My Routers
I currently own three:
- Skil 548 3.8 Amp 27,000 rpm, 4.6 pounds - my little router, noisy worn out bearings.
- Black and Decker 7610 5.0 Amp 22,000 rpm, 6 pounds - my current favorite.
- Ryobi RE-600 15 Amp (3hp) 10,000 to 22,000 rpm, 15.6 pounds - in my router table.
- Porter Cable 892 12 Amp (2.5hp) 10,000 to 23,000, 9 pounds - on order.
The Ryobi is a big boy, too heavy (15.6 pounds) to hand hold
reasonably. It was made in the late 1980's and is long discontinued.
The word is though, it is a workhorse and ideal for a router table,
which is where mine will live. Available used these days for under $100
It is variable speed with soft start.
It is my only router with a 1/2 inch collet.
I tried to buy the Porter-Cable 690LRVS 11 Amp, but just when the
shop I went to ordered it for me, Porter Cable stopped making it.
Apparently the 690 is a pretty much legendary all time favorite,
it comes with 1/4 and 1/2 inch collets. It has a soft start, which
some folks say isn't that soft. It weighs 8 pounds, which is
just 2 pounds more than my Black and Decker.
When I couldn't get this item, I upgraded to the Porter-Cable 892,
which may be a blessing in disguise.
My local Woodcraft store had a deal where you bring in an old router
and get $50 off on a new router. I chose one of these and traded in
my old Skil 548.
I am on
Router Forums as "Tucson Tom" since April, 2012.
Have any comments? Questions?
Drop me a line!
Tom's Welding pages / tom@mmto.org