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The mechanism to change bits is hard to use and very difficult to tighten. I was not pushing the router hard.
I did notice that the sealed package it came in was missing a centering ring and a 1/2 inch collet. I shoud've taken it back to home depot then.
When I first purchased the dewalt router, I used it a few times in pine and enjoyed the soft start and the power. The motor started to slow/smoke and make a noise as if metal was falling into the motor housing and was being ground up.
I also noticed in the beginning that when I tried to place the motor into the plunge base, the base is made too tight- even after making sure it was unlocked and as loose as possible. I'm still having a HUGE amount of trouble putting the motor in and out of the plunge base (I thought it would wear out a little).Two years later now, I just started another project on pine.
I let it cool, but still no improvement the next time.My most recent project involves oak, and this time I can't get the collet tight enough to keep bits in. I'm getting a different router this time, maybe an old porter cable, but I've heard bad reviews on the new ones.
Great marks for Amazon. I'll see how they handle the return.
It arrived today. Seemed like the perfect Router by research.
no way to bring it back to life at all, so, I returned it to Amzon. I used it to make two simple 1/4" cuts.
Tried to make three (third side of a piece of pine) it would not turn on. I now find on another site a warning about this specific product (DW618) that it has crashed on others unexpectedly after just a few uses.UPDATE: Amazon processed the return and refund extremely fast.
still disappointed with Dewalt router.
Went to rout some molding just now to finish up a filing cabinet which I really need to get out of the shop and poof. No problems until six months ago when my 1/2" collet just crumbled between my fingers. I have used my DeWalt 618 for three years now and liked it enough to also purchase the cheaper 616 so I could use them interchangeably without having to pull one from the router table if I wanted to do something freehand. There went the other collet. Hmm. Looked all over online for a replacement -- not easy to find -- and in the meanwhile used the collet from the other machine. Nothing so frustrating as being out of a tool in the middle of a job on a rare day off with no parts in sight. Good machine otherwise, though.
Bought the router about a year ago. Magnetic ring. Just started using it on a regular basis a few weeks ago, and sure enough. it broke. This tool is a P.O.S. Don't buy.
Ergonomically, it's small but solid, very nice feel. But others have had motor burn-out problems. Yes, it can happen to you. I have also had a problem others have complained about, the pin on the collet lock coming loose from the plastic button that holds it, and getting stuck in the shaft. Indeed it is. Especially at lower speeds, it is sooo quiet.One cool thing about it is that if you remove the plastic base plate, it will accomodate bits up to 3-1/4".
This is larger than any router that I have, and I have 4. Is 2-1/4 hp enough for a bit that big. This router has some features that set it apart in the fixed base router category. You shouldn't be making such a cheesy collet lock, and the quality control on the motors seems to be lacking. I have had mine working hard for 8 months now, no problems. From the complaints, it seems that if you are amongst the unlucky few that get a bad one, in most cases it burns out almost immediately, while it's still under warranty. But that said, if you are amongst the majority that get a good motor--it's actually a GREAT motor, quiet and solid.
The height adjusts fairly easily, and the ring you turn is graduated in 1/64" increments.Now, it's good to look at complaints about this router. The variable speed is nice because you can slow it down, which greatly reduces wood burns and saves you sanding time later on. I remedied mine with a few drops of superglue on the pin, on the end where it goes into the button. I have used it to cut out box miters with a mega-bit, and it does the job in two passes on hardwoods, eating out a good deal of wood in the process.I usually have mine mounted under a router table. First, the motor. End of problem.So, from me, it gets 4 stars, because--hey, Dewalt. Remedy your collet pin problem, and this is a solid, quiet, powerful, versatile, ergonomic router that is such a pleasure to use.
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