Customer Reviews for Porter-Cable 11 Amp Corded 1-3/4 Horsepower Fixed Base Router Kit

This small, inexpensive router is a nice router to buy if you don't really have a need for the bigger routers. There are adapters for 1/4 and 1/2 collets. A nice feature is the ability to rotate the base and change the plunge depth. My knock on this router is that I had to take the handles off in order to attach to the bottom of a router table, and when I went to put them on, they never went on tightly again. If I tightened the screws too much, the cheap plastic in the handles begins to break.

Good Router , powerful and smooth. However the bottom plate on it is not big enough to except some of the larger router bits. I was able to take a hole saw and make the opening larger so that I can use the larger bits but cutting on a brand new router is not something I liked doing.

good power and easy to use. Would give it an excellent if it had a trigger switch on the handle.

Great router, but returned as I needed a single handed D-Handle router. Porter Cable is my goto Router.

Product is a good value for cost. It doesn't bog down. Has plenty of power. I have mounted in router table. Very difficult to get wrenches in to tighten packing nut that clamps router bit. Wrenches are pretty cheaply made. The router itself is good.

Porter-Cable tools are among the finest I have used in many years of construction experience. Although many brands have improved over the years, this remains my favorite, go-to brand and router

Nice tool, light weight but stands up to my rough handling. Good value.

I returned this product because the top of the router where the power comes into the unit didn't fit correctly and allowed dust to get into the 1/4 inch gap. Also, the design of the quote micro adjustment spins so freely that you can't really make the micro adjustment as advertisted. I have a 30 year old Rockwell that works way better and has the micro adjustment that is right on.

This router is a direct descendant of the old Rockwell stainless steel. Easy to set up and operate, and is a workhorse for the home wood shop.

I miss the micro-adjusting knob on the side like on my various other P/C routers. I bought this router specifically for the Leigh dovetail jig but it is a bit awkward to get it adjusted to the specific depth. Maybe i'll have to switch and use another router and relegate this one to bench jobs.

Very nice! and powerful. easy to use and control. depth adjustments are easy and accurate!

I needed a 1/2" collet router for dovetails. This one does the trick, plenty of power, perfect handle locations. Only one down side, no dust collection.

This is the basic 1/2 in router by Porter Cable that's needed to cut dove tails with their jig. It works great for that purpose and I suspect it will work well for other applications as well but I haven't used it yet for anything else.

This is a gift for my husband. .It is a replacement ..He has used this Porter - Cable router for years..When it came time for another..He wanted the same kind.

I put one on the sandwich for it was good. I like it.

Great size and cost. It worked really well for what I needed.

just what I need to do my work projects and it looks good.

Works like its supposed to, nice smooth work, easy cleanup. (Need ear protection and eye)

A very smooth operating router, easy handling. Using it for grooving particle board 1/4 in deep and 3/4 inch wide. Set up with a 3/4 inch straight bit and guide it has not jumped or grabbed material. I will most likely be buying more just like this one. I like the 1/2 inch collet the best. Easy to change and to adjust.

This Router Is Worth The Money. I Bought To Use With My Dovetail Jig. I Could Not Be Happier.

I did not rate this router high because it limits the size of the bits and still be able to use the safety plate. Fortunately for me, one of the better informed clerks advised me on how to make it work by making my own safety plate out of plexiglass. I am glad he was working that day.

Purchased instore, used an older Black N Decker hand me down router prior that had to be from the 80s, of course B&D is parent company to Porter Cable now, and set up of router out of box was easy, quick, and painless. The height adjustment was simple and the performance was solid on cutting material with straight bits and round overs on 1x 4 to 4x4's was excellent for the price point. Only issue was (as other reviewer mentioned) was the collet and bit replacement was strenuous, after second use, the collet bolts were locked, spent 45 mins with supplied wrenches, WD40, clamps and bench vise, to no avail, now maybe mine was a lemon, but the frustration and lack of productivity is reason for 3 star review. Even had a neighbor who is a mechanic come by to give the collet/bit a whirl to release to no avail, ended up needing to use longer mechanic's open ended wrenches with a pipe for more torque, your old fashion breaker bar to release nut. The expierience caused me to return during the 90day full money back period and recieved cash and ended up buying the DeWalt 618PK 2.25 HP fixed/plugne combo, HD - price matched amazon reducing the $231.99 online price to Amazon's 197.99 and only had to pay for shipping, the DeWalt is so much quieter and only requires one wrench for collet and bit changes, much more pleased with that tool and comes with variable speed adjustment, same Porter Cable Warranty which was a big plus over the Milwaukee and Bosch that were similar features and price point ($200-$240 range) typically I have always been a Milwaukee cordless and coreded power tool owner, but have been satisfied with the DeWalt, once again my PC Router may have been the lemon in store, but the pure frustration caused me to spend a few extra $$$ to get the upgrade and hats off to Home Depot for great customer service instore on the return and online in getting the non-inventoried DeWalt 2.25 HP Router, quick delivery time too, only a 3 day delay from return instore to receiving UPS'd new DeWalt, as told be a tool expert, Black N Decker, Porter Cable, DeWalt in that order of quality and craftsman ship, pay the few extra bucks you wont be disappointed.

I bought my Porter Cable Router to replace my old Craftsmen. I Iike the size and weight and it is queiter and smoother handling than my old router. My Craftsman came a work light that this one doesn't have.

This is my second router. I also have the super-cheap ryobi that HD sells. That ryobi has cut hundreds of feet of baseboard fairly well. I bought the porter cable to use with a dovetail jig since the collars didn't fit the ryobi. Maybe it was just a great excuse to get another router. Pro: it's small and easy to handle. It's powerful enough to use with normal sized bits - but starts to let you know that it's working hard with 1/2 radius bits into hardwood. The depth adjustment ring - once you figure out how it works - is really awesome. That part is way better than the Ryobi. The lack of plastic gives it a very solid quality feel. The only downside is that the bottom plate has a very small hole that doesn't support the use of alot of medium to large bits - but I guess that wasn't what it's made for anyway. The trigger is not on the handle - so you have to start it a ways from the wood due to the kick.

I got this router to replace mine that was stolen. I had a skil. This Porter-cable router is by far the better of the two routes I have hand. The only down side is I am a novice wood worker. the Collar system is a little hard to get used to but is well worth the time and effort.

I bought this router to replace an older Ryobi that had a failing safety lock and could not be replaced or repaired. The Porter Cable is nicely built and the depth adjustment is much smoother and better built than my Ryobi. I have only used the Porter Cable a short time, but like the way it has performed.

Smooth and built solid. I replaced a craftsman that I had had for quite a few years. No comparison! You can feel the difference before you even take the shipping plastic off. Great router!

It is solid, the height adjustment is OK, but the height lock is good. There are both 1/4 & 1/2 inch collets which is good, one can use both 1/4 & 1/2 bits. There is no shaft lock making changing bits troublesome and time consuming; the collet wrenches that came with it are difficult to use. Installing and removing template guides are a real nuisance. It was $10 cheaper at another store.

I had to scramble to purchase a router while working on a woodworking project. I have several Porter Cable tools and have been very happy with them. I didn't need a heavy duty router (already have one) but a smaller one for smaller/lighter load work. I really liked the height adjustment and locking mechanism. Compared to my old router, a Craftsman, the PC was much easier to adjust. I was disappointed, however, that the base did not match up with the holes in my small router table. I thought the hole patters were an industry standard....I guess not. I got around the problem by drilling new holes though. Overall the router has worked great and is consistent with Porter Cable quality.

good router. powerful and cuts well... changing bits can be a little cumbersome but at least its made well (steel nuts) rather than having some cheap plastic bit changing mechanisim