Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 693PK 1-1/2 HP Router and Plunge Base Kit

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(4)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

There is no doubt this set is legendary for reliability and versatility. It's been a good set, however, when I bought a new Bosch router too add to my collection, what a difference! The porter cable has a slight jerk when it turns on and revs to full speed. Not a comfortable feeling when you have small hands and have to remove a hand to turn it on. The PC is also a screamer, it's loud, it vibrates, and after a few hours of use, you're still tingling from use. I've tried 3 of their plunge bases and they are okay. Mine were hard to plunge, they'd bind, they'd jerk and pungle. Try the dewalt plunger for comparison. The newer routers like the bosch have soft start, super smooth motors, with less vibration, less noise, and overall better feel and more power. Bosch will also have a dual base kit like this in October. The PC is a great oldie that needs updating.

Get the standard base and plunge base -- but once you get the hang of using the plunge base, you may never use the standard base again! Plunge base has multiple click stops which is helpfull when plunge routing. If you get 1/2" bits, some will not fit the standard base. Case is a tight fit, power cord must be bent a little to fit.

This is a really nice package, you get a fixed base and plunge router all in one. The motor screws out easy and drops in the other.

I use this router in a router table and with a PC dovetail jig. It is such a standard that you can get predrilled router table inserts made for this router.

Switching between 1/4" and 1/2" collets is simple. You can switch back and forth without a concern.

The only thing I don't like is the toggle on-off switch when using it in my hands. That's fine for the router table, but I prefer a finger trigger switch for handheld use.

After receiving this PC router and looking to put it to use on my first project I was quickly brought to an abrupt halt. This was due to the fact that the standard base included with this router won't allow you to use a standard round over bit or any other bit larger than 1/2 inch due to the very small base opening. After some checking I find that an optional base with a 2 1/2 inch opening is available at an additional cost and will be required to make this router of any use. If you buy this router just order the optional base with it or better yet PC should just replace the standard base with the optional 2 1/2 inch clear base. Hope this review saves someone some time. Other than this the router seems to function well although a bit loud.

This set represents a very good value and versatility. Though I found securing the motor into the plunge base could be designed in a way more "user friendly " fashion, but being the only option in its class, P-C is happy with the sales graph and I don't think there will be any improvement about that anytime soon. These routers have 10 Amp. motors and they are capable of doing many routing tasks without a hiccup(within its capacity). All kinds of accessories and attachments are available from a wide variety of sources. I think their collets is the very best, regardless their duty class.(75XX series share the same collet.) Also, the other good thing about it; Their collets can travel beyond their sub-base, an often ignored, but when the time comes, appreciated feature. (Though, this nothing to do with the collet design; Because, both 690 and 693's based are designed to allow maximum travel of the motor unit, beyond the sub-base line.) It's also available with a D-handle Bottom line; It's a keeper.

The versatility of this router is hard to beat. I leave the standard base fastened to my router table and use the plunge base for free hand work. The motor has power to spare and both bases are easy to adjust and use. My only serious criticism is that releasing the clamping mechanism on the plunge base is rather difficult. Keeping track of the wrench, screw, washer and nut while tapping the clamp free can be quite challenging if you work on a busy job site. I would recommend this product to anyone who needs a professional quality tool but has a limited budget.

For home woodworkers, this is one of the best routers on the market. It allows you to permanently mount the fixed base into a table while still retaining the versatility of a plunge router. It's powerful, relatively free of vibration, and very well made.

One does make some compromises in choosing this over standalone plunge or fixed routers: most plunge routers (including PC's own dedicated 1.5 HP plunge router) have smoother action than this and more precise adjustments. The router is perfectly capable in this role however, and the average home woodworker will have no trouble with it as a plunge router. By contrast, this router is really excellent in a table: it's solid, quick to adjust, and relatively powerful. However, it doesn't have the power to drive the largest horizontal panel raiser bits, and to safely operate this router in a table you will need to buy a separate speed control.

I highly recommend Porter Cable routers; I think they are the best out there. If you're on a budget but still want a strong tool with lots of capabilities, this is absolutely the best choice. But if you have the money, buy the PC 3.25 HP fixed router for your table and buy the PC 1.5 HP plunge router for plunge work.

I got this set for Christmas and love it. Porter-Cable seems to almost be a standard for routers so it's easy to find accessories for it. My only complaint is the same as another I read, I don't like the toggle switch, I would prefer a switch closer to my hand, but this is not a huge problem.

Very easy to set-up and use! Some sticking on the plunger base and the spring release is strong. The motor has a bit of a kick when you first start it up, so make sure you are ready. Changing the bits was easy, even having to use the two wrenches.

Turning the router off can also be a chore since the switch is not easily accessible! If I could have one feature changed, it would be to make the on/off switch easier to use...

I just purchased this router and have been greatly impressed. Sure, there may be better routers out there in terms of more HP or finer plunge adjustments and so forth, but they are alot more expensive. I've learned to be realistic with my tool buys. I'm not a contractor, carpenter or professional woodworker. That being said, I try to spend my money wisely on tools the fit my hobby - weekends spent in my little home shop building funiture (tables, bedframes, picture frames, etc.) for myself and friends.

That being said, this is really a great router. The double base is wonderful in that I know I won't have to purchase another router for a long time. I don't find swapping the bases to be that big a deal at all. Bits are easy to change in and out. The only thing that concerned me was that it was only 1 1/2 horsepower. I thought I should get a beefier router at 2 or 3 HP. But after using this router for several projects now, I have learned that 1 1/2 HP is clearly enough power for nearly any job out there. I've not had a single hiccup or hesitation. The motor moves through the wood like a knife through butter.

I've used this router for detail work, like cutting details into picture frames, and for grunt work, like etching out mortises for a bed frame, and it handled both with ease.

For all my fellow weekend warriors, I'd highly suggest this router.