Mike Cutler
06-16-2005, 11:55 AM
Hey Folks. I'm looking for advice on a new router. I currently have two Porter Cable 8529's.
The router will be for hand held use only. I would like to have a soft start router, it needs to have plunge capability, and I would like it to be compatable with the Micro Fence Jig (although this is not an etched in stone requirement).I'm 6'3" tall, and have large hands so the on/off button location is probably a non-issue
I find the PC 8529 to be somewhat cumbersome. I'm always having to remove the baseplate and switch to an alternative baseplate, based on bit selection and job necessity. The dust collection shroud on the 8529 does not allow the router to have full plunge depth capability. The collet nut makes contact with the dust shroud. The dust shrouud also interferes with the retraction of some bit profiles, and has to be removed to install template bushings.
I use an alternative baseplate for template routing that is compatable with the Porter Cable template bushings. The original baseplate has an "adapter" that performs this function, but is not truly compatable with the Porter Cable template bushings(poor machining tolerances) and it's made of aluminum which causes problems with aluminum template bushings, and it is kind of a pain to align properly.
The depth adjusment rod is also made of soft aluminum and is not the most reliable depth stop.
The plunge lock mechanism is once again soft aluminum, and requires adjustment periodically to remove the wearing of the aluminum on aluminum parts.
It's hard to complain about these routers though, I got them for a $100 bucks each, and they are good routers. It's just that lately I've been doing alot of router work by hand, and I am getting tired of taking them apart and putting them back together. These routers have been real troopers in a router table, and I'll probably just make a duel router table in the future and leave them permanantly mounted.
Thanks for the feedback in advance
The router will be for hand held use only. I would like to have a soft start router, it needs to have plunge capability, and I would like it to be compatable with the Micro Fence Jig (although this is not an etched in stone requirement).I'm 6'3" tall, and have large hands so the on/off button location is probably a non-issue
I find the PC 8529 to be somewhat cumbersome. I'm always having to remove the baseplate and switch to an alternative baseplate, based on bit selection and job necessity. The dust collection shroud on the 8529 does not allow the router to have full plunge depth capability. The collet nut makes contact with the dust shroud. The dust shrouud also interferes with the retraction of some bit profiles, and has to be removed to install template bushings.
I use an alternative baseplate for template routing that is compatable with the Porter Cable template bushings. The original baseplate has an "adapter" that performs this function, but is not truly compatable with the Porter Cable template bushings(poor machining tolerances) and it's made of aluminum which causes problems with aluminum template bushings, and it is kind of a pain to align properly.
The depth adjusment rod is also made of soft aluminum and is not the most reliable depth stop.
The plunge lock mechanism is once again soft aluminum, and requires adjustment periodically to remove the wearing of the aluminum on aluminum parts.
It's hard to complain about these routers though, I got them for a $100 bucks each, and they are good routers. It's just that lately I've been doing alot of router work by hand, and I am getting tired of taking them apart and putting them back together. These routers have been real troopers in a router table, and I'll probably just make a duel router table in the future and leave them permanantly mounted.
Thanks for the feedback in advance