Best dust control router?

[Mac McQuinn]

I'm currently using a PC #691 D-handle router although hoping to fine something which does a better job on capturing saw dust. any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks,
Mac

[Eric DeSilva]

My festool has amazing dust collection hooked up to my CT-22. That said, my Triton isn't bad either, and wasn't nearly as expensive.

[Julian Wong]

Router table would be best!
If you do a lot of bearing mounted routing (like edge routing), then you should get an "aftermarket" shroud that you can screw on to the router base. Rockler sells something like that.

If you do more freehand plunge cuts, then I would recomend the DW616/618 plunge base the vac sucks very nicely and removes almost all dust. I love mine!

[Dewey Torres]

I think your are going to find that the Festool along with one of their tool activated dust collectors are among if not the best. I saw David Marks use one of these tools in person and it was amazing.

[Jim Becker]

Festool OF1400 and OF1010 paired with one of the CT vacs will likely be "best". For other machines, the Dewalt DW621 has always gotten kudos for dust collection and the DW618/616 with the plunge base should be similar. (I've never hooked mine up to a vac to test, however) Most routers, outside of the Festool, will likely require some third party help for some operations for edge work or things like dovetail jigs.

[Paul Atkins]

Very quiet too!

[Greg Hines, MD]

The PC 890 "D-handle" has through the handle vacuum attachment, and works pretty good when coupled with the plastic dust shield. I think it works a bit better than the plunge base, but both have through the handle dust control.

Doc

[Peter Quinn]

Festool. Festool. Festool.

[glenn bradley]

Very quiet too!

But the dust gets all over! Dust collection at the tool is a Festool forte and I would believe anyone who has used them who says that they rock. I have not used one. Plastic shields with vac attachments I've tried include the Triton, Milwaukee, DeWalt and Bosch with a nod to the Triton and the rest about the same which is not bad.

[Dennis Peacock]

Festool has this as a winner hands down. Their tools are designed for dust collection.

[Mac McQuinn]

Thanks for all the suggestions guys. As much as I would love to have some of the Festool products, they're too rich for my blood(pension).

Mac

[Phil Thien]

The DeWalt 621 and 618 motor in the plunge base have pretty good DC.

[Jamie Buxton]

I moved from a DW621 to a Festool 1400. I say the dust collection system on the DeWalt is better. Both routers collect dust well, but on the DeWalt you can see better what you're doing. Somehow there's less stuff in the way. Overall, the Festool is the better router (and it should be for that price!), but on this one issue, the DeWalt is the winner.

[Mac McQuinn]

Very quiet too!

Paul ,
I truly appreciate your input, I'm certainlly working towards a non-machined shop although I still tend to build a bunch of stuff requiring router jigs and such. My Lie Neilsen low angle block plane and other hand tools have been getting used more than ever though. A little at a time............

Mac

[Paul Atkins]

Just a little joke-- I've got lots of noisy tools and a cushioned floor of woodchips. Actually a nice little useful tool though. 'Next' project is Pentz cyclone after a major cleanup to find a place to put it.

[Don Selke]

I too vote for Festool but I better be careful or the Festool groupie police will come out again, Be careful.:D:D
I know that the Festool products are pricy so a second recommendation would be the DeWalt 616-618. I have them as well and they really do a good job. At one time, I was sold on Porter-Cable until the company sold out. It appears that Porter-Cable is becomming or being absorbed by Black & Decker.

[Ed Hazel]

I moved from a DW621 to a Festool 1400. I say the dust collection system on the DeWalt is better. Both routers collect dust well, but on the DeWalt you can see better what you're doing. Somehow there's less stuff in the way. Overall, the Festool is the better router (and it should be for that price!), but on this one issue, the DeWalt is the winner.
Are you using your routers with a DC system or a shop vac?

[Doug Shepard]

Here's a pic of Festool DC in action inside the house last winter though at the time of the pic I had unplugged the vac hose.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showpost.php?p=843038&postcount=22
I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to. I've also got a DW621 and there's no way I'd even consider trying to use that inside.

[Chuck Tringo]

I can tell you for certain its not a hitachi....

[Mac McQuinn]

Here's a pic of Festool DC in action inside the house last winter though at the time of the pic I had unplugged the vac hose.
http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showpost.php?p=843038&postcount=22
I wouldn't hesitate to do it again if I had to. I've also got a DW621 and there's no way I'd even consider trying to use that inside.


I guess the pictures speak for itself. I'm hesitant to use a router in basement shop with 3 forms of dust control, I can't imagine doing it in actual living quarters....

Mac

[Mac McQuinn]

The Tritons are on sale at Woodcraft and look interesting, I'd read somewhere Triton was having fanancial difficultes, Is there any truth to this?

Any owners have input on their routers, + or -?

Mac

[Dino Makropoulos]

I'm currently using a PC #691 D-handle router although hoping to fine something which does a better job on capturing saw dust. any suggestions or ideas?

Thanks,
Mac

Few ideas:

Dust collection on fixed base routers. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=078GU3wSVtU
Installing a dust shield to your CS. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eDTC8tRAyhk
Installing the ez dust port http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvnY46ckmhM
Installing a rear dust port. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PvnY46ckmhM
Testing the dust collection mod's. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SHCMvBGly_4
Dust collection on the PC 314. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLdMtNVMFl8

[michael osadchuk]

Are you using your routers with a DC system or a shop vac?

I use my DC 621 with a shop vac and it works great ...... Pat Warner (router guru) did a book on routers several years ago in which he named what he considers the best routers in several classes and the dc 621 got the nod in hand held mid power, in part because of the dust collection....

good luck

michael

[Mac McQuinn]

Thanks for the links

Mac

[Michael Stanley]

I have DeWalt 621 that has excellent dust control in plunge cuts. My experience is any router is problematic when edge routing.

[Paul Greathouse]

Another vote for the Dewalt 621, I love mine, I just wish Dewalt would make a 3 1/2 hp router with the same through the post dust collection that the 621 has.

I'm sure Fesstool makes fine routers with great dust collection but their price point is not for everyone. In my opinion the 621 is the best alternative to Fesstool.