![]() |
| DEWALT DW625 3 HP Variable Speed Electronic Plunge Router | |||||||
![]() |
| ||||||
| DEWALT DW625 3 HP Variable Speed Electronic Plunge Router From Amazon (US) for |
Very Disapointed, don't buy it . (Rating: 1.00) Review : I bought my first 625 at a wood show a little over a year ago to use it in a router table and lift from Incra. For the first 11 months as I was using the router very little it worked excellent. At 11 months the motor control burnt out and was repaired under warranty. After being repaired I was given an additional 90 day warranty. At 120 days after the main bearing seized up. Since I have a dedicated router lift for this router I decided to by a new one from Amazon. The router took 3 weeks to get even though the site said it usually ships in 24 hours. After the router did show up and was mounted in my table, I got 2 hours use before the main being again burnt up. I have now been trying for 3 days to return this router to Amazon so far no luck. The return center said it will send me an email with a shipping label but so far after 3 days no email. I have asked for a return shipping label several times and nothing. I am at a loss at how I can return this router to Amazon. I will not buy another Dewalt router after this whole experience. The BIG DW625- A Gentle Giant (Rating: 5.00) Review : Before I committed the $$ to this router, I did a lot of online research. To say the least, there were some mixed feelings out there in cyberspace. The most frequent criticism of the 625 was its weight. "Now, hang on", thought I, "a target rifle is typically quite heavy. The reason for this is stability. Ergo, a heavier router will be inherently more stable, and easier to keep a good handle on, considering its torque!" Was I right (GLOAT!) The soft start really keeps this beast tamed, and I am amazed at how smooth the plunge stroke is. The depth stops and adjustments are easy to use and precise. I really like the infinite speed control, and the ability to change speeds "on the fly" - this keeps burning to a minimum, and, after more experience has been gained, I find that I have eliminated burning altogether (GLOAT # 2). And, this thing has some POWER! I didn't want to rewire it! Overall, this is one of the best investments I've made in woodworking "toolage". I have made some raised panel doors with no problem, the variable speed is great to slow it down for the big bits. The three turret stop is nice except when mounted upside down, the stops have a tendancy to loosen and fall out, then get stuck in my dust collection and so on. Using it free hand is no problem despite 14 pounds and 3 horses. The large handels and low center of gravity make it easy to control. My only gripes are these. Thats it, other than that the router is perfect. If you don't have a router, this is the way to go, it has virtually no limits. My next one with the 621 for my free hand work and dovetails, but for now, this one dose it all. I am not at all disappointed with the power or handling characteristics considering the size of the machine. The 3hp motor effetely drives large bits. The low centre of gravity makes this big machine relatively easy to handle compared to other 3hp routers and the plunge action is very smooth. The on/off switch is convenient, although a switch which turns the machine off when released would be far safer. The plunge lock mechanism can be somewhat difficult to use for someone with smallish hands (for a guy), but I'm now used to it. The soft start and electronic control means that you don't get that jump when starting up and you get an even cut under varying loads. However, it's use under a router table can be rather frustrating. I have made my own table with a 6mm (~1/4") supported acrylic surface. It's simple and should work well with the 625, especially with the fine adjuster, made for when the router is table mounted. However, even at 6mm the router cannot push the bits high enough at times. This is incredibly frustrating and it's tempting to overextend the bits in the collet, which isn't good for the collet, the bits or for safety. Using a 4mm slot cutter on multiple repeat pieces should be a breeze if you use a table with stops. Unfortunately my bit, of average length, does not extend far enough using the table due to the inadequate travel of the 625. Cutting 24 identical pieces topside then becomes infuriating. I also recently wanted to do some template work. Most template guide adverts, including those shown here, say that the universal 1 3/16" template guides fit DeWalt routers with an adapter. I live in Cape Town and have been in touch with the local dealer and emailed DW in the USA, asking where I can get an adapter. So far, after numerous attempts to get an answer from DW, I have yet to receive a reply from the USA and the importers of DW here cannot get an answer from the UK. Getting good service with courtesy should be a consideration when buying anything. Lack of after-sales service would seriously make me consider options other than DeWalt should I be in market for a new router. Overall I like the DW625, but it has serious limitations with regards to table mounting and using template guides. The dust collection attachment worked great until it broke. I see why it's made of clear plastic, to enable viewing the bit at work, but it sure breaks easily, and I haven't found a glue that will repair it permanently. So, I'm now thinking about adding the 621 - 2hp unit to my collection because of it's built in dust collection system. DeWalt should do something similar to the 625. |
|
| DEWALT DW625 3 HP Variable Speed Electronic Plunge Router | |||||||
![]() |
| ||||||
| Home | About | Bookmark ShopExt - CTRL+D |