. The next one I want to get is one of the little Dewalts.

Good luck with it.

PHM

[Curt Harms]

The newer P-C 890 plunge bases are the same as the DW 618 just machined for the 890 motor. They have through-the-column dust collection as well.

[glenn bradley]

I'm not sure if the quality is still there today but, my Milwaukee's just keep going, and going, and going. I like that the 5615 and 5616 motors can be swapped to any of each other's bases. I have a couple of plunge bases and a few fixed bases with various plates for different functions. I also have a couple of their big-dog 5625's. Knock on wood but, I have yet to have issue one with any of them. All the other colored routers (except my Colt plunge) have died or gone down the highway.

[Jim Becker]

I have several...a Dewalt 618, a Festool OF1400, a Festool OF1010, a PC 7529. (I also have a non-plunge PC7518 in a lift in my router table) I use the Festool routers most of the time and honestly, I absolutely love them. I use the fixed or D-handle base on the Dewalt more often than the plunge base. The PC 7529, which was my original router, only gets pulled out when I need "another router already setup" for some operation.

[Clint Baxter]

Have a Dewalt 618, Makita 1100, Festool 1400 and the new plunge base for my Bosch Colt. Like several others here have mentioned, the Festool gets the nod for the majority of plunge routing tasks, (and other routing tasks as well.) My Makita has been dedicated to, and stays set up for my Leigh FMT. When I am using my PC router jig for through dovetails I will set up the Dewalt with one bit and the Festool with another so I don't have to switch bak and forth.

Also have trim routers from Dewalt, Bosch and Festool, a PC 690 and a PC 7518 mounted in a router table. The 690 sees the least action now and is the oldest of the lot.

Clint

[James Baker SD]

Festool OF2200: bought it for the dust collection (doctor's orders). Sold a perfectly good Bosch 1617 EVS because the dust collection was poor.

[Bruce Page]

I have 3 plunge routers, a PC7539 3¼ hp, a PC 2¼ hp – the one that had all the switch problems, and a small homemade one for my Bosch Colt.

[Charles Wiggins]

I have a PC 7529 that was a refurb. I probably would not buy it again. My main complaint is that the plunge action is not smooth, but I have other minor complaints.

[Ray Newman]

About 10-11 years ago, I bought the DeWalt 621 router. Have not regretted my choice at all. Agree with what Pat Warner said 'bout it:
http://www.patwarner.com/dw621.html

[Gordon Eyre]

DeWalt 625.

[John Piwaron]

PC 7539 and a PC plunge base for an 890 series PC router motor.

248537

[Quesne Ouaques]

11 Amp Craftsman with swappable bases (I leave the fixed-base in the router table), and a Triton 2 1/4 HP. I like them both, but for different things. The Triton's controls are awesome for plunge routing, but the visibility is not great for detail work. I think the 2 bases on the Craftman make it more versatile.

[Will DeGroot]

http://www.blackrocktools.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/370x/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/r/p/rp1101.jpg

I have a Makita RP1101 kit that has served me surprisingly well, to the point where I have not once felt the need to get a more powerful dedicated plunge router as of yet. Plunge action is very smooth and holds tight despite the plastic lock lever. The stop system feels a bit cheesy but has some thoughtful features and works quite well, and the router itself is very quiet and has plenty of power for most applications. Having the fixed base and accessories is a big plus (the included DC shroud works reasonably well), and is overall a very versatile and capable machine.

I inherited the router motor from work when the original fixed base broke, and was lucky enough to find the complete kit minus motor on ebay for cheap. DeWalt and Bosch both make comparable combo kits that generally get better reviews. The DeWalt in particular is very nice (I don't like the Bosch solely because of it's slide-thru base interface). For someone that might not want 10 different routers laying around their shop, this new generation of medium-duty combo kits can do almost anything you require.

[Kevin McCluney]

Ryobi RE-600 I bought in the late 80's - used exclusively in a router table.

[Paul Saffold]

PC 690 & DeWalt 611 combo

[Dan Masshardt]

Craftsman professional with both bases. No complaints at all. Fantastic product for the price.

[Julie Moriarty]

I have a Bosch 1619 EVS that I used to use for plunge cuts until I built a router table for it. That was over 15 years ago and it still works fine today. For hand work I use a DeWalt 621 and it has handled anything I've put to it, plunges easily and has decent dust collection. I bought that about 6-7 years ago and have had no problems. One feature that bothers me from time to time is that once you release the trigger, you have to wait until the motor stops completely before the trigger will work again.

[scott spencer]

Still have a Milwaukee 5615 plunge/fixed kit that I really like, and a Freud FT1700 kit. At one time or another I've also had the Freud FT2000, Bosch 1617, and Hitachi plungers.

[steven c newman]

Last spring I went into Sears and came out with a big, black bag. I bought one of the Craftsman "kits" that had both a fixed base, and the plunge base. No problems yet..249192249193249194

[Steve Rozmiarek]

Dewalt 621, some Milwaukee kit, and a Bosch something. Every time I use a router though, I think, there has got to be a more civilized way to do this. That leads to some neanderthal time with a plane of some shape, or a shaper, and muttering about just buying that $$$$ Festool plunge router because then at least I know I theoretically have the best tool for the job and can quit thinking about it...

Hmmm, don't much care for routers I guess.

[Mark Ashmeade]

I've got three RIDGID R29301 combo sets, and a little DW611 combo.

The RIDGIDs are a little stiff on the springs, but have LED lighting, which I find very useful. They're also plenty powerful, and natively 1/2" collet. They also take PC bushings. Not bad for $125 ea on clearance. I do prefer the fixed bases, but this thread is about plunge routing.

[Craig Behnke]

Festool 1400. got it 2 weeks ago. used it just once so far. extremely high quality tool. light years superior to my prior router experience (porter cable). not that the PC is bad, it's just that festool is that much better...in my humble opinion.

[David Hostetler]

2 Hitachi KM12VCs and a B&D Firestorm. The Firestorm is total junk, but the Hitachis are fantastic...