Customer Reviews

DEWALT DW618PK 12 AMP 2-1/4 HP Plunge- and Fixed-Base Variable-Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets

5 star:		(35)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(7)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

I invested a lot of time when deciding which router kit I wanted and finally chose the DeWalt model. I chose from a short list of the top-selling kits below, all of which I actually used in a real test environment:

* Makita RF1101KIT (w/free edge guide and dust collection)
* Porter-Cable 693VSPK (w/free edge guide, no dust collection)
* Bosch 1617EVSP
* DeWalt DW618PK edge guide

When all is said and done, All are very well-built machines by reliable manufacturers. I did not choose the Porter Cable because of the tool-required change from base to base as well as the lower power and lack of soft-start. The Bosch lost because of the flimsy edge guide they offer (currently free) and the tendency for dust to really collect near the bit and block your view.

It came down to the Makita and the Dewalt, and both performed VERY well, and had everything I asked for (micro adjustment, easy motor change, soft start, 2.25HP, easy-plunge control etc.) At first, the Makita had the "edge" :) because it came with the free edge guide, and the DeWalt cost ($) more. However, I finally decided on the DeWalt because the dust collection was truly integrated with the unit (the Makita's was a separate, but included, plate you attached), and that's what pushed it over the edge. The only other real difference was the DeWalt has a removeable power cord, which wasn't a deal-maker, but is nice.

Other than the slight heaviness (The Bosch was the lightest), I am completely pleased with my purchase as it works just awesome. When all is said and done, the DeWalt was the most expensive, because you have to buy the edge guide separately, but besides that, the DeWalt is the winner.

This is a great deal. I have wanted to trade up from my Craftsman router for a while. I was considering purchasing the DW621, but when I saw this combo kit was coming out I decided to wait to get this kit.
Having waited for a few months to get this new tool, I played quite a bit this weekend. I just purchased a new house and I wanted to make some moldings. So this weekend on worked on a 3 piece chair rail for the dining room. I had no problem mouting the router on a Rousseau plate and mounting it in my homemade router table (without the plunge base attached).
I had never done moldings before and I was very pleased with the results. This router has ample power and control. I had to make multiple passes but the feed rate while slow was acceptable, and I never felt like the work was out of control. (Also, the finished product was a lot cleaner than with my previous router - but the I was also using significantly more expensive router bits.)
The plunge base was similarly easy to use, though I only made a few sample cuts. I have no complaints with the plunge mechanism. The soft start is also a great feature.
I am very pleased with my purchase. For an extra (Money) (over the DW621), I got both a fixed base and a plunge router. I know serious woodworkers have multiple routers, but I don't have the budget for that. I had wanted a fixed base since I mostly use the router in the table. However, I also wanted at least a 2 HP router in order to do molding (though I wouldn't recommend using this for great quantities of molding). This router kit gave me the best of both worlds. Given the small cost for two bases and the 2 1/4 HP, this is a great deal for those of you who can also get by with a single router. Now, I can also have a plunge router when I need it.

After having this router for about two months now I have been able to completely shop-test it. I recommend this router system to anyone who is looking for a router. The soft start feature is a must(the router does not try to fly out of your hands when turning on or off). The variable speed is perfect for cutting through hard or soft woods, and is easy to control even in the middle of routing. DeWalt has completely designed a universal routing system with the fixed base and the plunge base, switching the motor is easy and completely accurate. I suggest to anyone on getting the 2-1/4HP DeWalt router system over any other router system out there for the dependable and accurate routing this system offers. It is worth the extra money! I would suggest on ordering the DW6913 Universl Edge Guide with Dust Collection which fits perfectly with both bases and is remarkable to use. DeWalt has made another high quality woodworking product to use with the woodworker in mind. Highly recommended!!!!

This will make my 3rd router and it was well worth the wait. I have been reading editorial reviews about this router for months now and placed my order as soon as I saw it available. Most kits tend to do well in fixed OR plunge mechanics but lack in one or the other. This is truly 2 routers in one. The plunge is smooth as glass and the fixed base is well balanced and very ergonomical. The 2 1/4 motor is a nice medium between power and low weight. I keep a 3 1/4 PC mounted to my table and I can't imagine trying to do much hand work with it. The case is nice too. Other great features: dust collection from the plunge base, variable speed, soft-start, removable cord and clear plastic base plates. Everything was well designed.

I used to recommend DeWalt products to everyone who would listen to me because the ergonomics are so superior. Lately, though, the quality has gotten so bad, I have a hard time doing that.
My suggestion is to skip all the reviews by people who just pulled it out of the box, and read the reviews by people who have used it for a while.
I bought the DW618PK through Amazon several years ago. After about the 10th use, the plastic spindle lock button broke. I didn't care too much because it was a pain to use, so I started using two wrenches instead.
Then, everything went into storage for 2 years (past the warranty period). Later, after about the 20th use, the motor died. It turns out that the magnetic ring on the armature fell apart (apparently, a common problem), but the pieces took out the windings on the armature, as well. I called a DeWalt repair shop for an estimate. They want $20 to tell me what's wrong and then there will be an hourly rate plus parts to repair it. Also, they are backed up for weeks with work. It will be about a month before they can get to it. It may cost as much as a new DW618 (for about $170 from Amazon), so I'm trying to decide if I should buy another brand, instead.
If it wasn't for the quality problems, I still like the ergonomics. The handgrips are comfortable and the dust collection on the plunge base is great - as is the detachable cord, the quick-release latch for the motor, and the centering tool used when changing the subbase. When it runs, the motor is a good, strong motor, and I especially like the ability to easily switch between 1/4" and 1/2" bits. The spindle lock could have been better designed and it is much easier to lock the bit in using two wrenches, instead. A real spindle lock would have been nice.
If ergonomics are important to you, then buy this one and cross your fingers. If you want reliability, look elsewhere.

This is a relatively new router system and I concur with the initial good press it has received. The motor transfers easily between the bases, the smooth start is pleasant and non-jarring, and the motor is relatively quiet. The twist-ring bit raising mechanism on the fixed base is extremely easy to use, and bit changes are a snap with the collet shaft lock. My only complaint is that the switch on the motor is a bit hard to reach with your thumb, but I would still buy this router again.

I have a heavy-duty PC router (in a table) and now wanted a small hand router. I first looked at the PC router on Amazon
but after looking at a lot of negative reviews quickly channged
my name. I then went to my local hardware store and looked at
the Bosch router. Picking it up I found that the handles on the
unit were loose and there was no easy way to tighten them up.
This I didn't like. When I tried to remove the motor to put it
into a different base I had trouble. It was difficult and I
could not do it. What the problem was I don't know but I then
moved on to the Dewalt router. This router felt great in my
hands. The router's handles were tight and they could easily be tightened if necessary. The motor came out of its fixed base easily and went into the other base with no problem. Everything about this router seems to be really well thought out and made well. I am very happy with it.

If you've read this far through the reviews without buying one of these router kits then I recommend you bail out now and go buy one.

This is my first "serious" router. I have woodworker neighbors who let me use their Porter-Cable and Hitachi routers, and when the time came for me to upgrade to a real tool my choice was between thhis and the P-C combo. One of my friends had just bought the P-C combo, and I got a chance to handle the DeWalt tool at a woodworker's store. Something about the DeWalt appealed to me over the P-C, so I took the plunge (no pun intended) and it arrived within a week.

First impression is flawless fit and finish. The accessories in the kit were fairly standard, but the true test was whether it could cut wood. I ran a few dadoes in plywood and it seemed capable, but a real test was needed. The same week I bought this tool I bought a Rockler router table, and real test was cutting rails and stiles for cabinet doors. It passed with flying colors, quieter and smoother than I expected, and it didn't balk at taking full depth cuts with a raised panel bit.

The plunge mechanism is smooth and easy to use. I have seen so many different depth adjusters on plunge routers, and there really isn't much to differentiate between models in setting plunge depth. I'm fine with the DeWalt method.

I wouldn't hesitate to recommend this kit to anybody. The base is sized to accept standard Porter-Cable bushings, and the fixed base hole pattern fits all PC690 baseplates etc.

Maybe Santa will bring me a D-Handle so I can leave the fixed base in the router table.

DeWalt has finally done what others have attempted. To make a multi-purpose router kit do both plunge and fixed base work. Both bases fit very snugly and are machined well. The motor is much quieter than a P-C. Although it initially came without the large-hole subbase, a quick call to DeWalt got the part shipped without any hassle.
So far, I have used the fixed base to edge trim and template cut a cherry cradle. Cherry burns so easily, yet I can move the router quickly enough to cut with little burning and no chip-out.
I would purchase this combo again. The initial ad I saw in a magazine does make it appear that you get D-handle base also. This is not the case, although it is available from DeWalt ($$$, I believe).

This is a great kit. Someone in marketing is listening to the consumer wish list. Removable cord set, no tool motor removal, variable speed, etc. I look at many before deciding to go with this one. I made the right choice. But that said, I still don't think the guys who design the units ever actually use them to make anything. The only thing I don't like about the kit is in the fixed base unit. The motor is too close to the dust collection tube. It makes it hard to get the motor in and out. It helps to remove the cap on the top. But other than that, all thumbs up!!