I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?

Magenta wrote:
I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?

I bought a Freud 1700VCEK about a year ago (I realize it's not as big
as the one you're looking at, but it is very similar). Based on my
experience, I would not recommend it. From day one, the above table
height adjustment was not very repeatable. The spindle lock broke
after about a month of intermittent use. Next, the height adjustment
mechanism (made from plastic parts) stripped out. Finally, the motor
died. I posted a detailed account in a previous thread if you care to
search for it.

I returned it to the closest service center (cost me $15 shipping) and
received a new one under warranty. The spindle lock on that one has
already broken. I will never buy another Freud power tool again,
though I may still buy blades and bits on occasion.

While the original was in the mail, I bought a Milwaukee 5625 and a
woodpecker router plate to mount it in. This unit has performed
flawlessly.

Regards,
John.

Magenta wrote in
:


I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?


I don't know if this one counts, because I bought it maybe 6 years ago.
Used it on one project handheld, then built a nice table for it and bought
a Porter Cable 690 for handheld work.

It's a reliable, well-constructed plunge router that does what I need it to
do. I'm a relatively experienced hobby guy now, but the router may go for
months without running, then get an intense week or two of work. On the
upcoming schedule is a kitchen and master bath's worth of Shaker doors &
drawers. I just wish the temps would warm a bit from the overnights in the
20's.

As I said, I don't know whether this exact router is still sold. I'd have
another, (advertised 3.25 hp) if I needed one.

Patriarch

Patriarch wrote:
Magenta wrote in
:


I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?


I don't know if this one counts, because I bought it maybe 6 years ago.
Used it on one project handheld, then built a nice table for it and bought
a Porter Cable 690 for handheld work.

It's a reliable, well-constructed plunge router that does what I need it to
do. I'm a relatively experienced hobby guy now, but the router may go for
months without running, then get an intense week or two of work. On the
upcoming schedule is a kitchen and master bath's worth of Shaker doors &
drawers. I just wish the temps would warm a bit from the overnights in the
20's.

As I said, I don't know whether this exact router is still sold. I'd have
another, (advertised 3.25 hp) if I needed one.

Patriarch

I'll second the PC690. I have one of those for lighter-duty work. You
can get it with either a fixed base or plunge base, or as a kit with
one of each. I've had mine for years and it works very well.

Regards,
John.

Magenta wrote:
I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?

My Freud FT2000 (?) 3 1/4 router has served me well over the last four
years as a dedicated router table router. The spindle lock is beefy
(the other poster was referring to another Freud router) and as for
repeatability, when do you plunge a router fixed in a table?

Do it and don't look back.

D'ohBoy

Magenta wrote:
I have a Benchdog Protop Contractor RT150 portable router table
(though I don't plan on porting it)

Anyways, I'm looking at the Freud router for this table. Does anyone
care to share their experiences with this router as a table only
router?
When I put my router table together - a workmate, a one-inch thick
piece of melamine from an old computer desk, a rousseau router table
plate and some clamps - I had a Hitachi M12V and a Freud FT2000 to
choose from. I bought a router raizer at a wood show and when I read
the instructions it looked less complicated to install in the Hitachi
so I use the Hitachi for the table work.

Truth is though, I bet I could have flipped a coin. Both routers have
done everything I've asked of 'em. :-)
(I will now take the opportunity to go slightly off topic and plug the
router raizer. Nifty little time saver for the price.)

Based on the comments here and the other posts that I've found, I
think I'll gamble on the Freud (having $100 gift certificate at the
store helps too)

But I think I'll take the_tool_man comments to heart and inspect the
router for plastic parts and make a final decision then

Thanks for the comments