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My router arrived quickly, and in perfect condition. That is all one can wish for.
Also find the shaft lock really nice. Love the soft start and the quick release features. Sure beats the PC hand screw which always needed a plier to tighten enough. No need to manage two wrenches at a time to tighten the bit. The power advantage over another of my routers for a small price difference well worth the added cost.
I really like the depth adjustment ring - this makes changing bit height in my router table VERY easy and precise (no more spinning the motor housing). The only drawback of this tool (and the reason I am not rating it 5 stars) is that I find the bit changing to be cumbersome. After using it in my router table I can say that all three of those features are absolutely top notch. I debated between this router and the comparable Bosch model for a while before finally choosing the DeWalt. Overall, this is a great tool at a fair price. In my experience, the electronic variable speed works very well.
In every case, the motor handled the cuts in one pass without bogging down at all and the cuts were super smooth and burn free (I use Freud bits).
The easy motor removal is a plus too - all you do is release the motor lock (one handed I might add) and then squeeze the quick release tabs on each side of the motor housing to cause the motor to slide right out of the base.
On this DeWalt, there is a spindle lock, but it consists of a spring loaded button that must be held in WHILE you are turning the wrench with the other hand.
Three things sold me on this router: the depth adjustment ring, the easy motor removal, and the power.
I have an older Ryobi router with a fantastic spindle lock that allows you to "lock" the spindle and then use both hands for the bit change.
Thats it - it could not be simpler.
As for power, I have not tried to spin any huge bits in this thing, but I have used some serious ogee bits in white oak, poplar, and pine.
I feel this could have been designed better.
If I could do it all over again I would buy this same router.
I've been working as a carpenter for more than 18 years, and this is by far the best small router I've used. Not only is it powerful, but it's light, well-balanced, and operates smoothly. It's like having a giant shop router in the palm of your hand. If you're looking for a router, I highly recommend the compact and versatile Dewalt DW618K - it kicks ass at the job site.
Great router the only down side is switch location.
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