I am a router newbie but I want to use a router in a table and the 616 has dual bases. I think that would be best for. Any comments bad or good about these 2 routers.
I was the person looking at the RYOBi and have taken everyone's advice not to go that route. I will build my own table.
Regards Mark
I have the 616 with plunge & fixed base. (beside others) and so far have been satisfied with it. Both bases will accept the PC bushings.
I've got two 621s - one in my router table and one for handheld work. I also have a PC 691 but find I don't use it much - too loud and the start up torque "kick" is a hassle. It's also a lot heavier and cumbersome.
If you're going to put it in a router table the 621 has several nice features that are very useful 1. variable speed - you will find that you'll use larger bits in a table mounted router than in a hand held. Larger diameter bits should be run at lower RPMs 2. the built in dust port allows you to catch most of the chips right at the base of the unit rather than having them fall into the cabinet and have to be sucked out of a large volume. 3. a little more power. The 616 is listed as 1 3/4 hp while the 621 is either 2 or 2 1/4 hp. 4. the fine height/depth of cut adjustment lets you sneak up on the final cut in very small incrments yet the gross height/depth mechanism lets you get close initially - the "plunge" on the 621 is very smooth Don't know about the 616 but the 621 bit change only needs one wrench - unlike the PCs. If you have a table top insert that has changeable throat rings you can change bits and collets all from the top of the table
The 621, when hand held has some advantages and disadvantages. The base has two straight parallel sides, each at a different distance from the center of the bit. They're a lot easier to keep against a fence than a round base. The 621 also has two rounded ends - again at different distances from the center of the bit - but I don't use them.
The main shortcoming of the 621 is that the base is small. When doing roundovers around the edges of say a table top, it gets really tippy near and at the corners. There are several aftermarket bases for the 621 that'll get around this problem. Pat Warner has a great one that works with the 621.
In general, any tool that does two or more things usually doesn't do any of them as well as a tool that is designed to do just one thing. There are exceptions of course.
Hope this helps rather than adds to your decision making.
charlie b
I have both routers, and I wouldn't be without either. I use a PC690 in a router table. so I don't use either of the DW routers there. I would probably use the 610 in the table if I didn't have the PC690. The soft start, variable speed, and dust collection really makes the 621. It's height adjustment is a winner also.
==================== I have 4 seperate router tables... 2 regular tables (one is a stand alone benchdog table the other is a table saw mounted one) plus an overhead pin router and the 4th is a horizontal mounted table for mortices etc....
I have 610's mounted in every one of them....all dedicated to an individual table...
I use a PC dual based router for handheld work.. and most of the time I use the regular NOT THE PLUNGE base...
I kind of like the 610... cheap and over the years have proven they are capable units and trouble free....basically these were upgraded B&D units...
Bob Griffiths
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