Replies

1. 
   FastEddie | Aug 10, 2007 01:46am | #1

   Porter Cable 690 is a 1-1/2 hp no frills router that will last forever.

   "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

2. 
   Shep | Aug 10, 2007 03:14am | #2

   Bosch or P-C

    get one that'll take 1/4" and 1/2" router bits for more versatility

1. 
   JTC1 | Aug 10, 2007 03:20am | #3

   Ditto the Bosch.  Can get with 2 bases, plunge and fixed, for ~220 at local big box.

   Soft start, variable speed, quiet and smooth.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

3. 
   IMERC | Aug 10, 2007 04:20am | #4

   Bosch...

   Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming

   WOW!!! What a Ride!
   Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

4. 
   CAGIV | Aug 10, 2007 05:43am | #5

   I'm a big fan of the Milwaukee 1 3/4HP.  It has a sweet depth adjustment and the "body grip" is nice.

   I also really like the PC 690's I have but they are older and pre-redesign so I'm not sure how the new ones are.

    

   

5. 
   Gestalt | Aug 10, 2007 08:33am | #6

   Porter Cable (...now Dewalt) makes a 1 3/4 HP Kit with plunge and fixed base that will do just about everything but reproduce moldings... (to a certain extent).

   Very good value, excellent machine, I still have the 1 1/2 HP kit without any problems that is 7 years old.  It has been maintained but because of an unfortunate drop out of the router table.  (But that's another story...)

1. 
   FastEddie | Aug 10, 2007 02:44pm | #7

   Porter Cable may be owned by dewalt, but the tools are still sold as PC. "Put your creed in your deed."   Emerson

   "When asked if you can do something, tell'em "Why certainly I can", then get busy and find a way to do it."  T. Roosevelt

1. 
   kate | Aug 10, 2007 06:50pm | #8

   So, I gather I should get a Bosch or a PC...I knew you'd know.Thanks, all!

1. 
   IMERC | Aug 10, 2007 07:02pm | #9

   yup on the Bosch...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

   WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

1. 
   Adrian | Aug 10, 2007 08:00pm | #10

   If I had to buy one all arounder it would be the PC kit with fixed and plunge bases. Old reliable. I have lots of PC's of different sizes.....I like big routers, but the 690 is good for light duty stuff. I've had/have some Bosches...good, but I find they have a lot of parts that break. PC machines are easy to get parts for or replace motors etc.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

2. 
   Sphere | Aug 10, 2007 08:52pm | #11

   Hey. While we're here.

   Have you found a way to table use a PC 7529? I think I lost the manual ( ok , I did) (G).

   I had to tape the trigger lock, and use the spring clamp trick to fire it up..did I miss something in the sequence? 

3. 
   CAGIV | Aug 10, 2007 11:29pm | #12

   Manual and exploded diagram attached.

    

4. 
   Sphere | Aug 11, 2007 12:07am | #13

   Oh buddy, that is cool.

   I guess my wife don't have job any longer, holding the lockout switch  on...LOL

   Thanks man. !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

5. 
   Lateapex911 | Aug 16, 2007 04:40pm | #14

   Ack..I love my Bosch 1617EVS, with it's dual bases, but the switch keeps getting clogged with dust. Sorry to use this thread to ask the question, but the search feature came up with zero for every search I tried, including "Bosch". Is there a best practice for repairing that switch permanently?I swear by Bosch, but this is annoying. I'd still recommend a Bosch router, if the switch has been upgraded. I seem to remember it's a common issue.thanks!Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

6. 
   Sphere | Aug 16, 2007 08:58pm | #17

   Ya got me. Mebbe wrap any open parts with ele tape, and make gaskets for wherever ya can?  Scmear it with sillycone? Buya PC? LOL....hahahahha 

7. 
   JTC1 | Aug 17, 2007 12:31am | #18

   Have same model Bosch router, rocker type switch.  Never a problem with switch clogging.

   Sure you don't have some other unknown sticky goo in the rocker which is holding dust? 

   Just a thought.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

8. 
   Lateapex911 | Aug 17, 2007 01:03am | #19

   All-
   I contacted Bosch, and they told me that it was a known issue, and was adressed about 3 or 4 years ago with a new switch design. Their current stock is, of course, that switch, and sells for $4.50.If your Bosch 1617 is more than 3 years old, I recommend you take proactive action and replace the switch in advance of failure. If less than 3 years old, enjoy!Jake Gulick

   [email protected]

   CarriageHouse Design

   Black Rock, CT

9. 
   JTC1 | Aug 17, 2007 01:14am | #20

   That 'splains it! Mine is only about 2 years old. "New" switch design works well.

   Jim

   Never underestimate the value of a sharp pencil or good light.

10. 
    JonE | Aug 17, 2007 03:55am | #21

    Crap.  I had no idea, my Bosch 1617EVS died and I brought it to Fastenal to have it "fixed".  Cost me almost sixty bucks.  And I could have bought the switch for $4.50?  I feel like kicking someone's a$$ down at the ripoff store.  I guess that's why I don't do business with them otherwise. 

11. 
    Lateapex911 | Aug 18, 2007 10:14pm | #22

    Sorry to hear that. Bosch had the switch in my hand for a total of $13 by noon the next day, and the router was spinning away making dust by 12:20. Easy fix.Jake Gulick

    [email protected]

    CarriageHouse Design

    Black Rock, CT

12. 
    CAGIV | Aug 18, 2007 10:28pm | #23

    How long does it take to swap out the switch?

     

13. 
    IMERC | Aug 19, 2007 01:25am | #24

    10 minuets tops...Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming<!----><!----><!---->

    WOW!!! What a Ride!Forget the primal scream, just ROAR!!!

14. 
    JonE | Aug 19, 2007 04:46am | #25

    Yeah, Imerc's right, even for me, 10 min.  I got hosed because I didn't know what was wrong with it and never saw any recall notices or similar something telling me to get the switch replaced. 

2. 
   grpphoto | Aug 19, 2007 05:57am | #26

   Black&Decker has a long history of buying companies and leaving them alone. They bought DeWalt in the early '60s, so perhaps DeWalt is following the same philosophy. If it ain't broke .....George Patterson

1. 
   troubleseeker | Aug 23, 2007 04:13am | #36

   Just for clarification, Dewalt and Black and Decker were basically always the same ownership. They just produced tools for different levels. Dewalt was strictly a heavy duty industrial labeled product, while B & D went from it's  "B & D Industrial" line , which were trade quality tools , down to the absolute trash.  As the trash kept growing, they began to seriously loose the trade customers because their tools were not up to the quality that trades people expect, so they retagged their heavier duty line of tools with the Dewalt brand to disassociate them from the tarnished  B & D name.

6. 
   JMadson | Aug 16, 2007 05:22pm | #15

   Everything you would ever need is the PC 895.

   Check ebay for used ones

    

7. 
   paulbny | Aug 16, 2007 07:34pm | #16

   I still love my PC 690, but when I need a router now I reach for my Bosch 1617EVSK.

   CPO Bosch $220 new or $190 reconditioned.

8. 
   thinkerf | Aug 19, 2007 06:30am | #27

   Not sure if you've pulled the trigger yet but the Bosch 1617evs is the router I continually reach for.  I have 2 PC routers (fixed/plunge) and an old Makita.  The Bosch just works so well and is a pleasure to use.  You'll quickly enjoy both the dependability of the tool and the results.  Buying a new tool is so much fun!

    

   Ryan 

1. 
   kate | Aug 21, 2007 12:32am | #28

   Thanks - fun, indeed!

9. 
   user-246028 | Aug 21, 2007 02:33am | #29

   I have a $150.00 Makita. It serves me just fine.

   Dave

1. 
   kate | Aug 22, 2007 12:08am | #30

   Makita had been what I was thinking before everybody jumped in to recommend PC & Bosch so stongly.

   As luck would have it, I doodled around & didn't do anything but think about it, & my old one turned up.  Who says procrastination is bad?

   Thanks to everyone for their suggestions!

10. 
    kate | Aug 23, 2007 01:37am | #31

    Here's an update on the router situation -

    The Missing Tenant returned, with my router!  Who says procrastination is bad?

    I was this close to pulling the trigger on the rebuilt PC than one of you kind folks alerted me to (or maybe that was in the orbital sander thread...)

    But didn't, quite.

    Thanks again to all who responded.

1. 
   Sphere | Aug 23, 2007 02:01am | #32

   Well, thats great.

   But I'D still get a new router (G). 

1. 
   kate | Aug 23, 2007 02:14am | #33

   Yeah, but I have a fair amount of fear factor with the router - so I only need one.

   All I do is mess around with the 300-year-old house, making a few batten doors.  It's hard to justify more than one for that.

1. 
   Sphere | Aug 23, 2007 02:18am | #34

   Gotcha.

   They can be daunting, I understand completly, my wife is 62, and she just routed a roundover on some stuff about 2 yrs ago..she was carefull to the point of dangerous..so, I won't warn you to be careful, just stay focused!

   Happy Routering!Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

1. 
   kate | Aug 23, 2007 03:23am | #35

   Thanks...never too old to learn, too old to be embarrassed...

2. 
   Adrian | Aug 23, 2007 02:53pm | #37

   I used to teach night courses at my college, in one course we'd spend an evening on the router and router tricks......inevitably, at the end of it, one or two people would come up quietly and say something like "wow, I can't believe I was doing it wrong all those years", or " I got scared by my router, put it away, and haven't touched it since. Thanks."

   Might be worth taking a course to open up some doors.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

1. 
   kate | Aug 25, 2007 05:06pm | #38

   A couple of years ago, I took a course at the local adult ed. program, for that very reason.  The instructor did all of the machine work - "You might get hurt."

2. 
   Adrian | Aug 26, 2007 01:38pm | #39

   Well, he's a goof then. What's the point if the students don't really learn the skills.Cabinetmaker/college woodworking instructor. Cape Breton, Nova Scotia.

3. 
   kate | Aug 28, 2007 12:09am | #40

   Exactly!  I complained to the management...he was the carpentry teacher at the middle school where the class was held - wouldn't let ANYBODY touch his power tools.

   Eventually he will die, or retire, & I'll try again...

4. 
   MGMaxwell | Aug 28, 2007 02:16pm | #42

   Kate,

   See if there is a Woodcraft store near you. They usually have knowledgable people, and they offer classes on power tool use. They sell PC and Festool routers I believe. You get hands on experience in the classes. Mine has some women instructors too. 

5. 
   kate | Aug 28, 2007 09:08pm | #43

   Thank you!

11. 
    McKenzie | Aug 28, 2007 12:55am | #41

    Go with the Porter Cable kit with the fixed base and plunge base. I have it and it is great.