Replies

1. 
   jazzdogg | May 22, 2004 06:03am | #1

   Peter,

   I have the Bosch combo and love it. Although others will doubtless express other preferences, for my money you can't go wrong with the Bosch combo.

   Good luck,

   -Jazzdogg-

   Whether you think you can, or you think you can't, you're right.

2. 
   reinvent | May 22, 2004 03:36pm | #2

   Have the Bocsh combo and very happy with it. The plunge is very smooth. The case is also thought out and well made. Get a variable speed version. Has soft start, constant load circutry, and a little more hp.

3. 
   Routerman | May 22, 2004 05:14pm | #3

   Something to be said for the 618.

4. 
   forestgirl | May 22, 2004 06:43pm | #4

   I got my first in-person look at the new Porter Cable series yesterday (the 890 series, replaced the 690 series).  The above-the-table adjustment feature would be the deal-maker for me.  I don't know if the Bosch and others mentioned here have that feature.  PC took Milwaukee on this one, because you don't even have to reach under the table to release the lever before adjusting.

   PC also went to one-wrench bit-changing, long overdue.

   I have the 690 PCs right now -- a fixed base and a plunge.  Some people haven't been totally happy with the plunge router.  Don't know if the problems were addressed in the 890 or not.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
   Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

   
   

   ---

   Edited 5/22/2004 11:44 am ET by forestgirl

1. 
   petergulick | May 22, 2004 09:11pm | #5

   Well thanks, I dont think I can go too wrong with any of them. One thing I like about Dewalt 618 combo is that it comes with 3 bases, fixed, plunge, & D Handle. I'm drawn to the D Handle, something about having the switch on the handle and at my fingertip. The detachable cord is a nice little feature also.

   Now at least with a router purchase there a limited amount of choices, but when it comes to router bits............. so many brands & types. There was the article on router bits, the Router Bit Matchup, which was very informative. I think there was something fundamentally unsound with the test they used. The method of testing was very good, they had a metallurgical engineer, used a CNC router, etc, but..........they tested it on something that I and a lot of people I know never use, flakeboard & melamine (the Scrapple & fake lunch meat of building materials). Dont get me wrong I like eating Scrapple, I just think that it would have been a good idea to test how the router bits cut thu wood.

   Sorry run off there, thanks for the thoughts.

   Peter G

1. 
   forestgirl | May 23, 2004 12:51am | #6

   Enjoy whatever you buy, Peter.  I like your analogy on the flakeboard and melamine.  Could be they chose those materials because they chip so easily and are so taxing on the sharpness of the bit, I guess.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>) 

5. 
   JMartinsky | May 23, 2004 03:20am | #7

   Bosch, no question

   John

6. 
   SRToolguy | May 23, 2004 04:15am | #8

   Peter, I like to rank my power tools in the following catagories:

   Best value - DeWalt -- Not sturdy enough for heavy construction trade use (getting better but not yet). Suitable for light to moderate home shop use, (more than a weekend warrior would need). Sometimes to many bells that don't ring very true.

   Best Simplicity - Makita - Simple and easy to use. Suitable for everyday construction work and still well suited for even the inexperienced weekend duffer. Things are where the should be logically but they don't always have all the bells and whistles you hear about in the magazines.

   Best Construction - Bosch and Porter Cable - At home on the job or in the shop. Picking between the two is just a matter of feature selection. Not necessary for the weekend warior unless you're just trying to impress you neighbor. You should be very serious about your work before you jump on one of these machines. You might be better served with a couple of less expensive tools.

   I can't tell you which one is right for you but if you're honest with yourself, this should help you narrow it down.

7. 
   mudman | May 23, 2004 07:18am | #9

   Peter,

   I have the Bosch combo and like the fixed base well enough, but I think that there are better plungers out there. When you plunge all the way the collet is nowhere near the base. I think it is like an inch. I was using a pattern bit the other day and I could not finish the cut to depth, I was verry annoyed. Also the turret stops are not solid. When you plunge and the depth control rod hits the turret stop, the turret itself must be depressed against its detent spring to bottom out the whole thing. I suppose that made no sense, huh? Well go to Blowes or HD and play with the turret stop/ depth limit adjustment and you will see what I mean.

   I think that the new PC combo is really well thought out. Probably the most signifigant improvement in router design since electronic feed back curcitry.

   Mike

8. 
   RodWolfy | Jun 01, 2004 08:36am | #10

   Peter,

   No Doubt - go with the Bosch. I bought a PC 7529 first. I then got a Bosch 1618D EVS. I liked it so much that I sold the PC and bought the Bosch kit. A certain company had them on sale for $209 w/ the deluxe edge guide and pad. I also liked the Makita and the Dewalt, but the Bosch set was less money and I liked it in use. I have had the 1618D for 3 years now, and I'd buy the whole kit all over again.