Milwaukee 5625-20 15 Amp 3-1/2-Horsepower Fixed Base Variable Speed Router with T-Handle Height Adjustment Wrench

Having the PC standard base for template work is nice. The T-handle wrench is good. The collet wrenches are beefy but raw metal. I wish they had some coating. The collets seem fine.

The soft start is essential in a router of this power as is the speed control. I was using a template for this project and found the handles to give me great control and comfort. They are placed low which make the router very stable. I needed to control my depth of cut accurately to inset the router plate. The fine screw depth adjustment was excellent! With one button I could slide the base off to change guides. It was just as easy reinstalling the base over the motor. Run down time when you shut off the unit was acceptable.

There was plenty of power to cut through this 1.5" MDF. I can't wait to try some raised panel bits.

Overall the router seem excellent to use & well built. Be carefull if you mount it in a table...one push of a button can send your motor to the floor. I am building a movable stop under my table to prevent an accidental drop.

Happy routing!
Dave


Simply Great   February 17, 2005
Joel A. Loeffler (Austin, TX United States)
48 out of 49 found this review helpful

I have 10 routers. This is by far the best. It screams QUALITY. I looked at the Porter Cable, and did not buy it. I did not like the variable speed handle, and it felt heavy and akward compared to the milwaukee. I also have a highly rated Fein, which I can't complain about, but when you handle both at the same time, the milwaukee is simplty light years ahead in fit and finish. This is the best router value--it is worth every penny.


Excellent Router   August 20, 2006
Mark (Atlanta)
36 out of 36 found this review helpful

I needed to replace my 1.75 horsepower router and chose this Milwaukee model based on a review in a woodworking magazine.

The high level of workmanship on this Milwaukee router is impressive, as is the obvious quality of the materials from which it is made. I love the soft-start feature, speed control, and the graduated-knob depth adjustment.

I mounted this 3.5 horsepower beast in my router table. It zipped through hard maple without so much as getting hot. I crosscut a bunch of .75 inch dados with ease. The through-the-table height adjustment works great. I can raise the router sufficiently to change bits from above the table.

I am 100% satisfied.

Update - 5 months later - This router is terrific. It has become a mainstay of my shop. Cope & stick joinery is no problem. Raised panels are no problem. Dovetails, grooves, etc are no problem. The height adjustment is the greatest faeture. Still 5 stars.


Great Tool   October 20, 2003
Johnathan T Archibald (Marine, MN United States)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful

What can I say it's a Milwaukee tool. Have had this router for about 6 months. Haven't used it on many freehand operations(any bits need 3+ HP shouldn't be done freehand), but under the table this tool has produced flawless cuts with mediocre bits. I have ran horizontal panel raising bits with backcutters and couldn't even get a hint of a bogging motor. One downside if you see it as that is the similarity of a jet engine noise level(but I see this as proof of it's tremendous power). The soft start works great. The only other thing I see wrong with it is when mounted to a 3/4" MDF board for table operation some bits just barely have enough clearance, but this goes for pretty much any router. Milwaukee's depth adjustment is far above the rest in my opinion, because the actual router body is not turned, a definite plus for table operation(controls are always in the same stop. I haven't used the above the table access much but when I do it works great. I would have to say if you have the money to spend this router is definitely worth the price. It can handle anything thrown at it(including shaping operations). Definitely 5 stars!!!


This is THE Router   August 12, 2003
16 out of 16 found this review helpful

This is a horse of a router. I bought it on a salesman's recommendation over another router I had spec'd out for primary use on a router table. I haven't yet mounted it in the table, but have used it for other handheld functions. What I can say is WOW!!! The power this thing puts out is remarkable. I had no trouble routing a 3/4" 1 inch deep channel in MDF that would normally take me two(or three) passes with my old one(1 1/2hp). Using it to edge Oak trim is wonderful. I haven't bogged down this router yet. The soft start feature is great. I would very highly recommend this router, in fact, just because of this one, I'm going to buy the d-handled 1 3/4 model.