Accessories

Dewalt Tools Really Are The Best!!
I bought this router because I needed to make some fancy doors on cabinets I was building. This is a great tool. The router is powerful and did not have any problems cutting through hard oak. This is a great kit because sometimes you don't need the plunge base and it's much easier to cut free hand with the fixed base, smaller, more sleek. The dust collection in the plunge base isn't that great but that could be because my shop vac isn't that powerful. I have used this tool a lot and would buy it again if I had to do it over.

A must have for any woodworker!
I was volunteering in a workshop and they had this Dewalt router kit. I was amazed at how quiet and smooth this router was and bought one myself! It is nicely designed. The grips are very comfortable. It is easy to change between the two bases. I love the rpm ramp up feature...this prevents the router from jolting to a start. It comes with a nice case and 5 router bits.
One slight complaint I have is that the on/off switch is hard to reach when both of your hands are on the handle. It is at the top of the router motor unit and is just out of the reach of my thumb.
Dewalt has another winner on its hands!

DeWalt's presence in router market is strengthening!
I have researched routers for the past 2 months. I've been in stores, felt them all, looked at them all. Read every review here on Amazon.com and all of those "free reviews" i could read on the internet as well as patwarner.com.

I really really wanted a Porter Cable because I heard they are the best. I didn't like the crude nature of the 690 and I didn't want to twist the MOTOR to move the freaking bit up and down. I'm just getting into woodworking and I wanted something that felt just right. After going into Woodcraft and Lowe's and Home Depot, I chose the DeWalt over the newest Porter cable because:

1) the 890 series, while it feels solid and looks great, has some shortcomings with quality parts--especially the plunge base. It has a PLASTIC depth marker--and some aren't even CLEAR so you have no idea what depth you are at.
2) the dewalt's plunge is the smoothest out of ALL other routers with bosch's and makita's being tied for 2nd. Porter cable's was very very stiff and didn't feel natural. I would be scared i would mar the workpeice pushing down so hard on the dang thing.

Bottom line- I tried and tried to love the new porter cable. And I do, but not as much as the newest Dewalt. However, I still will probably go with their 3 1/4 horse, and a 890 D-Handle if they ever make it.

Excellent router
I bought this router about 2 months ago, and waited before giving this review to get some time using it. I'm a new woodworker, having started about 9 months ago, so I only have used one other router (a craftsman) so I can't compare and contrast for you, however I have to say that I'm very impressed by this router.

Good features:

* depth is easy to set on both bases.
* Very powerful, no problems plunging into 3/4" oak.
* Very easy to handle - low center of gravity - handles are soft and form to your hands allowing good control.

Bad features:
* the through-the-column dust collection on the plunge base doesn't fit my vacuum (shopvac), but I suppose my vacuum could be non-standard.
* seems a little bit noisy, but I don't have much experience to compare it to.

I would definitely recommend this to any woodworker.

EDIT: 07/01/2006 After over two years and lots of sawdust later, I'm still very pleased with the dewalt router. In fact, I just bought one for my dad! I've since had the chance to see and use other routers, and I still believe this is the best! I have had 0 quality issues with this router. In fact this winter I even made raised panel kitchen doors (23 of them!) with this router and it held up like a champ. The trick is to slow down the big raised panel bit, and take multiple passes.

Great router! Cheap bits!
The DW618PK is a great product. It's a well-designed workhorse. Please note that I was troubled when I ordered the 618PKV and received a box marked 618PK. But the difference between the two is merely the included set of 5 router bits, and the bits were in the PK box.

The router itself is a fixture in many workshops, and it has been reviewed extensively, so I'll tell you about the bits. Of course, they're HSS, not carbide tipped, and they're all 1/4 inch shank. Included in the set is :
-- 1/4 inch straight bit (no pilot), 2 straight flutes
-- 90 degree 1/2" V-groove (no pilot, of course)
-- Flush trim bit (piloted of course), 1/2" dia x 1/2" cutting surface, 2 straight flutes.
-- 3/8" round over with a 1/2" pilot, 2 shear flutes
-- 5/32" Roman ogee with a 3/8" pilot, 2 shear flutes. It's like a deep ellipse ogee with a thick fillet.
The pilots are bearing pilots. The bits all have low hook angles. And they're all low clearance safety bits, with bulky bodies and small pockets in front of the cutters. And of course they're painted DeWalt Yellow.

So the bits are nothing to write home about. It's unlikely they'll be worth much to you; I'm more likely to chuck them in the trash than in a collet. As a general rule, if you use your router enough to justify its cost, you'll spend more in bits than you did on the router itself. A pro doesn't need these bits, and if you're new to woodworking, don't assume you'll get very far with these guys. One good carbide-tipped straight bit is worth more than this collection of five.