• 11 Amp motor producing 1-3/4 Peak hp

• 27,500 rpm single speed motor

• Cam lock lever enables simple coarse height adjustments and motor release (fixed base)

• Micrometer depth adjustor accurate to 1/128-inch (fixed base)

• Motor transitions quickly and easily between fixed and plunge base; 6-position adjustable turret allows for stepped plunge cuts

The first is the lack of a spindle lock requiring two wrenches. The Ryobi had that feature and I miss it. Haven't busted any knuckles, but it is more trouble to change bits.

The biggest problem is the fixed base lock. It is worthless. P-C dropped the ball on this aspect. I have read around the net and found several others voicing the same thing-some have even removed the "locking tab" using only a regular nut and bolt in it's place!

I miss the trigger power switch on the handle, but this is due to the interchanging of bases/handles.

It has good power and is reliable so far. I bought another fixed base and mounted under my table saw extension for a router table, so for the versatility of 3 routers for the relatively low cost it is alright. I would like to buy a bigger router to mount permanently in the table, and I would buy P-C again.

22 of 26 found the following review helpful:


It's an average router in both fixed and plunge category  Jul 14, 2003 By C. Tang "P7M13 User"
This was the second router(s) I bought that I mainly wanted for handheld use. The weight and power are good enough for what I wanted to do. But there are just things that I wish they could be better.
Both for the fixed and plunge base, it's very hard to center the bit when using guide bushing. The screw holes in the base plate are counter-sunk, that means there is no room to position the base plate when the screws are tightened. Later I found other router plates have flat bottom recessed screw holes that allow you to move the plate in order to center the bit. So I have to drill another set of holes that allow me to make adjustment if needed and I do. Two wrench operation is another drawback. Come on, PC, we are in the 21st century, there got to be something easier and better than that. Even the Craftsman router has spindle lock. The locking lever on the plunge base travels too long. When you lock it down, it almost hit the router body. And it does not seem to have a way to set it at another angle. Once you centered the bit at a certain depth, if you raise or lower the motor, the bit becomes off center by quite a noticeably amount that requires another adjustment. That means the plunge rods are in question.
Actually, I bought a second motor to use in the second base. All I can say about these routers are that they are reliable and does a decent job, but not top notch quality for precision work.

12 of 13 found the following review helpful:


Powerful  Aug 09, 2003 By Richard
The Router has plenty of power. I used it on 3/4" birch plywood to cut out some cabinet door openings and it handled the task effortlessly, not even a splinter. The draw backs... the knuckle buster bit change system. I can't believe a company as good as PC can't / won't do better. Very disappointing. Invest in the D-handle base. It is by far the most convenient and SAFEST of them all. Dust flies everywhere, so have safety goggles (glasses are not enough).

11 of 12 found the following review helpful:


Great little router at a good price.  Jan 28, 2003 By Brian Weston "bweston"
Just like the other Porter-Cable power tools I own. Very dependable and well made. I have not had any problems with it. It runs smooth and has very little vibration compared to other brands I have used. It is light weight, versatile and easy to control. I have used it on doors, and in build cabinets. It has never let me down. I would recommend it. It is a great hand router. I say hand router because it is not designed for a table router. If you a looking for a table outer I would go with a more simple one and with more horsepower. I gave this four stars because nothing is perfect.

4 of 4 found the following review helpful:


Great Flexiable Router  Feb 08, 2008 By C. holt
This is a great and flexiable router. Moving between the two bases is very quick. The ease with which the fixed base can be removed makes it very easy to change bits and make adjustment. Pleanty of power and works great in all task especially cutting dovetails.

See all 15 customer reviews on Amazon.com