DEWALT Router, Fixed/Plunge Base Kit, 12-Amp, 2-1/4-HP (DW618B3)

Dewalt Routers are well-known for their quality and reliability. This set is no exception. Good power, easy to handle on startup thanks to the now-standard "ramp up" startup function, and constant speed make the 618 series a winner. I'm quite pleased with my purchase. I chose this set as I needed both fixed and plunge bases, and was intrigued by the D-handle base. As a set, it was affordable due to the sale at the time, and far cheaper than buying the D-handle separately (something I can assure you would not have happened). So it was a pleasant surprise to find that I've actually used it more frequently lately than the fixed base. No, not for the same reasons I'd normally use a fixed base (edge routing comes immediately to mind.) But dados? Especially LONG dados? With my jig? Well - yes. The remote trigger function makes turning it on and off an instinctive thing, but I was pleasantly surprised to see how stable it could be - even one-handed as I reach across a 30"-plus path. Mind you, I DEFINITELY recommend a two-handed approach wherever possible. But using it one-handed was - surprisingly - not scary. Just pay attention, and use a jig. A little "locked-wrist approach" and it's really pretty easy to keep in control. So no, I'd probably never have purchased the D-handle separately. But in this kit, the added cost was minimal. And I LIKE the D-handle - I really do. But I could have lived happily forever without it. And I would have missed out on something pretty cool.

I started out with the bar set pretty high, my first real router was a Porter Cable 693 Variable Speed, fixed and plunge base kit. That is a fantastic router, but I wanted a little more power and a pistop grip base. I went back and forth on getting the new PC 890 series kit, but ultimately, the Dewalt went on sale and I just could not resist. It is tough to imagine for me, but I like this route better than the PC 693, which is practically bullet proof. The motor is relatively quiet, but everyone should be wearing hearing protection in the shop anyway, so noise shouldn't be a big factor. One of my favorite features is the soft start. The PC has soft start, but the Dewalt actually has a 1/2 second to a second delay from the time you pull the trigger to when the motor starts spinning. This threw me at first, I am used to hitting the switch, and having the motor start immediately, but I like the delay. Accidentally hit the trigger on the pistol grip base, and if you don't hold it down, it won't fire up. The base is smoother going over wood that the Bosch pistol grip router I have. The Bosch is going to be a permanent dovetail router going forward. The single wrench bit change is very nice, easy to use, you just need to position the motor in the base where you can get your finger to it. I did not receive the chisels that were advertised with the router kit, but a quick email to Tool Crib, and then a call to Dewalt and they were on the way. Without a doubt, I would suggest that anyone needing a true full use router kit purchase the Dewalt. Why no one else has a fixed, plunge and pistol grip base kit offering is beyond me, but the competition is missing out. If you need it, buy it, you won't be sorry.

This was a great purchase

This router with the three different bases has capable features and is well-engineered with decent features. I've owned and used Porter-Cable, Bosch and Festool. The Festool is good and has not died. Others tend to die. The Festool plunge setup is precise and feels well-made. The Dewalt plunge base has the same plunge-depth guage and works well despite looking less refined. Here are a few things that have impressed me about the Dewalt and make me suspect that it will outlast my other routers. - it has a standard toggle on-off switch encased in rubber at the base so dust won't get it. That was very smart. - the hand grips on the plunge base are large rubber knobs, very good grip. - the parallel fence guide works well for this router. The plunge handles are oriented 90 degrees to the direction of a cut, instead of parallel as on the Festool. That's fine. - the router bases are well-constructed and have a couple different clear plexiglass bases to choose from. - the pistol-grip base is a great design. - all three bases avoid a built-in electrics trigger-pull on-off system for good reason. While useful and elegant, this adds complexity and the possibility of failure. The trigger-pull grip base has a corded plug to access the router motors. I approve of this. Of course, a dedicated plunge router unit doesn't face this challenge. This would be the Festool plunge router. The Bosch that died had a removable motor from the base, and a built in trigger. So electricity had to be routed from the base, to the motor in a sliding power / electric application. Great, until the router dies. - the plunge base has a vacuum port that routes through one of the plunge pistons. That is great and I think it is superior to the Festool. This is allows you to suspend a vacuum hose from above and attach to the top of the router. This is ideal and worth the extra effort since having a vacuum hose tugging off the side of a router and dragging on things is less helpful. - the actual router unit with the motor can be purchased separately from all the bases. That is a good idea. Overall I think this Dewalt offering is a win; it seems to show that Dewalt has a very competitive engineering department that knows its customers well. I can imagine that they make way fewer of these than things like cordless drills. I'm sure glad they go to the trouble of making this since it may well end up being my favorite fine woodworking router. I'll probably buy an extra motor for a simple router table application too. - lastly and significantly, this whole system cost only small fraction of the festool. If I had known of this router and of its comparable performance years ago, there wouldn't really have been a need to buy the Festool. Festool does have a good US-based repair department. But Dewalt tools don't usually break down. So there you have it. A great, versatile router system at an outstanding price. Anyone newer to fine woodworking can be encouraged to proceed with this system, knowing that it can handle a great majority of routing tasks with reliability.

I've owned and used the DW 616 1-3/4 hp router for the last for two years and have always yearned for a Plunge base and a D handle sub base for mortice and dado cutting respectively . Finally decided to acquire the extra bases and In my searches came across this DW618b3 kit with an larger 2-1/4 hp motor priced at around $242 When I crunched the numbers I realized that having already committed to shelling out $200+ on the two bases individually , I could basically pick up an extra 2-1/4hp Router motor and a carry case for an extra $30-$40. Off the bat i was concerned that a number of users posed negative feedback about the magnetic speed control switch failing, but since most of these are pre 2009 i figured Dewalt has sorted this problem out and besides if the motor failed I could still use my Dw616 in all the sub bases and have a carry case for every thing. so I went ahead and pulled the trigger (pun intended)... Item Delivered fast, arrived in great shape and complete with all accessories as described. First off ...was very impressed with the case. Its solidly constructed looks like it can take a beating and is probably worth $50- $60 on its own, its internally moulded to securely hold and store all sub bases so they don't bang together during transport and I was surprised to find there was even a cutout in the case to hold the DW 6913 router edge guide that I bought as an add-on accessory (by the way this guide also fits the smaller base on the DW616 an added unlooked for bonus). I can store both routers mounted in the bases In this case along with a selection of bits ( all in their individual protective cases of course). Just be aware of its size 24" x 20" x 8" Instructions were clear concise and accurate making for easy set up. Bases have a quality feel and are very solid , well finished with comfortable handles that provide a firm non slip grip. Clear sub-bases for viewing of bits and workpiece were flat and true and all were properly centered. Plunge base , plunges and returns very smoothly , turret ( 5 steps one adjustable) has a quality feel with indexed points for sure positioning, depth setter took a little working out but works perfectly and accurately. Easy access handle mounted Plunge lock to hold tool in deployed position allowing for flat bottom mortices and dadoes. Shopvac hoses fit snuggly and dust/chip extraction works about 90% with some minor dust leakage. D handle base is a joy ( for me) to use with a built in trigger lock so you can lock the tool on and then concentrate on guiding and routing. My one nit pick here is the lock release, you have to pull the trigger to disengage the lock and it has been a bit fiddly on one or two occasions but this may just be me working out the correct trigger technique. Tool is surprisingly quiet, when compared to the smaller dw616, love the soft start and adjustable speeds, plenty power , super smooth in operation . Ran a series of plunge cuts for 1/2" wide by 2" deep mortices with a (freud) 1/2" upcut spiral bit with very clean results. Switched to the d handle with 3/4" double flute bit and ran test dadoes of varying depth without a hitch. Bit change out is a snap with the built in spindle lock and changing motor in between bases took all of 1-1/2 minutes including, changing the bit, reinstalling the fine depth setting ring on the motor ( ring not used with the plunge base ) and resetting the speed. Some one took their time designing this tool thinking through a lot of the finer details . All in all im very pleased. Great value for me!!!!!!!!!

The router works well--not too loud, very smooth, plenty of power for my DIY needs. Variable speed is essential for working with a variety of bit sizes. Other reviews have covered the standard points, so I won't cover those unless I discover something significant, in which case I'll update the review. After using it just a few times, I discovered the following minor annoyances. 1. The D handle base has a very stiff trigger switch that is very uncomfortable to use for more than a 30-60 seconds. I used a trigger pull gauge and it clocks in at 10 pounds. Much too heavy for a switch where you are trying to navigate the router and concentrate on the work. The trigger switches on my DeWalt circular saw and miter saw (and cordless tools) aren't nearly that heavy, so I don't understand why they went crazy on the router switch. You can lock the switch in the on position, so at least you have that option, but it makes me nervous fiddling with the trigger lock to start and stop the router. I forgot to see whether I could lock the trigger switch and just use the power switch on the stop of the router motor--that might be an alternative. 2. The clear plastic "sub base" or "base plates" that come with the three bases only have a 1.25" hole for the router bit. The first bit I tried, a Freud 1/4" round over bit, wouldn't fit through the 1.25" hole--it is just over 1.25" in diameter. That is hardly a large bit, yet I couldn't use it with any of the three bases out of the box. The router kit comes with one "large hole base plate", so you have to pick one of the bases that you want to use, swap base plates, and then use it for any bit 1.2" or larger. If you want to use a different base, you have to swap base plates again. This is baffling to me. The standard base plates need a slightly larger hole, or DeWalt should supply more than one large hole base plate with the kit. So I ordered an additional large hole base plate (part # 397531-01), which costs about $35 with tax and shipping. So that's $35 more for a clear piece of round plastic. Not terribly well thought out. 3. As others have noted, the hard case is huge--it's the size of a medium suitcase. It's understandable given what it includes, but if you want to use the D-handle base, you can't put it back into the box if you have the router motor installed in it (EDIT: This is incorrect, you are able to store the router in the case when it is in the D-handle base. The motor can be in any of the 3 bases when stored in the case). 4. The "precision" depth adjustment ring is a bit tedious to work with, since you have to release and close the base clamp every time you need to make an adjustment. This introduces some slop into the process, so it's a bit of guessing and trial and error to get the right depth. It works okay, but is probably very inefficient if you are having to change depths regularly (in which case the plunge base may make more sense). 5. During startup, my motor makes a pretty strange noise--like bearings vibrating. I've read a few reviews where the DeWalt router motors have died, so the noise has me a little paranoid. I've also read several comments where the motor stopped working properly when mounted upside down in a router table. Apparently something breaks and / or the variable speed feature stops working. But other than those minor gripes, it works well. With the insanely sharp Freud bits, the router produces the softest fluffiest "snow" sawdust I've ever seen. UPDATE: I noticed that the product description says that the dust collection attachment will collect 95% of dust. This is laughable. I would say it collects 40% - 50% under the best of circumstances. When I cut dados on soft wood, the shavings pile up so fast that they pack themselves into the dado as the router moves along. A second pass will remove them, but at that point it's easier to just vacuum them out after the cut. Routers are really messy, so I don't consider this a downside, but the 95% claim is absurd.

It didn't take long to mount this to my Bench Dog Pro Top router table (from Amazon), selected a bit from the MLCS 8377 15-Piece Router Bit Set with Carbide-Tipped 1/2-Inch Shanks kit I purchased on Amazon, and routed up a 4x4 in minutes to attach to a playground (also purchased on Amazon). I wonder if you can buy wood on amazon...anyway, the router was very easy to configure and adjust, almost without needing to even read the instructions (but please do). The only thing that I wasn't aware of, that was in the instructions, was to not so much as even manually tighten the collet without a bit in it. Other than that, all of the latches and knobs are pretty obvious, and I've never owned a router and had very little experience using my father's 20 years ago as a kid. Other than that, it's awesome that this router comes with a D handle, a plunger base, and a fixed base. You won't find a situation you can't handle with these.

I bought this combo about 2 years ago. I have the router motor mounted in a quik lift from woodpecker most of the time, but occasionally use by hand and it's really nice having the option of the grips. Plunge is my most used grip. I've used it for edging and for raised panels using a vertical bit (panel is verticle instead of flat to the table). I've had no issues at all and found this be very good compared to to a PC and much better value if you ask me. PC is the name and are great, but they know it so they charge a premium. I thought this was a good compromise. I have access to the Humber College night school shop (Toronto, Ontario, Canada and and excellent program) and we use PCs there and I don't notice any difference. I'm not a professional so I don't put it through a lot of hours of continuous use, but it certainly does the job for me and has held up without wear. Very happy with it and have recommended to many friends. The carry case is a nice have. Also, I've used the variable speed to deal with White Oak and Cherry versus Mahogany and poplar and pine. I like the detachable power cord and the location of the power switch. Good job Dewalt.

Todo ok

Love it

Un inmejorable jugo de bases para sacar todo el potencial de un router. Excelente calidad

No problems at all with everything in the package, all bases are true, router performs perfectly in any of the three bases used and works great in my router table. Very happy with the purchase and shipping was extremely fast. I would recommend this 100%

Increible juego de routers y al ser Dewalt la fascilidad de uso, robustez y calidad de sus herramientas excedieron mis espectativas (como siempre)!!!!