DEWALT DW621 2-Horsepower Plunge Router

by DEWALT

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description

Offering stand-out performance and providing convenient, built-in dust collection, the DeWalt DW621 2-HP plunge router is both powerful and well-balanced for precision performance. Variable engine speed ranging from 8,000 RPM to 24,000 RPM with an electronic control that maintains speed during tough cuts means you can use a broad range of bits without the burning delicate woods or getting bogged down. For added convenience, you can set your desired depth quickly and accurately using a rack-and-pinion height adjustment system. This professional router includes long, precision-machined collets in both 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch sizes and a wrench for efficient bit changes.

From the Manufacturer

DEWALT DW621 2 HP Plunge Router

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 11.8 x 7.3 x 14.9 inches ; 12 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• 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: B00005S7TD
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: DW621
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #41,839 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
  • #56 in Home Improvement > Power & Hand Tools > Power Tools > Routers

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

52 of 54 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great freehand router... unfriendly table router, January 23, 2002

By 

Christopher Janicki (Boston, MA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DEWALT DW621 2-Horsepower Plunge Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

The electronic motor control in this router is a great feature... it ensures constant RPMs at any load. I've never had it overheat. The overall size is much smaller than most other routers. The plunge depth adjustments are extremely accurate... down to 1/128th inch!

And contrary to another reviewer's assertion that a clamp is necessary to keep the switch on, there is actually a trick locking switch. It takes a bit to get used to but is easy after some practice, and it will stay locked under a router table.
Also I've found all the parts to be very sturdy... I don't know how someone could break a handle unless they were trying.

Here are the gripes:

* The router base (fiberglass?) is not well machined... mine was off center a bit so that a corner of the base extended beyond the metal base.

* The base is totally non-standard... you won't find any "universal" kits that fit it, and Dewalt accessories are not found in most local hardware stores.

* To use it in a table you'll need to make a custom base, and find some 4mm (if I remember correctly) metric screws, of just the right length. There are a few randomly placed 6mm utility screw holes on the base, but they are not centered around the router... their mostly on one side, so it wouldn't be a very secure mount. Instead you have to remove the existing base and use tiny 4mm screws. In the end, it's not easy to switch between table mounting and freehand. UPDATE: I purchased a "Veritas" router table... the mounting system uses clamps, so the router's base isn't a problem.

* The spindle lock button is difficult to depress (the spring is too strong) and located in a tough spot. So it's difficult to hold the lock while weilding the wrench to change bits.

* The plunge spring is well balanced against the weight of the router for freehand work, but is tough to fight against when mounted upside down in a router table. A plunge/non-plunge switch would be nice to disengage the spring (or maybe reverse its action?). UPDATE: I removed the spring, so now it's a great upside-down router, but a bad plunge router. (Can't have my cake and eat it too. ;-) It only took a few minutes to figure it out, but a bit messy... not something I'd want to change on a regular basis... easier to just buy another router. WARNING: If you do remove your spring, make sure it is not under tension, to avoid injury; raise the router to it's highest position to take pressure off the spring.

* When I attached a vac to the cool dust collection port it howled like a banshee! The length of the hollow plunge tube is pretty short and sets up for some ear-piercing harmonics when air passes through it. I couldn't find a way to dampen it much... even putting my finger in the intake hole didn't change its tune much. UPDATE: THE WHISTLING SOUND SEEMS TO BE CAUSED BY THE LENGTH OF MY VACUUM HOSE, NOT THE ROUTER ITSELF

* LONG-TERM UPDATE (2011): Being upside-down under the router table means that it eventually clogs up with dust, to the point where it struggles to keep up speed, and gets hot. Cleaning it involves taking a *lot* of parts off... not a job to be taken lightly. Eventually, a brush in the motor broke off (probably because of the heat?) and I was forced to take it apart. After taking it mostly apart, I decided to let a pro finish the job... I brought the the router and all the parts loaded into a 5-lb bucked to my local tool shop. They laughed at the pile of parts in the bucket. But everything was there, and they had no problem finishing the maintenance job I started. That was seventy bucks well spent! And I must say the router hasn't had any other problems in all those years. While my DeWalt was in the shop, I used a rather cheap router in the table for a few things. It was then that I really appreciated the accurate adjustment controls on the DeWalt, and I was happy to get it back.

The end result... great freehand router... unfriendly table router.

22 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sweeeeet!!!, June 11, 2003

By 

Jonathan Peck (New York, N.Y) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEWALT DW621 2-Horsepower Plunge Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

The reason I bought this model was for the built-in dust collection through the handle. This one feature alone sets the Dewalt appart from the others. Truly a well designed piece of equipment, and good bang for your buck.

Pros:
Soft start will not jerk the router out of your hands
Smooth Plunging action
Great dust collection, easy clean up.
Well balanced and just the right weight
Has variable speed control
Rack and Pinion depth control is easy/fast to set and use.
Constant speed under load
Plenty of power at 2 H.P.
I like the squared sides on the base. Great when using jigs and fences.
Comes with 1/4" and 1/2" collets
The start switch is located on the handle so you never have to take your hands off the router
Plunge lock is also in the handle... very nice.

Cons:
The two step start switch takes some getting used to.
The router must wind down to a low RPM before re-start. While this can be annoying sometimes, it is bound to increase brush life.
You don't need to buy the fine height adjuster. Save your $$
The edge guide is O.K., not great. But it came as a free accessory.

Overall: I truly enjoy using this router. I recommend this model for hand help operations.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Great Router with Few Shortcomings, December 17, 2001

By 

Al the Pal "Al the Pal" (The Fruited Plain, United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: DEWALT DW621 2-Horsepower Plunge Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

This router has a number of great features that make it a good choice for hand-held operations. The smooth plunge and easily operated downlock, combined with a reliable depth stop, allow repeated plunge cuts with great accuracy. The soft start won't jerk the tool out of your hand.

The included 1/2" and 1/4" collets allow the use of almost any domestic router bits. The through the column dust collection is an innovation, but I have yet to use that feature. The speed control is a roll switch that is easy to use. It has a numbered scale rather than RPMs, which would be more helpful.

I did have some problems when I mounted the router in my table. I purchased a Rousseau base plate, which was difficult to mount due to the narrow rectangular base plate screw pattern on the router. Most after-market base plates mount more easily on round based routers. I also discovered that one of the tapped holes in the router base frame was stripped except for about one turn at the bottom of the hole. The screws are also metric, which are difficult to find out here in the sticks. I ended up drilling and tapping the holes for #10-24 machine screws which I had available.

The factory baseplate would no longer work with the bigger screws, so I made several custom bases out of Lexan, including a round one for use in a dado jig. When mounted in a table, the standard depth adjuster is nearly useless. You will need to get the fine depth adjuster accessory that operates on a screw rather than having to press against a spring.

When using a large diameter bit, I had to remove the plastic dust shroud and it broke as it was removed. I bought a new one but have not installed it, as it is really only needed when using the through the column dust collection.

Despite the problems I had, I would still call this a great tool, but once I have the budget, I will buy a different router just for table mounted operations. This tool really shines in the hand-held mode and it's narrow base will let you get close to posts or other obstructions if you are using it on decks or stairs. It has plenty of power for any bit that can be used freehand.