Pete Kurki
10-19-2008, 12:42 PM
I have finally made a decision to invest in two dedicated routers for dovetailing to avoid continuous bit changing. In the past I have been successfully using a 2-1/4 hp DW618 router on plywood, but in the future I will be making lots of oak hardwood drawer boxes as well. In a previous SMC discussion on similar topic PC690 was getting quite a few votes for dovetailing, but since it is only 1-3/4 hp I have been wondering if it is enough power for clean cuts in hardwood. I am also concerned about the weight of the routers, as I feel that lighter weight gives me a better control of the cutting operation.
So far I have looked at the following options:
PC690LR 1-3/4hp 8lbs
PC891 2-1/4hp 9lbs
DW616 1-3/4hp 7.1lbs
DW618 2-1/4hp 7.2lbs
Milw5615 1-3/4hp 8.8lbs
Milw5616 2-1/4hp 8.8lbs
Based on this info I collected from each manufacturer's web sites the winner is DW618, as I would get 2-1/4 hp units with less weight than the other brands' 1-3/4 models. Milwaukee's body grip might be a nice bonus, but I am not sure it's worth the extra 1.6 lbs (22%) weight vs. DW618. The pricing of these products in Amazon seems to be quite comparable between brands within the same hp. But then again when I am buying tools to be used for years to come functionality is the primary factor for my decision, not price.
I would like to hear some constructive creeker input in this topic before I make the final decision. Do you agree about the benefit of light weight or do some of you actually prefer heavier units with dovetail jig? How about the hp - I know some of you use even 3-1/4 hp plunge routers with dovetail jigs. What kind of materials or situations may require more than 2-1/4 hp for cutting dovetails? Or is there anything else I might need to consider at this point?
Pete
So far I have looked at the following options:
PC690LR 1-3/4hp 8lbs
PC891 2-1/4hp 9lbs
DW616 1-3/4hp 7.1lbs
DW618 2-1/4hp 7.2lbs
Milw5615 1-3/4hp 8.8lbs
Milw5616 2-1/4hp 8.8lbs
Based on this info I collected from each manufacturer's web sites the winner is DW618, as I would get 2-1/4 hp units with less weight than the other brands' 1-3/4 models. Milwaukee's body grip might be a nice bonus, but I am not sure it's worth the extra 1.6 lbs (22%) weight vs. DW618. The pricing of these products in Amazon seems to be quite comparable between brands within the same hp. But then again when I am buying tools to be used for years to come functionality is the primary factor for my decision, not price.
I would like to hear some constructive creeker input in this topic before I make the final decision. Do you agree about the benefit of light weight or do some of you actually prefer heavier units with dovetail jig? How about the hp - I know some of you use even 3-1/4 hp plunge routers with dovetail jigs. What kind of materials or situations may require more than 2-1/4 hp for cutting dovetails? Or is there anything else I might need to consider at this point?
Pete