Hitachi M12VC a Mistake???

[rcp612]

I bought the M12VC because of price at the time, and it seemed to be a great value. My question is, Where do I have to go to get accessories such as template guides, dust collector, etc.? Will it fit any router lift made? Or should I put it on E-bay and buy a P-C. Seems like the whole industry is geared toward the P-C or Dewalt.
Thanks, one proud BT3100 owner.

[Zich]

The M12V is a great router for the price, but you do indeed have to put some work into "customizing" it.

[wardprobst]

There is some information on customizing at
www.woodshopdemos.com/
but it is for the 12V which is somewhat different from your machine I believe. Hope this helps,
Dale

[rcp612]

confused with router?

I appreciate the replies to my 1st post but, I'm looking for accessories and a lift to fit the Hitachi M12VC. The answers so far are for the M12V. I think Hitachi has their model numbers too similar.
Somewhere I thought I had read that the M12VC was very much like the P-C 690, but I can't find out if lifts are compatible or if bases and guide bushings would fit.
Thanks again for the insight., Roger

[LarryG]

Somewhere I thought I had read that the M12VC was very much like the P-C 690, but I can't find out if lifts are compatible or if bases and guide bushings would fit.

Being a new model, some of the lift mfrs may not yet be responding to the M12VC's presence in the market.

That said, Woodpeckers shows a separate adapter sleeve for the M12VC so apparently its not the same 3.5" motor diameter as the P-C, Bosch, and DeWalt, or the 3.25" of the Makita.

http://www.woodpeck.com/precisionrouterlift.html

Porter-Cable guide bushings use a stepped hole with a clear diameter of 1-3/16". If your subbase has that for its center hole, you're all set in this department. Can't tell you if the P-C subbase uses the same mounting hole locations.

[vaking]

I have both M12V and M12SC which is a twin of M12VC (single speed). All router lifts are made for M12V, there are none for M12VC specifically. There is, however, a statement that M12VC is backwords compatible with most PC accesories for 690 series. Any base plate for 690 should fit M12VC. I would expect any lift for 690 should work with M12VC. I do not have PC myself, but template guides that come with M12SC kit are definitely compatible with PC. BTW, the compatibility is backwords only, PC base plates work with M12VC, but not the other way around.

[bfrikken]

Probably a mistake.... You should probably send it to me immediately so I can confirm it for myself....

I'll gladly reimburse you the s/h though

[SHADOWFOX]

Anybody actually have a porter cable 690 series router and this router? Reason, I am asking is because I have a PC694VK and a Rousseau router lift. I would like to se if this Hitachi M12VC can be a substitute for my PC694VK as a dedicated router for the lift.

A friend of mine is selling me a brand new M12VC for $50.00 and I am tempted to buy but I would like to know if anybody actually have this router and if the diameter of the motor is the same as PC690 series?

Appreciate any info.

[messmaker]

If someone can give you a reading on the 690, # on the Hitachi are 3.27 " diameter and the motor is 4" high. I hope this helps

[LarryG]

A P-C 69x motor cylinder is 3.5" dia. IINM the 890 series is the same size. The corresponding Bosch and DeWalt motors are the same size as the 690. The Makita 1100 series is smaller, but I can't recall by how much.

[mpphoto]

I have the Hitachi single speed version of your router. I tried to put it in a Rousseau lift designed for the PC690 and unfortunately the motor housing is smaller than the PC so it didn't work. I ended up getting a dedicated router for the table (Freud 1700) and keeping the Hitachi for handheld work.

I can confirm that PC690 accessories fit very well. I got a Pat Warner offset base for it (www.patwarner.com) and it fits perfectly. I also bought a PC edge guide that works fine. As far as performance I've been very happy with it. I got it during one of amazon's amazing sales and for what I paid it wasn't worth getting rid of. I'm glad I kept it.

I bought a kit with plunge and regular bases and three base plates. It included an adapter to hold standard PC type guide bushings. My advice however is to get yourself a couple of Pat Warner bases (regular and offset) which take the PC bushings.

I contacted Hitachi directly about ordering the dust shroud and they directed me to several service centers in my area where I was able to order one. I haven't received it yet so I can't comment on performance.

It's the same dust shroud for the M12vc and M12sc routers.
From Hitachi:

The part number for the dust collector for both tool is 323346 and list
at $40.64. Here is a list of Service Centers in your area, if they
don't have the part in stock they can order for you. You can also
contact us directly at 800-706-7337.

For the same money I would have spent on a router lift I got the FT1700VCEK router which has above table depth adjustments and bit changes. It also comes with a dust shroud so I can collect dust at the router and the fence.

Michael