Router comparison - help me decide

[gad5264]

Thanks to Jeffrey and his latest sale I have acquired a JessEm Rout-R-Lift FX. The manual suggests any of the following routers for the installation. Since I do not have any of these I am asking for opinions on them.

PC 690 or 890
Bosch 1617 or 1618
DW 610, 616 or 618

Thanks in advance,

[jseklund]

I've only ever used one router, so I can't speak for anything else, but I love my DeWalt 618 with 3 bases. Awesome little machine.

[whitecobra]

I am a Porter Cable and Ryobi guy
I ahve MANY routers (read now over 10) and all are either PC or Ryobi with one exception that is a Freud

Dr D

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Bosch 1617. Buy the kit and sell the fixed base, punge base, edge guide, etc and you will end up with a nearly free router motor. The DeWalt is as good as the Bosch. It has the ability to change bits with one wrench instead of two. Or you can use two wrenchs with it. Your option.

You need to add to your post that you also got a Trition 3.25hp so you have a dedicated handheld router. Thus, you do not need 3 base system, infact you are just looking for the motor.

I think any of the three will be fine, let price be the deciding factor. All you need is varible speed, no need for any other features really.

[gad5264]

Bosch 1617. Buy the kit and sell the fixed base, punge base, edge guide, etc and you will end up with a nearly free router motor. The DeWalt is as good as the Bosch. It has the ability to change bits with one wrench instead of two. Or you can use two wrenchs with it. Your option.

You need to add to your post that you also got a Trition 3.25hp so you have a dedicated handheld router. Thus, you do not need 3 base system, infact you are just looking for the motor.

I think any of the three will be fine, let price be the deciding factor. All you need is varible speed, no need for any other features really.

What he said..... thanks for the input Jeff.

[TheRic]

"Triton ... dedicated handheld router"

I got the Triton router (Thanks again Jeffrey) to be used in a router table. Did I miss something. I thought the Triton was one of the better routers to use in a table!?

[Jeffrey Schronce]

"Triton ... dedicated handheld router"

I got the Triton router (Thanks again Jeffrey) to be used in a router table. Did I miss something. I thought the Triton was one of the better routers to use in a table!?

Triton is used without a lift in the table and is a great application there. A motor mounted in a lift such as being described is a different approach. Here you would take the motor out of the base (can't do that with the Triton) and put it into a lift. A dedicated lift with a dedicated motor such as being described here would prevent one from ever having to go under the table for coarse or fine adjustment. The Triton will require you to make adjustments under the table, as well as reset the safety switch after a bit change. Not a big deal, but different from a lift/motor combo.

[bmyers]

1617 or the craftsman version of the 1617 in red. It's a great combo with the FX. Though in a router table it's hard to tell what name brand router is spinning the bit.

I have a 690 also and even with the occasional "dust in the 1617 on/off switch" problem, I'd still recommend it because it has a lower RPM bottom end than the 690 for large bits. (IIRC) (YMMV) (PSDOCC) (DNAAH)


Bill

[drumpriest]

I would recommend NOT using the 690, get a variable speed router for it. I personally have both the Bosch 1617evspke kit, and an 892 Porter Cable kit. I've used them both in the FX. Love them both. I now leave my 892 in all of the time because I like the bosch plunge so much better that I just leave it out all of the time.

[LCHIEN]

considering it will be a motor mounted in a table mount and it sounds like you're not really planning on removing it for hand use, all the benefits of the bases and slick plunging and depth adjustment are all out the window.
You should focus on the performance of the motor alone, which means HP and variable speed and maybe the convenience and reliability of the collet systems.

That said, picking up a 690 would be the cheapest route, but lacks a bit of power and VS. I forget, is there a 690VS?

Short of that, a 1617EVS, DW618 or PC89x would do well - someone suggested selling all the bases and accessories of the 1617evs.
I imagine will get $100 for both bases leaving you with a $120 motor with nice soft start and 2.25 HP.

Good luck.

[LarryG]

The variable speed version of the P-C is the 694.

DeWalts have superb electronics so for a VS, table-only router, I'd probably go with a 618 myself. But the unneeded goodies that come with the Bosch would probably be easier to sell, for more money, so that might tip the scales toward it in this particular case.

Can't really go wrong with any of these three (as long as it's a variable-speed router).

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I have a 690 also and even with the occasional "dust in the 1617 on/off switch" problem, I'd still recommend it because it has a lower RPM bottom end than the 690 for large bits. (IIRC) (YMMV) (PSDOCC) (DNAAH)
Bill

1617s sold today should have the new sealed switch thus the dust issue should be a non-issue.

[Knottscott]

You can narrow down the field by ruling out the smaller routers. The bigger units should have an easier time of it. From there, but the best deal.

[LinuxRandal]

Thanks to Jeffrey and his latest sale I have acquired a JessEm Rout-R-Lift FX. The manual suggests any of the following routers for the installation. Since I do not have any of these I am asking for opinions on them.

PC 690 or 890
Bosch 1617 or 1618
DW 610, 616 or 618

Thanks in advance,

Do you have a handheld router?
What are it's specs/model?

Any of these are good, then you go to better by both personal feel, and if you have accessories that can be used between them. Since your putting it in a lift, it's going in a table, and I assume you have an idea of what bits your going to use with them. You will want both variable speed, and the smarts (constant velocity), which knocks out the 690, but maybe not a 694.
How soon do you need it? Could you add it to your cart and catch one on an Amazon special? Could you get a bargin at Woodcraft or Rockler this weekend?
I would even check out my local borgs, and email HDT asking about open box specials, after all, do you need the other bases.
The bargin may rule your choice on this one.