Customer Reviews

Milwaukee 5616-20 2-1/4 Max-Horsepower EVS BodyGrip Router

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I purchased this router for dedicated table mount use. I did need to use it to route the mounting plate openning in the table. I found the body grip to be much more sensetive than any handle setup I ever used and may purchase a second one when my old craftsman finally gives it up!
This is a 2 1/4 horsepower router and seems to have more than enough power for anything I do. I have run oak,walnut,cherry and pine through it making raised panel doors. It did not bog dowwn when cutting the stiles and rails in white oak. Using a 2 1/2 inch panel raising bit again in the white oak it seemed flawless.
I did have to drill one hole in the aluminum mounting plate for access to the bit height changing nut below the base. Changing bit heigth works much like the router raizer without having to pay for one. The only time I have to reach under the table is to release the motor lock to allow the motor to move up and down. Simple and a real back saver being able to change bit heigth from above the table. To change bits is a different story. I pop the plate with the router mounted from the table in order to get the 2 wrenchs to the shaft lock nut and onto the collet. If a tooless shaft lock were built in it would make things even easier. Milwaukee will probably do this with their next upgrade as this new model now includes the wrench to adjust bit heigth with and the old model didn't.
Although the Milwaukee doesn't have the power of the Hitachi m12 (3 1/2 horse)it is much lighter and is better balanced. Not much effort to pop the whole works out of the table to change bits and it sure was sweet using it hand held. It is also much quiter than my old sears 1 1/2 horse antique. This router also has a motor release button mounted on the motor mount. If I can find a Milwaukee body grip body only I will purchase it and then just drop the motor out so I can make use of it hand held. Then I can spend the savings from not buying a second Milwaukee and spend it elsewhere.
All in all, I couldn't be happier with this router. Especially not having to buy a router raiser and doing all the rework required to get it mounted correctly. Well done Milwaukee! And thanks!
Update: I've been using this setup for a few weeks now and must confess that while I am still delighted with this router hand held it has proven to be very frustrating to use in the under table mode. Yes, you can change bit heigth frome above the table but you must first reach under the table to release the motor clamp. And bit changing is impossible unless you pop the entire setup out of the table and detach the motor from the base. The two wrench collet system stiffles any attempt to change bits otherwise.
While I plan to keep this router to replace my old craftsman for handheld use I have just purchased the porter-cable 890 series to mount under the table. It features above the table bit changes shaft lock and motor lock all without having to reach underneath or remove the router. Plus the mounting plate holes are the same as the milwaukee uses. Both are set to math the hole pattern of the old porter-cable 690 series.
To sum it all up this is a great router for handheld use but falls short for a dedicated undertable mount.

The handgrip is one terrific idea - your hand just fits around the base perfectly which gives you better control of the router rather than using the two side handles -it feels like an extension of your hand. Just used it with oak so far but motor feels powerful and effortless and very smooth with the soft start. And I really like the depth adjustment without having to rotate the the whole motor assembly plus the adjustment can be done from above or through the base with the supplied T handled extension when it's in the router table - so you don't need a raizer - and the motor comes out without tools with just an easy press of a button. Well designed and executed - makes routing fun again. Highly recommended.

This router has been great to work with. I own several routers, Craftsman, Makita, etc... Height adjustment is super easy, release the lever and twist the knob. The strap on the right hand side really gives you a solid grip especially as you enter & exit the wood material. This is especially true when starting the router, since there is some bit of torque as these tools power up. I use this router for every router job I have except for router-table work. If your in the market for a an all purpose router, I would recomend this model over almost any other.
-E-

I recently purchased the 5616-20 router. As I was waiting for it to be shipped I read some reviews that had me concerned. It seems that under the table mounting was not allowing room for the collect wrenches. When I received my router I proceeded with the task of mounting it to my table. Mine being a homemade table with a ¼" aluminum plate meant that it was necessary to drill mounting holes. Which interfered with the existing holes. So I rotated the mount by 90 degrees. This put the opening for the "T" wrench up front and allows me to utilize both front and back wrench openings from either side to change collects. Making it an easy job. I am 100% satisfied with the performance of this router.

I bought this router to use strictly in a router table and selected it because of the above the table adjustment capability. It works great in that application, much better than the PC router I had been using. One surprise was the really beefy collet wrenches. They are thick and easy to keep on the shaft nut, again much easier than the thin, stamped, wrenches that came with the PC router. The router would be perfect if it had above the table bit change and a shaft lock. If I had money to burn I'd by another one, or a similar one for plunge, from Milwaukee and pitch the PC.

So far this router has performed as is well as I expected. I did buy the bit extension for changing bits above the table. The T bar height adjuster is GREAT. Also the quick releace is real handy over Porter Cable T handle.

This is a excellent tool. Right out of the box it has the feel of a quality piece of equipment. The "easy start" is a great feature that allows you to not get the "Whiplash-torque" if you are using the router as a had held tool. The router has great power and it works well in a router table-I'm using it in a "Bench Dog Pro Top" router table and it works fine. You may want a remote switch if you are using it in a table, if you are turning it on and off a lot. It handles large 1/2" bits with not trouble.

great piece of equipment but after 3 years to the week one of the bearings burned out. Cost to repair is $108.00 therefore, might as well buy a new one. I am getting the same thing and use it 90% of the time mounted under table

So far, this router meets all my expectations; it's precise, reasonably quiet, and particularly suited for use in a router table. The only thing that bugs me is the cutting depth adjustment screw: why 5 turns per inch? Either 4 or 8 turns would make a lot more sense, and make it much easier to set a specific cutting depth from a "zero" start. However, I like the tool well enough that I guess I'll learn to live with this quirk.

I have used this just once so far and love the router. The adjustment for the bit height is very easy and the ability to do it while mounted in a router table, from the face, is an excellent feature. Changing the chuck from 1/2 to 1/4 inch diameter is also very easy. The double wrench tightening design is also a great advantage.