Customer Reviews

Makita 3601B 1-3/8 H.P. Router

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

 

 

Very reliable. Has the feel of being almost too well made for mere at home projects. Very easy to change bits. Easy to hold with one hand. Smooth, balanced motor feel. Good value and would only replace with the newer Makita VS d-handle model. Would rate superior to my Porter Cable D-handle (that I donated to a volunteer house rehab group) and miles ahead of my old Craftsman that I passed on to my daughter and her cowboy woodworker.

I am a woodworking professional, and have owned/used one of these for 10/12 years. This model Makita follows numerous smaller (1-2 hp)handheld routers that I have owned over the years, and is the finest of the lot, hands down. It is unsurpassed for quick, 'down and dirty',
one handed on the job routing tasks, smooth enough for all day shop use, and has the overall build quality to last for years. When mine finally dies,
I will give it proper last rites ,and run right out and buy another.

OK, I used it once. But that first and only time I discovered the centerline of the tool (motor/collet/bit) was not square with the base. This makes any router nearly useless except for the roughest of work. And so it sits on the shelf while I use my three Porter Cable routers on a daily basis.