Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW610F 1-1/2 HP Heavy Duty Fixed Base Router

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I own a couple of routers, and this is my favorite. The others are larger, more powerful, and have more features. This one though, is the one I find myself using most often. It has a better feel to it than the other Dewalt and Porter Cable routers I own, and is lighter and easier to manage. The rack-and-pinion depth adjustment knob is very simple to use, and in general I find Dewalt's approach to the depth adjustment mechanisms far superior than other approaches. The quality of this router is tremendous. There are cheaper 1-1/2HP fixed based routers on the market, but I think this one is the best.

This router feels great in your hands, not too heavy, not too bulky and operates smoothly. It has performed better than other models I have used and it is relatively quiet. It is your simple, basic, well-built router; other routers I tried with more "features" just didn't measure up. I didn't give it 5 stars because in my area it is hard to find accessories, like bushings. Other than that, it is great!

We used this router thirty years ago at the cabinet shop I apprenticed at and they are still in use today! Of course back then they had the B & D label on them and elsewhere they are sold as Elu but the fact remains that after a generation this durable little powerhouse has needed only slight modification.

What I like best is the versatility. The two low-mount handles and bit visibility make hinge mortising a breeze. You can one-hand it for plastic laminate work and it really shines in a table operation especially if you build your own.

I aquired a second base unit only without handles. I removed the lexan plate and permantly attached it to the table. I also put on a large jig fixture knob so I could adjust height by feel. Now all I do is take off the base, drop in a bit and launch it into the table. Done.

It doesn't seem like much but it's really great that these routers will stand on their head and let you easily put a wrench in each hand and squeeze them together to tighten or loosen. I've used a lot of routers and I always marvel at this everytime I change bits. This also saves some skinned knuckles.

My only downside to this tool is that the depth gauge is a little hard to read. I have heard of some people using white paint to help this but when you consider the fact that the screw-type depth adjusters on other brands are so worthless compared to Dewalts rack and pinion, who cares?

In the shop we had half a dozen different kinds of routers and these were always gone first. When my old fixed base finally died the Dewalt 610 was my only choice.

I have been using this router for about a year. It works fine, it's a good shape, simple, and the two collet sizes are a nice feature. It is the noisiest tool in my shop, and in my neighborhood.

When I bought my router, within the first few weeks, I noticed a defect with the tool. The baseplate screws came from the factory with a bad tapping job. The screws came loose and fell out repeatedly during use, which prompted me to get it the router base replaced or repaired. DeWalt told me to go to an authorized dealer to get it fixed. The dealer called the company and then told me to buy a new base.

The product was still under warranty and with the original sales receipt and neither DeWalt nor the dealer would honor the warranty.

It's an ok tool, apart from the defect (which I had to repair myself). Unfortunately DeWalt did not stand behind their product warranty.

I had an inexpensive Craftsman router that I bought before this one. I had all sorts of problems with the Craftsman, so I swapped it for the Dewalt. MAN, what a difference. It was like going from a Yugo to a Cadillac. The Dewalt is powerful and has a great feel. The instructions are virtually useless, but this router is so simple and easy to use, there's no real need for them. The rack and pinion depth adjustment holds the bit with no movement at all and seems to be very precise. All said, I gave it four stars because mine had couple of chipped teeth on the depth gear, the finish of the paint was somewhat poor, and the depth adjustment knob is a little difficult to read. Yep, they're picky points, but this is a $150 fixed based router (which is a little on the high side to me). Having said all of this, I would buy this router again without a second thought.

My 1st router was a Black & Decker Industrial fixed-base. It was the Dewalt 610's father. I have been using the 2 routers for 30 years and I sell power tools. The Black & Decker was a Christmas gift from my wife. At the time saws and drills were the extent of my tools. This was the second best gift in my life, the first being my daughter.
When the Black & Decker finally had a field failure, (meaning the armature), I was compelled to replace the tool. I called Black & Decker and was told it was no longer available.... AAHHH! But, they did offer the Dewalt 610. Which was pretty much the same design tool. The armatures were not interchangable and the Dewalt had 1/4" & 1/2" collets!
My 1st thought was, "this tool just keeps getting better".
Now, check this out, the "D" handles provide excellent control when freehand routing, and the motor size is perfect for one-hand routing. I'm saying control and versatility is 5 stars.
Setting the depth-of-cut has never been more accurate with the rack & pinion adjustment. Again, 5 stars.
This router is made of metal, not plastic! It's rock-solid so don't drop it on your foot or fingers. I've used it on the job site and in the shop, and it is "the" WORKHORSE for light to medium chores. You can go from doing inlays to trimming laminates to ogee edge routing to dovetailing and box-jointing.
Durabillity? Again, 5 stars.
I now own many routers, including the soft-start, variable-speed monsters and a few, under ...routers that performed sloppy.
IF YOU HAVE NEVER OWNED A ROUTER, START WITH THIS ROUTER!
If you own and use other routers, add this one to your stable. It's like the less complicated way to rout. OMMMMMM

I use this router for my Dovetailing and drawer fronts. I like the light weight and feel of the handles. When using with the Porter-Cable Dovetail jigs, you can quickly make the dovetails, then use Knob like handles to smoothly turn the router on end to sit down.

It seems to have plenty of power for most bits.

This router may be "outdated" by some standards, but it still get's the job done. It is extremely well balanced, powerful, has a toggle switch ( the only way to go )and the rack and pinion adjustment is great. It works good in a router table, although it takes a little practice getting used to it since the motor can fall out if you're not careful. My favorite thing about this router is the abuse it can take. I've had mine for 4 years and it's held up very well thru all the daily bumps and grinds. I've dropped it off the top of a 6' ladder onto a concrete floor and the only thing that happened to it was a little ding and a chip in the paint. See if a plastic-cased tool can take that!

I have had this router for a while, and recently bought a plate and top to mount it in a table. I built my own cabinet and attached the "store bought" top. I had to drill and countersink the base plate and used some longer screws to attach the router. As for changing bits, just loosen the locking screw and drop the motor out of the base from the bottom. Then you can change the bits with the motor on the table. This also helps keep the buildup cleaned off the depth adjusting mechanism. The depth adjustment stays in front for easy access compared to those where you twist the motor in the base. Plenty of power for all but the larger bits. I am considering the variable speed Freud plunge router for my table just for panel raising bits (more HP and slower speeds), but hate to give up the convenience of the bit changes.

I am an ex- professional carpenter/ cabinet maker. I have three of these machines. Each one with its own bit. This is the BEST handling router of its class. The fact that it has a wonderfull rack and pinion depth adjustment makes it even better.Amazon sweetened the deal with the edge guide. If you have only one router, or your like me and have 11 of them, please do yourself a favor and get this!