Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(30)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(6)

 

 

I purchased this router set to do inlay work and use on the dovetail machine. I wanted to keep my bosch under the table so I did not have to pull it out all the time (by the way the bosch is a nice machine too!).
The Pros

1.) The bases on all three are narrow enough to hold brass bushings to follow templates and it was a snap to start the dovetailing like I wanted. It does have soft start like the bosch.

2.) The D handle is nice too I use that the most. I have had some trouble with the bit coming lose on the 1/4" shank but only because I did not tighten it good from the excitement of having a new tool (no harm done).

3.)It does have variable speed which I love to control on various hardwoods.

4.)The other feature I like are the cord connectors which have their own plugs and are easy to connect. The ends of the cord twist and latch so you know they're in place.

5.)The plunge base has a vaccum port on one of the shafts that I have yet to use.

6.)The dial on the router bases are smooth and raises and lowers the motor with precision and locks tight.

The cons:

1. When routing some stock you can really see the coils and bushings wind up the eletricity through the top vents which is normal but can be distracting, I'll get use to it

2.I like the one wrench bit removal with the push pin to hold the collet in place, but it takes some practice. (No more loose bits!)

Overall the machine is excellent and I am happy with the purchase and performance. The cons are very minor. I would have to choose this machine over the bosch if it were my only router because of how veritile it is (dovetail & inlay bushing bases, three bases, vaccum attachment, and variable speed) but what serious woodworker can only get away with one router? Oh yeah, and I did get the free bits......nice too.

Well, this is my first "yellow" tool. I am a "blue" tool guy but I did not like some of the features on the new Makita routers, they are excellent tools with rave reviews but I did not like the entire motor turning when you adjust the depth. The problem was also compounded that nobody made a D-handle, plunge combo kit. I handled them all, every top name in the business. I took a look at the Dewalt 3piece combo and fell in love with it. It's a very well thought out system. Plus it's the only router brand that I know of that includes all three bases in one kit.

Pros:
Smooth Power, Soft start, very quiet for a router.
Three bases with great ergo design.
Awesome depth adjustment, motor does not twist.
Power cords are detachable.
Easy snap in and out bases.
Spindle lock.
Great value, D-handle base only costs you about 40 bucks with the three piece kit, retail is about $90!!
Fixed base in the router table, D-handle and plunge for freehand work, what else could you want?
Operate the power switch with your thumb without taking your hands off the router on the fixed base and plunge, not an issue with the d-handle.

Cons:
None, well ok, for you really picky people the case is larger than other routers, but remember there are three bases in there.

I did originally purchase the Milwaukee Body grip and loved it before I picked up the DeWalt. The ONLY reason I did not keep it was because I wanted a plunge base and the "red" company does not make a PB for the 5616. I did not want to spend another $200 on a plunge router, and still not have the D-handle option. This is my first router and I could not think of a better kit for the DIY homeowner to have.

Okay--you are shopping for a router kit. That probably means that you are looking for the advantages of both fixed-base and plunge based routers. Or you may be asking yourself, do I really need those extra bases? Plunge bases let you get right into the middle of the workpiece without having to start at an edge, and are essential for many router operations. Of course, you can use your plunge base for many fixed-based applications, but a fixed base router is generally less bulky, gives you more control, and gets into tight areas. It's great under a router table also. I had never owned a fixed base router until I used the bases in this kit. Now I'm sold on them because of their control and ease and accuracy of depth adjustment.

So is this kit for you? What sets it apart from other kits?

First, the motor, interchangeable between all bases. Of the routers I have used--Fein, Makita, a 3 hp Dewalt, a Craftsman, and a cheap Grizzly--it rates tops with the Fein. Soft start, and very quiet. Quiet matters--particularly if you have ever used a high-pitched, high decibel router that has your head spinning after every cut. When the router is quiet, you can concentrate on your workpiece, and hear a lot that is going on with your cut. If some wood starts tearing out, you can know before you rip a big chunk out of your edge and adjust your cut. The motor is also very compact. Used with the fixed base, this is one of the smallest routers I have ever used, making it very maneuverable. It's the perfect balance of being solid but not too heavy, and pretty powerful.

(Amendment, Dec 17 2007: I had a problem with the motor that is mentioned in several other reviews: the disintegration of a magnetic ring that controls speed. One reviewer suggests that this may be due to running it upside down under a router table, which I do a lot, though mine actually fell apart while upright. The router would only run on high until I got this replaced. Replacement requires a bearing puller to remove the ball bearing that sits above the magnetic ring. I also had problems with the pin on the collet lock coming loose (also mentioned by others), which I resolved by placing a drop of glue on the side of the pin that goes into the base. I thought I should mention these problems, but it does not affect my overall opinion of the router.)

With a multi-base kit, one thing you are going to look for is how easy the motor moves from one base to the next. With the Dewalt bases, it's a snap--as in, snap open the latch, then squeeze two tabs with one hand and lift the base out. The motor has to be aligned to put it in a new base, a fast eye-ball operation. The whole thing can be done in half a minute with no tools. The 2-1/4 hp motor is quite enough. I've been using it lately on Ugandan Elgon olive, a very dense, cross-grainy wood. It's quite adequate even on the end grains. When I really have to dig some wood, I will go to my 3 hp routers, but this one can do the job. It just requires more passes. The on-off switch is a solid toggle type, positioned such that you can flick it on and off with both hands still on the router--a real plus--and great under the router table, because you flick it, and it's on. The variable speed is nice--I slow the router down to prevent wood burns on edging and rounding operations, which saves a lot of sanding time. And the lower speeds are even more quiet.

Now, the bases. All of them can be used as vacuum bases, and other reviewers can tell you more about that than I can, because I don't like a vacuum hose trailing around, so I never use the vacuum accessories. All of the baseplates (the flat part of the router that glides across the workpiece) are clear, thick polycarbonate. This lets you see your workpiece as you cut, a real essential. The cutting hole is pretty small, accomodating bits of only 1-1/8" diameter. But Dewalt includes an extra baseplate with the kit which can take bits up to 2-3/8". The smaller diameter baseplates are built to take standard template bushings, which are very useful. On my big routers, you have to attach a steel plate to hold template bushings, which blocks the view of the workpiece, and takes time to swap out. That small diameter hole gives you the extra surface area for stability when you are cutting on a narrow surface, such as a chair leg. My monster router baseplate holes are inconveniently large for this application. The larger diameter baseplate is switched out by removing 4 screws. If you need to use bits larger than 2-3/8" diameter, you can just take off the baseplate altogether, and the thing will accomodate huge bits, all the way up to just under 3-1/2". This is larger than even my monster routers. These are the ONLY router bases in my collection that can handle my box miter joint bit, which is 3-1/4". That bit was just sitting around gathering dust until I got this router. Now it's one of my frequently used.

My favorite base is by far the D-handle. Dewalt has wired it such that it is controlled with a trigger, so you turn the motor switch on, which passes the power to the trigger, which you then use to on-off the router for exceptional control, because your finger is always right on it. It has a trigger lock as well--sweet! The router is very easy to control with the D-handle.

The fixed base router is smaller. The great thing about it is that because I have the D-handle base, I can mount the fixed base permanently to my router table, and click in the motor when I need it--30 seconds and no tools, compared to 5-10 minutes to switch in the entire router. That makes using the router table a lot more appealing! Both the fixed and D-handle base (which is also a fixed base) have a fast, accurate, easy-to-use depth adjustment. As for the plunge base--good plunging action, but it could use some improvements on the depth adjustment. You can still nail the exact depths, but it's not exceptional. This is the only aspect of this kit that could use improving.

The kit also comes with a nice edge guide with a fine adjustment. I should mention that if you are going vaccum, the kit comes with one set of vaccum snap-ins that are interchangeable between all bases.

In sum--this router kit is capable of taking care of practically all of your router needs. A bigger router is nice to have for some very heavy applications, but this kit is still capable of doing everything if you don't want to spring for a monster router, and in fact has a better ergonomic feel. There are other kits out there, but none I looked at had all of the features of the Dewalt kit, and they are features that matter: very solid but not bulky, quick base change, fully accessorized with the extra clear base and the edge guide, and a collet lock to boot, so you can change bits with a single wrench (not so on many of the other kits I looked at). Great view of the workpiece, vaccum possibilities if you are into that. Good positioning of the on-off switch, and an overall solid feel, quiet running. Great case too. If you are out to buy just one router, spring the extra money and get this kit. I feel a satisfied grin creeping up my face every time I use it, and I hope it will give you the same pleasure.

I started out with the bar set pretty high, my first real router was a Porter Cable 693 Variable Speed, fixed and plunge base kit. That is a fantastic router, but I wanted a little more power and a pistop grip base.

I went back and forth on getting the new PC 890 series kit, but ultimately, the Dewalt went on sale and I just could not resist. It is tough to imagine for me, but I like this route better than the PC 693, which is practically bullet proof.

The motor is relatively quiet, but everyone should be wearing hearing protection in the shop anyway, so noise shouldn't be a big factor.

One of my favorite features is the soft start. The PC has soft start, but the Dewalt actually has a 1/2 second to a second delay from the time you pull the trigger to when the motor starts spinning. This threw me at first, I am used to hitting the switch, and having the motor start immediately, but I like the delay. Accidentally hit the trigger on the pistol grip base, and if you don't hold it down, it won't fire up.

The base is smoother going over wood that the Bosch pistol grip router I have. The Bosch is going to be a permanent dovetail router going forward.

The single wrench bit change is very nice, easy to use, you just need to position the motor in the base where you can get your finger to it.

I did not receive the chisels that were advertised with the router kit, but a quick email to Tool Crib, and then a call to Dewalt and they were on the way.

Without a doubt, I would suggest that anyone needing a true full use router kit purchase the Dewalt. Why no one else has a fixed, plunge and pistol grip base kit offering is beyond me, but the competition is missing out.

If you need it, buy it, you won't be sorry.

I picked up this router kit about two months ago and I have not looked back since. The motor has plenty of power for just about any handheld operation. I don't know that I would mount this unit in a router table though. The Hitachi M12 is more equiped for that duty. Switching bases is quick and simple and the micro adjustment ring allows for accurate height adjustment on the fixed bases.
This router kit would be a great shop addition for any beginner or even a seasoned pro!

I want to second everyone's positive comments about the DeWalt 618 router kit. My second router was a Porter Cable 690 (still sold under various incantations) purchased 20 odd years ago. It was a solid workhorse and is still going strong under new ownership. I mention this because I believe one cannot fully appreciate how wonderful a machine the DeWalt 618 is without some use of a beastly predecessor or two.

The 618's soft start is a very real blessing. Do not purchase a router for handheld use that does not have this feature. The motor runs smooth and quiet. The design of the motor housing allows the switch to remain in the same location, regardless of the height of the bit. Another outstanding feature, especially if mounted in a table. The knobs are fat and comfy on the fixed and plunge bases and the location of the motor provides a low center of gravity. Another very real blessing.

A collet lock allows for easy bit changes. The lock is spring loaded so it cannot be accidentally left positive and the machine turned on. There are two collet nuts and wrenches so bit changes may be accomplished in the traditional manner if desired. The bases all accept Porter Cable bushings, generally the most popular. My only peeve with this machine are the base screws, which have torx heads, ilo phillips. Go figure.

The plunge base is the real star of the trio, in my opinion. The plunge action is smooth and controlled. Not jerky and sticky like the Porter Cable 7529 that I owned briefly. I have the plunge base mounted in my Leigh FMT and the base performs flawlessly in this tasking. (It requires use of the Leigh mounting rods, it is not a direct bolt on.) The dust collection when used in a hand held configuration works OK. The hose connects to the top of the right plunge rod housing, which keeps the hose up and out of the way. The plunge set up, fine tune and turret stops are all intuitive in their set up and work well in operation.

Overall, I am very happy with this router and highly recommend it to anyone. It is compact, powerful and very user friendly.

I bought this router in October and it worked well for 5 months until the magnet ring in the motor housing broke while routing. This causes two problems when this happens: 1. The variable speed no longer works, and second, the broken magnet shards get flung into the motor brushes at a very high rate of speed causing damage. I have heard from many woodworkers that this particular DeWALT router is very suceptible to magnet ring breakage, especially when mounted upside down in a router table (like mine was). Other than this problem, the router is very well balanced with plenty of power and comes with a very nice plunge base. It just doesn't like working upside-down in a table configuration.

I really like this router. The soft start is great as well as the ease of use. I guarantee you won't find a better router kit for the price. The router bits that come with the kit are decent...but you'll need a set of carbide bits. It is a breeze to change bases and this has the great feel of a solid piece of machinery! Can't wait to use it again! Nice case too! You will be pleased...I sure am.

I've used the Dewalt 618 for over three years now and it has gotten a good workout in my woodworking shop on a variety of cabinet, furniture and wooden toy projects using a wide range of woods but lots and lots of red oak and hard maple. Having an extra base to leave attached to my Rousseau router table insert makes this unit most handy. I use the D-handle base for most off-table work and rarely pull out the plunge base. The ease of insertion and removal from the "fixed" base makes this router the most user-friendly of any I own.

On the downside, the router depth adjustment system provides at best only coarse precision. Depth adjustment is a sloppy affair requiring trial and error since each time you clamp the compression collar shut the router body will often cant slightly which can change the router bit depth by about 1/32" or more (especially for larger diameter bits if you are using the outer edges for depth measurement). Almost always the depth of the bit prior to clamping the compression collar shut will be different than the "clamped shut and ready to run" depth.

Unfortunately the Dewalt 618 series are NOT listed as being compatible with the popular "Router Raizer" height adjustment system by Router Technologies (621 & 625 OK, 618 nope). I've since stopped using my Dewalt DW618 router in the router table and now use only a 3-1/2 h.p. router with easier in-table depth adjustment capabilities. The Dewalt DW618 is used now only for non-table work and it does these jobs very well.

Also, the depth indicator ring is worthless since it is so loose that it spins around and around during normal operation and doesn't remain linked to the depth control ring.

The router works as advertised with good speed control, a complete range of accessories and enough power for short runs using even large diameter raised panel bits on oak (with shallow cuts). Note, however, that larger production runs (like when making multiple oak panels for cabinet doors) will cause this router to overheat and shut-down until the motor cools enough to resume operation. I'd recommend a larger h.p. router if you regularly run large bits for moulding or raised panels.

I'd buy it again for use as a free-hand router but wouldn't recommend it for table router work unless all of your work is light duty.

Getting the three bases is great. One for the router table, and then having the plunge and d-handle for hand work is great.

Soft-start makes it easier to control when starting, no more jerking when starting. Variable speed controller another nice feature when working with easily burned woods.

This was the perfect replacement for my DW610. As with most tools, its only as good as the cutting bit/blade/knife. Stay away from the cheapo HSS bits. I stick with carbide tipped, anti-kickback bit with 1/2" shank whenever possible and have always had excellent results.