Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 44
 Everything's fine but the switch October 29, 2002
Dennis N. Schmidt (Phoenix, AZ United States)
13 out of 15 found this review helpful
The P-C 690 was a classic. Without doubt you'll go through a hundred cabinet shops and 95 of them will have several 690's in production use. This updated model has some improvements but incorporates one major step backwards. The 690 motor lock was terrible. The new over center latch design is much improved over it. However, the 690 had an extremely easy to use toggle switch that was far, far superior to the tiny rocker switch being used on the 690LR. Why P-C made this change I'll never know. When something is spinning at 28,000 rpm (why they increased the speed from 23,000 on the 690 to something this high is another mystery) you want to be able to turn it off as easily and quickly as possible. The new switch makes this far more difficult than the old. Also the new switch is much harder to change out than the 690's if it goes bad, a common problem with routers since they have to eat so much dust. So thumbs up for the lock but thumbs down for the switch.
 good quality router November 10, 2006
Tom Colhouer (Tampa, Florida)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
As a vocational instructor at a residential treatment center for abused and abandonded children I have used this particular router for many years without any problems other than the base lock on the old style. At our voc. center we have 3 in use. One in a router table, one set into an ext. board on a Delta table saw with a 30" uni-saw fence and one for general use. In my personal shop I use 2 of this particular model. This is not the only routers I use but a real god basic tool easy to operate and well built.
Fine workhorse of a router September 24, 2002
Stephen Holland (Naperville, IL)
10 out of 10 found this review helpful
This router is uncomplicated in design. It is no frills, and all the parts are tough. It will stand up to years of use. The brushes are easily replaced. The collet design requires the use of two wrenches (supplied). While some like having a one wrench design with a built in shaft lock, not having the lock will prevent damage from the common accident of engaging such a lock while running. The depth is set by rotating the motor in the housing which has spiral tracks. A mark on the housing notes how far you have rotated and a marked ring lets you see depth changes as little as a 1/128 inch.Down sides are that the track can get banged up a bit, so don't expect perfection in the raising and lowering, and you have to be sure the motor is seated in the track to be sure the depth adjustment is accurate (technically known at the backlash problem). Also, this router gives a kick when it starts rather than being soft start. You have to anticipate the small twist that develops with starting. I really like the collet. It is nicely machined, industrial quality and holds 1/2 and 1/4 inch bits using two inserts . Never had a bit slip or get damaged. The flat top of the motor makes it easy to change the bits. The guide bushings are also work well, but the opening is small, and if you want to run bits bigger than an inch you will want to make a base out of Plexiglass. The base holds on with a few screws and it is easy to make a custom base. The base of the router is ideal for putting in a router table because it is not spring loaded and the motor moves up and down very easily by just rotating it. (I bought an extra base just to put permanently in my router table.) Just a real nice router. Four stars instead of five for the kick on starting. I'd buy it again if I needed an additional router, but there is no way I'm going to wear it out in hobby use.
Far Superior June 2, 2006
Guns (Alamo, NM)
10 out of 11 found this review helpful
I started off w/this router thinking I would have to upgrade in a few years. I couldn't have been more wrong. Unless you make a living building custom cabinetry, this is all you need. It offers both 1/4 and 1/2 inch collets and can handle every router bit you care to chuck. I used everything from 1/4" collet round-overs to 1/2" collet rail and stile bits. I use mine on a very robust router table (Rockler) as well as hand held operations. I know people who have had the old 690 (toggle switch and less Hp) for almost 20 years and those routers are still performing as if they were new. This is just my opinion, but if you're serious about woodworking this machine is a must.
Good for the $$ January 4, 2005
ROBERT F. Areddy (Oakland Twp, MI)
9 out of 9 found this review helpful
I got this router for a mail in deal when purchasing another tool. Pretty good deal, if I do say so!
I needed a smaller, more "handheld" model than my current Dewalt that can now comfortably stay in my router table. This router works great for handheld work, but I don't think I would ever put it in a table. I look forward to using in my Leigh Dovetail jig, however it will be interesting to see how accurate the depth control is.
This router is missing a few features that you might want, such as speed control, better on/off location (TERRIBLE design, there), and perhaps a better depth control. I'm also spoiled by the Dewalt collet locking system which only requires 1 wrench to change a bit (you push in a button to keep the motor from spinning). This two wrench deal is a pain in the butt, especially when the hex on the motor side is only about 1/4" in width.
But all in all, I think I would pay $120 or so for this router if I were to buy another.
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