Message Thread:
Is Porter Cable still the best router?
1/8/17
Howdy,
I made cabinets for years, then ran a CNC router for them, then drew to generate programs for them, and for the last 6 years have drawn millwork for (mostly) the hospitality industry from home.
Now, it's time to get back in a cabinet shop since the economy will turn and people will hire. I may end up in the shop with glue on top of my boots instead of the office, and have a question.
Back when, everyone's router was a Porter Cable. All jigs and accessories in the shop and owned by cabinetmakers were for Porter Cables. But a few years ago, I saw a Porter Cable benchtop planer that was simply a relabeled Chinese machine.
Does Porter Cable still make the best routers? Is that what I need in my toolbox?
Thanks,
-- dunn
1/8/17 #2: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I never thought they were the best since the beginning of my career.
I've used Bosch routers for nearly all my routing needs. The Festool OF1400 is a very high quality router. The handles they provide are uncommon and because of this I don't use it.
I've been trending towards the smaller routers in the 1HP range to do the bulk of my routing needs. Most of the time it is sufficient because it's small shapes and round overs. When I go to the bigger router I like to have a plunge just for the adjustability.
1/8/17 #3: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I don't like Porter Cable at all these days. All they've done is made them cheaper. I'd suggest Milwaukee for the fixed base design and Dewalt 625 for the plunge. I haven't used Festool yet, I do hear good things about them though.
1/9/17 #5: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Website: http://www.crockettscabinetry.com
After experiences several years ago with Porter-Cable 19.2 volt tools and trying to get parts for 352VS sanders, we've steered clear of Porter-Cable/Delta/ DeWalt, as they seem to be riding on past reputation while producing cheaper and cheaper tools. We're using mostly Makita portable tools, but our routers are Bosch. No problems, like them alot.
1/9/17 #6: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I don't know if they are, or were ever the best, but I liked them 20+ years ago when I started buying them and I still do. I only use 2 versions though, the 690's and the 310's. The 690's are just a simple no frills router with a lot of flexibility. Having multiples of the same router is also great as I tend to leave the bits in the body and just swap out bases as needed.
I don't know anything about newer models as I haven't bought a new one in the last 20 years. Every once in a while I'll still pick one up at auction, but they're always older models with some mileage on them.
The 310's I don't believe are available anymore which is unfortunate as they were the best trimmer router on the market IMHO. The other trimmers just aren't quite up to par compared to them. If you go pneumatic Beaver makes a really top quality trimmer though.
good luck,
JeffD
1/14/17 #7: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I have about 15 routers all dedicated to there own job to save set up time. I have Milwaukee, dewalt, Bosch, Freud, Crapsman, and porter cable. Bosch are the best with Milwaukee a close second. Porter cable is my least favorite of anything including the "crapsman".
1/15/17 #8: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
PC used to be the gold standard in routers. If you can get a used one do so. As others have said PC stuff is junk now.
1/16/17 #9: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Website: http://www.willmade.com
I have a Milwaukee router that is the smoothest running router I have ever owned.
Also has a flat top you can clamp to a bench
Still have my speedmatic porter Cable D handle after 30 years.
1/17/17 #10: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I've had nothing but good experiences with every Porter Cable router in our shop, except for one. The 1 hp trim router has performed flawlessly. We use the 2 hp in a router table for routine work and it held up well for many years until it started to vibrate (bearing finally wore out) and I stupidly continued using it and burnt out an armature. That was not the Porter Cable's fault.
The real beauty is the 3 1/4 hp plunge router, which we use on a router sled to flatten large (up to 4' wide x 8' long) slabs, day in and day out. This is done with a 2" diameter Whiteside CNC flattening bit, i.e. about as brutal a use for a router as you can get. We can flatten over 1000 table tops before we need to send the router in for tune up and occasional bearing replacement. The one Porter Cable router we don't like is the 3 1/4 hp fixed base; the depth adjustment is crap.
We'd looked into a Festool router, which might have held up somewhat longer, but would also eventually need repair. We realized that we could buy 3 PC 3 1/4 plunge routers for the price of 1 Festool, so we did. We swap the PC routers out as needed.
One final note: Our 3 1/4 hp plunge PCs were bought in the last 3 years, so they are almost certainly made overseas.
4/7/17 #11: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Whoops! Sorry for the long response to my responses. Thanks, Leo G, Rich C, David Yurk, Jeff D, Mike Fuson, Joel, Will Williamson, and Allan.
I was reading the advice and experiences and deciding what to buy but got immersed in drafting work and lost track of the whole idea of actually creating something physical as opposed to just drawing cabinets/millwork.
Now, I'm back to it and truly appreciate all of you taking the time to help me -- everyone's experiences are very valuable again (still?).
Thanks,
-- dunn
5/9/21 #12: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I don't agree. Of course, Porter's are good. But take a look at Bosch, Makita and Ridgid routers
https://www.craftyhangouts.com/best-trim-routers/
7/8/21 #13: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Website: https://www.reviewsed.com/best-routers-under-100/
I would suggest getting something that has third-party firmware (DD-WRT, OpenWRT or Tomato) available. Reason being, the OEM firmware is often poor and slow to receive security patches.
I’ve been happy enough with my Netgear R6400 as it’s able to stream games from my PC to a nvidia Shield TV in the room next door. Fortunately it has plenty of third-party firmware available, as Netgear were slow to respond to a security issue last year (though they’re not alone on this front).
12/3/21 #14: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I’m using Bosch PR20EVSNK, and it is really awesome.
12/3/21 #15: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I'm also using the PORTER-CABLE 450 with an external speed control. The table is rock solid with no sag or vibration. You do have to be careful during assembly of the lift to the table to perform the final snug up to the table with the motor in the lift. I'm not crazy about the dust collection from the undertable port, but I'm working on a containment box for better dust control that still allows proper cooling for the motor. Everything from Jessem is beautifully machined and fits together perfectly.
Source:
12/3/21 #16: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
I'm also using the PORTER-CABLE 450 with an external speed control. The table is rock solid with no sag or vibration. You do have to be careful during assembly of the lift to the table to perform the final snug up to the table with the motor in the lift. I'm not crazy about the dust collection from the undertable port, but I'm working on a containment box for better dust control that still allows proper cooling for the motor. Everything from Jessem is beautifully machined and fits together perfectly.
https://www.craftyhangouts.com/best-wood-router-for-beginner/
2/28/22 #17: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Website: http://heartwood.com
I have been using PC 690's and 7518's for ever. I have about 15 total, in rotation of use and out being serviced. They are all table mounted, some for automated use. It is time to replace them, as they are no longer being supported. Are there any routers that will fit the existing bases?
Otherwise, what do you recommend as a fixed base replacement, especially for the 3 1/4 HP 7518's which were used for some more precision work, and run for hours at a time with a 1 3/4" diameter tool.
Porter Cable customer service was exactly zero help with any of these questions, BTW.
3/4/22 #18: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
Scott Peterson—Is Porter Cable defunct now?
3/9/22 #19: Is Porter Cable still the best rout ...
@ Dunn, Porter Cable is not out of business, but their website shows only obsolete 690 series routers which are not available anywhere, and only one laminate trimmer.
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