Customer Reviews

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

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

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 .

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.

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.

I've owned one of these dandy little routers for some time now - I also use a 2 hp variable speed Bosch. The plunge base works with both routers, and has proved to be very handy...The quality of this tool and its rugged construction far outweigh the placement of the switch or the fact that you use two wrenches to change bits...A router (like any tool) should be judged primarily by the quality of work it is capable of, and that's where this little baby shines....

I agree with all the things one reviewer had to say about tourque on start up, the on-off switch is awkward, and one he left out. The sub-base opening is to small to accommodate any type of profile bit, or rabbet bit. I had to spend more money to buy a sub-base that would. And finally, I have to hammer out bits when I use the 1/4" collet. On the plus side there is plenty of power.

I know that all the other reviewers ( even toolpig ) gush about this router. I know its popular, a classic, the industry standard . . . I just think it has a few shortcomings. This was the first router I ever purchased. I have had this router for about 6 years now, and it has worked fine. The downfalls are that it has alot of torque at start up that can be dangerous, the motor can fall out of the base fairly easily when installed under a table, and the power switch is awkward to access and hold the torquey motor while trying to fit my fingers into the switch guard. The handles seem too close to the base and the 23,000 rpm bit to one hand this router while turning it on or off. It has been trouble free and is well made, but it makes me nervous ! I'll buy something else, next time.

My older fingers get a little tired of cranking the height adjust clamp so i made a "wrench" from a 6" long x 1" square piece of maple. This is the only tool that has consumed a set of brushes thus far in my growing set to tools (to show how much it gets turned on), and changing the brushes is a little tricky. Two wrenches to change a bit - no big deal! PC has kept it simple and reliable. Everyone needs at least one.

This is the only router I own. If fact I own two, one is mounted on a router table for dove tails. The other is used for free hand work, finish work, and in restoration. I have a pluge base and D handle that I use with this router. They are used hundreds of hours a year. I would replace this router with the same router without question. It has tons of power.

My heavy work is done with a Delta 3HP shaper which is why I have a 1 1/2 HP on my router table. They make the best of both worlds.

I use my router at work and at home. I have had it for around 10 years now so I ordered brushes last month. I should have taken them out because they have a lot of life left in them after all that time. This has been the best router I have ever owned. I will get a new one if they still make it when this one is worn out!

The 690 has great power ,moter can easily can spin right off it's base under a router table. Now pc has designed a new base lock haven't tried it yet .