Replies

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 09, 2008 11:57pm | #1

   Ron,

   You can buy a spare base for any router as repair parts. You won't need all of the parts, some of the components like the handles and the plastic base plate, aren't needed for table mounted bases. Given the way that parts prices are marked up by most manufacturers, plus shipping costs most likely, the bases for some machines might be almost as expensive as just buying two whole routers locally.

   There is one exception, you can order a stripped down base for the Porter Cable 690 series of routers from the Rockler catalog for exactly this purpose. Their part number is 61798 and it costs $59.99. I have never seen extra bases offered by any other supplier.

   John White

1. 
   rolby_ | Apr 10, 2008 08:03pm | #2

   thanks for your help John  I was at the Tampa show a year ago and attended a router clinic. Can't remember who was the instructor but he was very good. He explained the benefits of using two router bases--the one kept in the table could have a fine adjustment capability while the one used in the hand held router would not. Sounded like a great idea to me.  thx again, Ron

1. 
   JohnWW | Apr 10, 2008 08:53pm | #3

   In the case of the bases for the PC 690, and most conventional bases, the fineness of the control is the same, and only moderately good, whether the machine is handheld or under a table. The PC's in fact are fairly easy to adjust because the entire router is rotated to adjust the height, which is generally easier to do than trying to turn a small knob that is hard to grasp. Many of the plunge bases offer better adjustability, especially with some modification to the mechanism, but often times at the cost of ease of bit changing. The dual base designs with the plunge base under the table have the advantage of a motor that is easily removed from the base for simple bit changing.John White