DEWALT DW618PK 12-AMP 2-1/4-HP Plunge and Fixed Base Variable Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets

5 Reviews

1. I meticulously researched plunge routers to fill a void in my shop arsenal. I wanted a router with smooth plunging, good power, good ergonomics, and good dust collection (if possible). Reviews of this DeWalt indicated it would get “about 90-95%” of the dust. Even the legendary Pat Warner says this router is fantastic. I am not convinced, and here’s why:

   1) The plunge mechanism seems to be just a bushing rather than a bearing. I guess this is the norm, but it definitely sticks when plunging. It’s not the smoothest/cleanest plunge, that’s for sure.

   2) The lever lock to hold the router in a plunged position will come loose during routing, suddenly introducing bouyancy into the routing job. Several times I’ve been spooked by this occurence. If I really clamp down on it, it doesn’t happen, but the required pressure is more than I can apply with my thumb whilst not flexing the spinning router bit in a way that burns / gouges the wood (does this make sense? Router turns on – plunges into material, you carefully lock the plunged height with your thumb while keeping both hands on the router, and if you start wobbling it all around, you still have a spinning bit in there…)

   3) The dust collection is pretty terrible. The hole shrinks down to about 1″ diameter, so it’s somewhat useless. It keeps it slightly cleaner than you may otherwise be used to, but I’d say we’re collecting about 50% of the dust, not 95%.

   4) It has a decent amount of power but it is nothing like a good locomotive-esque plunge router. I would hesitate to use this with a heftier bit.

   The good? It’s got good balance, a low center of gravity, nice speed control, nice soft start, and the fixed base is really solid feeling. Plus the cord is removable!

2. I’ve used this router off and on for 4-5 years, and was generally happy when using it in handheld applications. Enough power for smaller work – rabbets, dovetails, etc, but not good for bigger bits. I had it setup in my router table and was taking a fairly large round-over bit to about 100 feet of doug-fir. About halfway through the mechanism stuttered, overheated and died on me today. I probably won’t buy another to replace it.

3. My work to this point has consisted solely of edge profilng, so any of the current crop would do the job. That said, I studied all the reviews and settled on the DeWalt DW618PK. I like the old school depth adjustment and low center of gravity.

   I’ve used Bosch & Porter-Cable through the years, but the addition of variable speed, soft start and most particularly well thought out dust extraction sold me. My other DeWalt tools have also stood up well, so I’m confident that as a recent retiree we’ll both grow old gracefully.

   I highly recommend Taunton’s 2010 Tool Guide as a resource before making a decision.

4. Owned and used the DW618PK for a couple of years now, purchased mainly on good review by Pat Warner. The plunge base has a problem which can be corrected by some tinkering with hand filing and adding washers: the stepped cam that permits successively lower cuts is way sloppy. It has been tossed into a deburring machine at the factory and abraded way too much. Removed, modified and reinstalled it can function as designed. On the fixed base, the setting ring has an irritating amount of friction due to a poor choice of material, probably. When I get around to it, I plan to install a Teflon film piece under the ring to cut the friction down. Report to follow on how that works out.

   For a long time the DeWalt website has been a real joke, so far as getting product info and accessory parts was concerned. Recently there has been an overhaul which looks promising. I hope the tend continues.

   Joe B.

5. This is a fairly well-built product, but there are several weird aspects about it.

   The base plates aren’t interchangeable. There’s no shroud at the bottom of the dust collection tube near the bit to direct waste into the vacuum system.

   Every so often the speed wavers and it may just be dust on the brushes – but who knows?

   I use the fixed base on my router table and the plunge is generally reserved for freehanding.

   Given the option, I would probably choose the DW 621 if I could only have one Dewalt router, but the DW 618 PK is a decent kit for the money.