Porter-Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router

by Porter-Cable

Product Description

Amazon.com Review

Porter-Cable's 1-1/2-horsepower router is popular with woodworkers for good reason. It's reliable, powerful, and exceptionally smooth running--not to mention versatile. Although the 690P comes with a two-handle fixed base, the motor is interchangeable with Porter-Cable's excellent plunge base or D-handle base. Both matching bases are available separately for much less than the cost of a new router, and switching bases for different applications is a quick and easy operation.

We really appreciate Porter-Cable's new autorelease collet design, which prevents bits from getting frozen in the machine. It'd be great if Porter-Cable could come up with an alternative to needing two wrenches for a bit change, but this minor inconvenience is far outweighed by the tool's overall quality. In fact, Porter-Cable's focus on simple, quality engineering is the reason for this model's long-lasting success. The router doesn't offer electronic variable-speed control or enough power to effectively double as a shaper, but it is among the smoothest-running routers we've tried, producing consistently clean results. For most applications it offers all the versatility and muscle you could ask for. --Brian Trinen

From the Manufacturer

Porter-Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 9.2 x 7.2 inches ; 8 pounds
• Shipping Weight: 9.8 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.
• ASIN: B00004SBC6
• California residents: Click here for Proposition 65 warning.
• Item model number: 690P
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (14 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #519,580 in Home Improvement (See Top 100 in Home Improvement)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars less is more, May 9, 2000

By 

Toolpig "toolpig" (Troy , KS) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Porter-Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

The 690 router is by far the most widely used router in cabinet shops . It's the best. I have a Bosch d handle and a Dewalt 3horse plunge router also. I use the PC far more . Why ? It is so simple to use. No frills here. Just simple straight forward engineering. It has plenty of power for anything you throw at it within reason. It's not a shaper . The depth adjustment is a simple thumb screw and a turn of your wrist. The switch is a simple toggle type right there on top where it should be.(Protected of course)Speaking of the top, it's flat for easy bit changes. Although an arbor lock would be nicer , the two wrenches provided are the same size and do a fine job of loosening and tightening the easy release collets. I liked mine so well that I bought another one to mount in my rousseau table for my Makita table saw . It works great in this application. It wasn't much more than a new base from Porter Cable. If you want dust collection , plunge action or variable speed this is not your router. If you want a tool that is accurate, easy to set up and use with lots of power and a long track record , look no further than the 690 from Porter Cable .

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Look in the dictionary under "router", May 2, 2000

By 

Richard Tyler "Adult Child of an Engineer" (Redmond, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Porter-Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

This is the one. Mine is six or seven years old now and has been used for everything from trimming siding around a shed window (don't ask!) to cutting mortises for a craftsman bedroom set. I even stupidly used it with a panel raising bit for some cabinet doors (something I now do with a 3HP variable speed router).

I like this router because it is reliable, powerful, reliable, easy-to-use, reliable, and lightweight. I replaced the original collets with the newer style "always-release" collets, a change I heartily recommend. I suppose they now come with the newer style collets. I bought a spare base and leave it mounted in my router table all the time. It takes just a second to spin the router into the table. I like the looks of the newer routers with their built-in dust collection, but -- having used a sander with a dust hose -- I wonder how practical they are. It seems that it would be much harder to handle with the dust hose.

My only dislikes are the 2-wrench collet removal system and the a-little-hard-to-get-at ON/OFF toggle switch. Some kind of self-locking mechanism that works with a single wrench would be nice, and I'd like to see a bigger, easier ON/OFF.

It's pretty much one of the perfect tools in my collection.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Basic Router, November 15, 2000

By 

jeff (New England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Porter-Cable 690P 1-1/2 HP Router (Tools & Home Improvement)

Ive had this router for about 5 years and us it just about every day, repairs have been minimal also. When I visited one of my freinds at a local school they were using this router for making raised panel doors in 1 pass. Also for a tool to be able to survive at a high school it must be very rugged.The Router is light and powerful 10 amps vs Dewalts 9amps. Also there is abundances of accesories for this router, and if you need a plunge base you can simply spend 90 for a new one for this router, vs 180ish for a diecent comparable router. overall a great router ever one should have one.