Porter Cable Speedmatic question.

[Joe McMahon]

I have a chance to pick up a Porter Cable Speedmatic router for $100. The pictures look to be in decent condition. Is this a deal?

TIA, Joe

[mark kosse]

I think speedmatic is a term, not a model. I'd say high for a 690, ok for a 890, and jump all over it for a 7518. Those being the most common PC routers.

[Joe McMahon]

It is a 7518. Thanks for the reply

[Peter Quinn]

If it's in good running condition, that's a pretty deep discount versus new. They sell for close to $300. It's my favorite big production router. Not the sort of thing I grab to put a 1/4" quarter round on the edge of a board, but for spinning big bits it's great. It's my go to for thick counter top edge forming, pretty decent in a router table as long as you don't choke it with dust and kill the bearings. I bought mine used from a retired cabinet maker, after using one for years at work I had to jump on it. It's my least used but most valuable router out of 7 or 8....I've lost count....

[pat warner]

Could be 518 Speedmatic. Had nothing but speed problems
Weighed >15 pounds, a near Fugazi.
The 519 (single speed) was a pretty good tool.

Speedmatics older than the 518 (>25 years) were good tools.
Had ~1.5HP lasted forever.
A 25 year old tool in good condition? Nope, not without new wires, brushes, bearings and switch.
Better off with a new 690, its early replacement.

[Mike McGrath]

Joe, if the router is in proper working order then $100 is a good price for it. The only drawback is no dust collection which I consider important. You can add a Betterly Stacc-Vac to the 7518 and many other brands of router to fix this problem. There is a plastic snap in restrictor with a 1/2" hole for your bits shank and attachments for edge routing to aid in capturing the most dust.
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[Ray Newman]

If it is a Porter-Cable (PC) 7518, turn it on/off at each speed setting. A few years ago, there were various threads on a few woodworking sites 'bout the PC 7518 speed setting switch failing or not working properly. If I recall correctly, replacements were not exactly economical.

If used in a home shop, it just very well be worth it, but in a commercial shop, I would be wary.

My PC 7518 is a dedicate router table use unit. I found it to be just too big and bulky to use otherwise.

[Mel Fulks]

I thought speedmatic was one speed with control to make it maintain speed under load. Think speed tronic is the one with actual different speeds. Or do I have that reversed?