DEWALT DW618B3 12 Amp 2-1/4 Horsepower Plunge Base and Fixed Base and

List Price: $478.42 Discount Price: $254.00

Features:

• 2-1/4-horsepower 3-base router kit
• Variable speed (8,000 to 24,000 rpm); micro-fine depth adjustments at 1/64-inch increments
• Die-cast aluminum bases; nickel-plated die-cast aluminum motor housings
• Includes router motor, D-handle base, fixed base, plunge base, collets, wrench, sub-base concentricity gauge, vacuum adaptor, large hole sub-base, kit box
• 19.9 by 24 by 7.8 inches; 27.4 pounds; 3-year limited warranty

Accessories:
Freud 91-100 13-Piece Super Router Bit Set with 1/2-Inch Shank and Freud's TiCo Hi-Density Carbide	Milescraft 1204 SpiroCrafter Router Pattern Cutting Kit	Milescraft 1202 TurnLock Universal Router Bushing Set	Milescraft 1200 TurnLock Universal Router Base Plate Kit	Freud 90-100 15-Piece, 1/4-Inch Shank Set

Customer Reviews:

Best buy out there [Posted on 2008-02-09]
You can not find it cheaper. If you are thinking then buy it. I looked and amazon has it the cheapest and delievers faster than anyone!

Good but not Great, Buy good bits [Posted on 2008-04-21]
Ok, so I bought this after reading all the reviews. I've returned one and got another. In both cases I had a collet break. DO NOT USE CHEAP ROUTER BITS! I have determined this cased the breakage. The 1/4" broke using a Bosch bit. I noticed as I was putting in the bit it was tight, where as the Amana bit fit smoothly and the same for the Whiteside. Also I use a wrench for tightening instead of the push in. I feel I can get a better tightening of the bit using two wrenches.

It accepts Porter Cable (PC) stuff so that' a plus, but if I had to do it again I think I would spend more and get a PC. Good news is PC service department seems to be great, I have another collet on it's way.

dewaltrouter [Posted on 2008-06-29]
It will spoil you. The router is light, has a smooth 'wind-up speed, has fast/easy adjustments,is not too loud. The carrying case neatly houses everything-if you need to just throw the tool in the back of your pick-up or whatever. Truly, this is a real man's tool. Tom

As the Router Turns - Choosing a Kit... in a nutshell. [Posted on 2008-07-14]
So...

I'll add my two cents. I too have wandered into the "choosing a router" soap opera.

I had been happy with my Dewalt 1621, until I tried to use a template guide. For some reason, the collet isn't remotely centered on the base plate - making the router useless with a template guide. There seems to be no way to adjust the 1621's base plate - so off I went in search of a new router.

The two kits I decided to choose from were the Bosch and the Dewalt. I read reviews of the Porter Cable, but the reviews seemed negative enough that they dissuaded me from considering it.

First, I took the Bosch kit home. Things to know:

A.) The kit I had was the 1617(whatever) router. This particular router is not compatible with the Bosch D-handled base. This seems to be a magnificent marketing failure. It means that if you want to use the D-handled base, you're going to have to buy another "motor" - the 1618(whatever).

B.) The Bosch fixed base router uses an awkward (in my opinion) three position depth setting. As the motor slides into the base, you can stop at one of three detents. Once you have picked a detent, a "fine setting" allows you to to move up or down from that particular position. Bottom line: You have to guess which detent will get you the depth you want (if it is close). If you're wrong, then you will have to completely reset the "fine adjustment" and move to a different detent.

C.) Bosch doesn't include the centering cone - essential if you are going to use template guides.

D.) They still don't seem to be using a sealed switch. The complaints about the switch, and Bosch's seeming indifference, were a deal-breaker. Who wants to have to deal with such an obvious deficiency in a product? The placement of the switch is also marginal at best. Unless you're a Horowitz, you're going to have to let go of a handle to flip the switch.

E.) The Bosch vacuum attachment is a piece of plastic that seems, in my opinion, apt to break in the sometimes clumsy hands of a tradesman. It doesn't fit the standard shop vacuum. Then again, none of the tools I own fit a standard shop vac... what *is* with that?!?

F.) The depth adjustments on the Bosch seemed like afterthoughts, in my view. The fine adjustment isn't easy to turn or read.

Now to the Dewalt:

A.) The Dewalt comes with a D-Handled base. The motor fits beautifully in all three bases.

B.) The Dewalt motor smoothly spirals downward into the fixed base. This makes setting the depth a much simpler prospect than with the Bosch. Loosen the base, twist one way to go up, or the other to go down. I fine adjustment provides, well, a fine adjustment.

C.) Dewalt includes a centering cone.

D.) The switch is sealed and well placed. You can engage without letting go of the router.

E.) The Dewalt Plunge Base includes a built-in, indestructible, Vacuum attachment. A marginal piece of plastic *can* be put on, but may not be necessary. In my case, I'm routing foam, yes, foam, and the vacuum worked great without the plastic attachment.

F.) The depth adjustments on the Dewalt were nothing to write home about, but they were better, in my view, than what Bosch offered. They put some thought into them, at least.

Last word: I have read the other reviews concerning exploding magnetic rings. We'll see... On the upside, Dewalt offers a 3 year warranty. Bosch does not.

DeWALT continues to impress [Posted on 2008-09-05]
I purchased this router to do speaker cabinet work and also to be part of a tool collective my friends created. After looking at the price point I wanted, this was the only real option on the list.

We have used Plunge Base and the Fixed Base, but not the D-Handle (that I know of). The motor swapout, while very handy, is also rather difficult depending on the base it is in. The depth adjustments on the plunger are rather non-exact and require a lot of work to get it setup just right. The guide rails for the fixed base are great. That said, I don't know if it is a consistency issue, but the machining of the holes for the rails was unfinished/partially blocked, and required some work to get the rails to actually slide through them the first time.

The case is a nice size, and easy to store, however there isn't a location for more than a tiny box of bits, and that involves some gerrymandering of the loose parts. After getting used to using the product, this is my only remaining complaint. My workbench is setup for electronics and not woodworking normally, so keeping various tool-sets together is quite important to me.

As a person that is relatively new to woodworking myself (rather than just helping others), having a guide as to speed vs. hardness of material would have been nice, but given the general instructions that came with it are not written all that well (as corroborated by a friend that has grown up with woodworking), that is probably out of scope.

I definitely recommend it, but I can't give it 5 stars.

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