Hi everyone -

I'm in the market for my first router (just getting started) and after
reading a lot it seems the DW618B3 (fixed, plunge, and d-handle bases)
is a pretty good package.

Haven't seen any real negative comments about it and saw some posts
saying it's compatible with all the porter cable fixtures.

Northwest Power Tools has it for $265... that's the cheapest I can
find. They've got the same thing minus the D-handle for $220, but
seems the d-handle alone goes for $99.

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit?

Thanks!

There's a major reason not to get it... it's a DeWalt!

You should look at the Bosch or the Porter-Cable instead...


Wally
DeWalt and Makita free owner!


On 24 Jun 2004 10:43:07 -0700, (Philip Hallstrom)
wrote:

Hi everyone -

I'm in the market for my first router (just getting started) and after
reading a lot it seems the DW618B3 (fixed, plunge, and d-handle bases)
is a pretty good package.

Haven't seen any real negative comments about it and saw some posts
saying it's compatible with all the porter cable fixtures.

Northwest Power Tools has it for $265... that's the cheapest I can
find. They've got the same thing minus the D-handle for $220, but
seems the d-handle alone goes for $99.

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit?

Thanks!

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:59:46 -0400, Wally wrote:
There's a major reason not to get it... it's a DeWalt!
You should look at the Bosch or the Porter-Cable instead...

For those of us who aren't privvy to whatever supporting details you
apparently are, what is the inherent problem with DeWalt that
contaminates the entire product line, in your opinion?

"Wally" wrote in message
...
There's a major reason not to get it... it's a DeWalt!

You should look at the Bosch or the Porter-Cable instead...


Wally
DeWalt and Makita free owner!


Please. Dewalt does make some excellent tools. But don't take my word for
it, see Pat Warner's site, the Routerman, where he refers to the DW621 as
"the industry standard in mid-range plungers" (Cut & Pasted directly from
patwarner.com.) And I personally love this router, and wouldn't trade it
for either the PC or Bosch equivalents.

Brian.

"Wally" wrote in message
...

Wally
DeWalt and Makita free owner!

Hey Wally,
I'll bite - why?
My two DeWalt tools: the DW735 and DW682K are pretty nice.
Pat Warner likes the DW621 router.

"Philip Hallstrom" wrote in message
om...

I'm in the market for my first router (just getting started) and after
reading a lot it seems the DW618B3 (fixed, plunge, and d-handle bases)
is a pretty good package.


Personally, I'd ask this man http://www.patwarner.com/dw618pk.html and do
whatever he says. I've emailed him a small, quick question or two and
received back great instruction.

Very simple... Not durable and not reliable. Experience talks here as
I've seen Makita and DeWalt tools failing miserably when you need them
the most. I was the guy in charge of bringing the defective tools to
the repair place. The mechanic showed me the difference between the
yellow stuff and the red stuff. You gotta see it to understand.

Ok, I admit for hobbyists and weekend woodworkers who are spending
more time purchasing and reading about tools than actually using them,
DeWalt and Makita hold up pretty well when gathering dust on the
shelf.

DeWalt spends more money in advertisement than in R&D. That alone
should talk by itself...

Wally



On 24 Jun 2004 19:02:36 GMT, Dave Hinz wrote:

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 14:59:46 -0400, Wally wrote:
There's a major reason not to get it... it's a DeWalt!
You should look at the Bosch or the Porter-Cable instead...

For those of us who aren't privvy to whatever supporting details you
apparently are, what is the inherent problem with DeWalt that
contaminates the entire product line, in your opinion?

Haven't seen any real negative comments about it and saw some posts
saying it's compatible with all the porter cable fixtures.

So what, so are PC routers

Northwest Power Tools has it for $265... that's the cheapest I can
find. They've got the same thing minus the D-handle for $220, but
seems the d-handle alone goes for $99.

If you were to buy all the spares to make up your car, you'd have
enough money to buy a ready-built Rolls-Royc. Price, cost, value and
marketing are 5 different things. 5 indeed.

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit

Unless they include shades to stand the bright yellow... and PC will
get you better value for money, after-sales support, ... all right, I
understand some people actually do not like grey.

Thanks!

But no thanks

"My opinion is valuable. To me".

On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:03:22 -0400, Wally wrote:

DeWalt spends more money in advertisement than in R&D. That alone
should talk by itself...

So does Coca-Cola, and I'm not sure your global statement applies.

"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:03:22 -0400, Wally wrote:

DeWalt spends more money in advertisement than in R&D. That alone
should talk by itself...

So does Coca-Cola, and I'm not sure your global statement applies.


Exactly. It depends on the tool. I've burnt out many a Porter Cable ROS
but I still consider them a quality tool maker. :-)

Brian.

Philip Hallstrom wrote:

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit?

Just one... g If you start with a real P.O.S. router you'll appreciate
the DW more!

My first router was a Craftsman someone gave me for Christmas. I used it
quite a bit, but sometimes things didn't fit right, or the cut was the wrong
depth. I thought it was my newbie mistakes, and most often it probably was.

Then one day I made two passes on the router table with a 1/4" bit to make a
dado. The sides of the cut weren't straight! It was obvious the Craftsman
router in the router table did not go up and down straight! The fence
couldn't move, and neither could the stock with the featherboards holding
the it in position though the cut. The inaccuracy was absolutely,
positively due to the router. Finally, my skills exceeded the limits of the
equipment!

I then bought a DW621, which I love. Over time I bought 3 other "real"
routers, one older single-speed DW and two PCs. The other routers work
great but the 621 remains my favorite. It works great in and out of the
router table. I assume the DW you're looking at is more or less a "son of
the DW621" so it will do a good job for you.

If you really want to appreciate a good router, first go get one that is
marketed to people that will use it at most once or twice a year. ;-)

-- Mark

No. You'll be happy with the DeWalt kit. Let us know how it turns out for
you.

Kevin
--
=====
"Philip Hallstrom" wrote in message
om...

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit?

Hi Philip,

I bought this same pack about 9 months ago and absolutely love it. The
plunge base is my favorite and it works exceptionally well. I already owned
the PC 690PK with the plunge and fixed bases, which I also like, but it's
nowhere near as satisfying to use as the DeWalt. The extra horsepower (vs.
the PC 690) is nice, too. I've also set up both routers when cutting
through dovetails and that works great. I also suggest going to
www.patwarner.com and buying several replacement baseplates - the offset one
and the larger round one - they really make the router perform better and
safer.

So, don't listen to Wally, I have several other DeWalt tools and they all
work great, too.

Mike

Northwest Power Tools has it for $265... that's the cheapest I can
find. They've got the same thing minus the D-handle for $220, but
seems the d-handle alone goes for $99.


I just bought this package for $152, new. Gloat, gloat. Special deal
through my company. I work for Wood-Mizer, who was giving DeWalt tools
as a promo, and offered them to employees at cost. I also got a 13"
thickness planer for $278.

I love working here!

Indyrose

(Philip Hallstrom) wrote in message . com...
Hi everyone -

I'm in the market for my first router (just getting started) and after
reading a lot it seems the DW618B3 (fixed, plunge, and d-handle bases)
is a pretty good package.

Haven't seen any real negative comments about it and saw some posts
saying it's compatible with all the porter cable fixtures.

Northwest Power Tools has it for $265... that's the cheapest I can
find. They've got the same thing minus the D-handle for $220, but
seems the d-handle alone goes for $99.

Any one think of a reason I shouldn't get this kit?

Thanks!

I you go looking for a reason not to do something, you can more often
than not find it. I love my DeWalt router, no complaints (its the 1
3/4 HP one).

Every brand of every manufacturer has individual instances of bad
product entering the market, some more than others. I bought a
top-of-the-line Sony TV which promptly broke. I exchanged it out for
another, which promptly broke. At that point, I was moving in a month
and decided not to have to move a 100 lb TV. My Sony laptop, digital
camera, walkman, and cordless phone all work great and have for years
(well, one year in the case of the wife's picturebook laptop)

It took me a while to realize that one bad apple is not a condemnation
of an entire company nor a statement on thier quality as a whole.

The only thing I can think of as to why not to buy the kit is that you
might find you never need nor like using a D-handle. I bought the kit
with just the fixed and plunge. Fixed base goes in the router table,
plunge sits on the shelf waiting until I need it. I can't fathom
needing a D-handle. I've never used one, but _personally_ wouldn't
feel as safe using a router one-handed.

YMMV.

Yes it applies. I compare apples with apples. Most of the other
companies don't have such a high ratio. My experience with DeWalt
products is very simple: they don't hold up when put into demanding
applications. Period.

Take a DeWalt grinder and put it in a steel production shop... Take a
Bosch or a Milwaukee... which one you think will hold up longer?

Take a DeWalt hammerdrill and make a few thousand of holes per day...
you'll see how many you'll do before it dies. You'll do 100 times more
holes with a Bosch, Milwaukee or a Metabo.

DeWalt is a consumer grade quality thus not meant for demanding
applications. This is why I say the DeWalt tools are holding up very
well when gathering dust, not when working.

Sure, you'll find a few DeWalt tools that can hold up well but you'll
quickly realized they aren't true DeWalt tools but actually their
other company "Elu" which is a European company. Their own products
share too much stuff with Black&Decker their sister company.

The worst part is if DeWalt was priced accordingly like the Skil's and
Ryobi's are, I would say OK, that's fine... The problem is exactly
that. DeWalt isn't a professional grade line of products but they're
priced as if they were...

If you have time to weed out the P.O.S. out of their line of products
and pay a premium for it so they can afford a better advertisement
campaign, well that's perfect with me. You end up being the sucker
paying for all this. I prefer to have the money I paid for in my hands
with a quality product than having an overpriced tool and a pile of
nice magazine ads...

You make your choice, I made mine long time ago and I appreciate the
benefits everyday...


Wally



On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 19:50:58 -0700, "Brian"
wrote:


"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:03:22 -0400, Wally wrote:

DeWalt spends more money in advertisement than in R&D. That alone
should talk by itself...

So does Coca-Cola, and I'm not sure your global statement applies.


Exactly. It depends on the tool. I've burnt out many a Porter Cable ROS
but I still consider them a quality tool maker. :-)

Brian.

You are correct about Elu/Dewalt. And again it does depend on the tool. I
don't have an all Dewalt shop, but I do have *some* Dewalt, because *some*
of their products are excellent and I'd not want to be completely
Dewalt-free.

Brian.


"Wally" wrote in message
...
Yes it applies. I compare apples with apples. Most of the other
companies don't have such a high ratio. My experience with DeWalt
products is very simple: they don't hold up when put into demanding
applications. Period.

Take a DeWalt grinder and put it in a steel production shop... Take a
Bosch or a Milwaukee... which one you think will hold up longer?

Take a DeWalt hammerdrill and make a few thousand of holes per day...
you'll see how many you'll do before it dies. You'll do 100 times more
holes with a Bosch, Milwaukee or a Metabo.

DeWalt is a consumer grade quality thus not meant for demanding
applications. This is why I say the DeWalt tools are holding up very
well when gathering dust, not when working.

Sure, you'll find a few DeWalt tools that can hold up well but you'll
quickly realized they aren't true DeWalt tools but actually their
other company "Elu" which is a European company. Their own products
share too much stuff with Black&Decker their sister company.

The worst part is if DeWalt was priced accordingly like the Skil's and
Ryobi's are, I would say OK, that's fine... The problem is exactly
that. DeWalt isn't a professional grade line of products but they're
priced as if they were...

If you have time to weed out the P.O.S. out of their line of products
and pay a premium for it so they can afford a better advertisement
campaign, well that's perfect with me. You end up being the sucker
paying for all this. I prefer to have the money I paid for in my hands
with a quality product than having an overpriced tool and a pile of
nice magazine ads...

You make your choice, I made mine long time ago and I appreciate the
benefits everyday...


Wally



On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 19:50:58 -0700, "Brian"
wrote:


"Dave Hinz" wrote in message
...
On Thu, 24 Jun 2004 20:03:22 -0400, Wally wrote:

DeWalt spends more money in advertisement than in R&D. That alone
should talk by itself...

So does Coca-Cola, and I'm not sure your global statement applies.


Exactly. It depends on the tool. I've burnt out many a Porter Cable ROS
but I still consider them a quality tool maker. :-)

Brian.

On Fri, 25 Jun 2004 08:35:20 -0700, "Brian"
wrote:

You are correct about Elu/Dewalt. And again it does depend on the tool. I
don't have an all Dewalt shop, but I do have *some* Dewalt, because *some*
of their products are excellent and I'd not want to be completely
Dewalt-free.

Same here.

My favorite routers are not DeWalt, but I love the way DeWalt cordless
drills fit _my_ hand, and my 733 has been a workhorse.

Blind anti-brand loyalty can be as bad as blind brand loyalty.

Judge each tool on it's merits!

Barry