Dust Collection on 2 1/4 HP routers

[Michael Lutz]

I have a 1 1/2" PC 690 router kit with the plunge and fixed base for hand use and will have a PC 7518 in a table. I am looking at getting a 2 1/4" plunge router. When I use my 690 chips get everywhere, so I am looking at a router with good dust collection. I understand that the Festool OF 1400 has good dust collection, but it is more than other alternatives and will be suject to a greater than 10% cost increase in April. So, I have looked at less expensive plungers or multi-base kits from Bosch, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Porter Cable and I have liked things about all of them. How good is the dust collection.

Mike

[Keith Spaniel]

I have a dewalt 621 . the dust collection works great, it has 2 plastic covers that help keep the suction happening. some times they have to come off for certain bits. It can be a little of a slow down to put them on and take them off. Keith

[Jim Becker]

I can attest to the excellent dust collection on the OF1400. Versatile in that respect, too, with both top and bottom pickup, depending on what you are doing. I recently used mine for rabbiting the back edges of some upper cabinet carcass components with the edge pickup and there was almost no noticeable debris anywhere.

If you want to go plunge only, that DW621 is reported to have relatively decent dust collection. The plunge base for the DW618 is similarly equipped, but I have not tried the dust collection on mine...I've only used that base for drilling shelf support holes.

[Peter Quinn]

Dust collection on bosch 1617 evs kit is reasonably good. One shroud does plunging in the middle of work, another for edge forming work. Think it came with mine on amazon.

[Kevin Groenke]

We have both DeWalt 621 and the 618 kit. I haven't used the Festool, so I cannot make a comparison, but:

When routing on flat surfaces the DW "through-the-post" routers capture dust/chips more effectively (and less clumsily) than other solutions I've used, especially if you use the insert which contains the dust/chips at the base(sometimes a PITA). If you're edge routing, all bets are off and you're going to have to capture chips/dust below the baseplate or use a table mounted solution with dust collection at the fence.

I am NOT a big fan of DeWalt, but I like both of these routers better than comparable units by other manufacturers. They are comfortable, well spec'd and have proven quite durable in our abusive environment. Their "user interfaces" seem effective and quite intuitive.

If you want a dedicated plunger and 2hp is adequate, the 621 is IMO the best router going. If you want some more versatility, the 618 kit also has some nice features. The finger triggered D-handle can be used one-handed and is quite comfortable. The plunge base, though not as good as the 621's is quite comfortable and effective. The 618 3base kit can be had for ~$250 which is quite a lot of bang for the buck.

g'luck
-kg

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http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/4195ECZGT5L._AA280_.jpg

[Jason White]

I have the Bosch 1617EVSK kit. It comes with a detachable dust collection port. When connected to my Festool vac, it gets the majority of the dust.

Jason


I have a 1 1/2" PC 690 router kit with the plunge and fixed base for hand use and will have a PC 7518 in a table. I am looking at getting a 2 1/4" plunge router. When I use my 690 chips get everywhere, so I am looking at a router with good dust collection. I understand that the Festool OF 1400 has good dust collection, but it is more than other alternatives and will be suject to a greater than 10% cost increase in April. So, I have looked at less expensive plungers or multi-base kits from Bosch, Milwaukee, Dewalt, and Porter Cable and I have liked things about all of them. How good is the dust collection.

Mike

[Curt Harms]

I just cut some holes for clock inserts using a P-C 8529 plunger & Jasper Jig. The chip collection with that setup was excellent. The through-the-post setup for the DeWalt (and now the plunge P-C 890 base might be better from a hose management standpoint. Like Kevin said, chip collection doing edge treatments is hit and miss, mostly miss.

HTH

Curt

[Michael Lutz]

The Dewalt 621 should be fine powerwise. I haven't used my 693 plunge base all that often, due to its lack of dust collection.

Mike

[michael osadchuk]

.... ditto others positive evaluation of the dewalt 621 as having v. good dust collection; any shop vac will do.... Pat Warner's recent book on routers also rates it best in this hp range/hand use/plunge category

good luck

michael

[Rick Thom]

How about a Triton 2 1/4 hp? Award winner best overall and best value 2007.
Very good on dc.. http://nhwoodworker.com/triton2/tritonmfo1_pg2.html