DEWALT DW618PKV 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Fixed Base / Plunge Router Combo Kit

by DEWALT

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

DEWALT DW618PKV 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Fixed Base / Plunge Router Combo Kit

Product Details

• Shipping Weight: 23.6 pounds
• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B0000DCAO5
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: DW618PKV
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #270,354 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

32 of 38 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great router! Cheap bits!, November 8, 2003

By 

Michael C Johnson (Ventura, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: DEWALT DW618PKV 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Fixed Base / Plunge Router Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

The DW618PK is a great product. It's a well-designed workhorse. Please note that I was troubled when I ordered the 618PKV and received a box marked 618PK. But the difference between the two is merely the included set of 5 router bits, and the bits were in the PK box.

The router itself is a fixture in many workshops, and it has been reviewed extensively, so I'll tell you about the bits. Of course, they're HSS, not carbide tipped, and they're all 1/4 inch shank. Included in the set is :
-- 1/4 inch straight bit (no pilot), 2 straight flutes
-- 90 degree 1/2" V-groove (no pilot, of course)
-- Flush trim bit (piloted of course), 1/2" dia x 1/2" cutting surface, 2 straight flutes.
-- 3/8" round over with a 1/2" pilot, 2 shear flutes
-- 5/32" Roman ogee with a 3/8" pilot, 2 shear flutes. It's like a deep ellipse ogee with a thick fillet.
The pilots are bearing pilots. The bits all have low hook angles. And they're all low clearance safety bits, with bulky bodies and small pockets in front of the cutters. And of course they're painted DeWalt Yellow.

So the bits are nothing to write home about. It's unlikely they'll be worth much to you; I'm more likely to chuck them in the trash than in a collet. As a general rule, if you use your router enough to justify its cost, you'll spend more in bits than you did on the router itself. A pro doesn't need these bits, and if you're new to woodworking, don't assume you'll get very far with these guys. One good carbide-tipped straight bit is worth more than this collection of five.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars DW618, October 29, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: DEWALT DW618PKV 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Fixed Base / Plunge Router Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I have had mine for approximately 6 months. I have been very pleased with this tool's preformance. It has low vibration and the plunge base is very sturdy. I like to leave my fixed base mounted in my router table so I can quickly change the motor out instead of removing the whole router. It handles hard woods with ease.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent router, February 11, 2004

By 

J. McCarthy "jrmbadger2" (White Bear Lake, MN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DEWALT DW618PKV 2-1/4 HP Electronic Variable Speed Fixed Base / Plunge Router Combo Kit (Tools & Home Improvement)

I bought this router about 2 months ago, and waited before giving this review to get some time using it. I'm a new woodworker, having started about 9 months ago, so I only have used one other router (a craftsman) so I can't compare and contrast for you, however I have to say that I'm very impressed by this router.

Good features:

* depth is easy to set on both bases.

* Very powerful, no problems plunging into 3/4" oak.

* Very easy to handle - low center of gravity - handles are soft and form to your hands allowing good control.

Bad features:

* the through-the-column dust collection on the plunge base doesn't fit my vacuum (shopvac), but I suppose my vacuum could be non-standard.

* seems a little bit noisy, but I don't have much experience to compare it to.

I would definitely recommend this to any woodworker.

EDIT: 07/01/2006 After over two years and lots of sawdust later, I'm still very pleased with the dewalt router. In fact, I just bought one for my dad! I've since had the chance to see and use other routers, and I still believe this is the best! I have had 0 quality issues with this router. In fact this winter I even made raised panel kitchen doors (23 of them!) with this router and it held up like a champ. The trick is to slow down the big raised panel bit, and take multiple passes.