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| DeWalt and Colt routers? http://www.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10101&t=50164 |
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| Author: | mqbernardo [ Tue Jan 09, 2018 6:43 pm ] |
| Post subject: | DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Help me out, please. I have the colt router, which i treated rather bad over the years so maybe a replacement is lurking in the near future. it´s the only router i´ve had so far, i think it´s an OK router but i really loath the height adjustment so if i buy a new one i think i´ll try a different one. In the EU i can get the DeWalt D26204K model, which i guess is similar to de 611 so popular around here (it comes with a trimmer and a plunge base). so the questions are: - would you recommend one over the other? - will the base of the DeWalt fit my binding jig (its the Garry Hallam jig, an aluminium "architect lamp" arm jig), which is tailored for the colt? thanks in advance, Miguel. |
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| Author: | jshelton [ Tue Jan 09, 2018 7:25 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
I just bought a Ridgid laminate trimmer (our 8th router) because I liked the fine adjustment. The fine adjustment is better than any of the other 7 (2 Makita, 2 Bosch, Skill, Porter Cable, Old Black & Decker ). |
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| Author: | rlrhett [ Tue Jan 09, 2018 8:54 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
I don't know if the Dewalt and Rigid share the same base, but I also have to recommend the Rigid. I've seen a lot of laminate trimmers, and these are quite good for the price. Of course, tomorrow a different Chinese factory will get the contract and they will share little with the current version. But for now I know a lot of carpenters and woodworkers who rely on these. |
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| Author: | ernie [ Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:23 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
ridgid plus 1 |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Tue Jan 09, 2018 9:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
The DeWalt design seems similar to the PC310, PC309 and the Rockwell 64 (my old favorite) . I like the the way the bases fit to the router and the adjustment ring for precision adjustments. The DeWalt does seem a little large for a trimmer, but I even use the PC 690 one handed on occasion so it is something I'm sure you could get used to. The DeWalt is about 3/4 lb heavier than the colt so that might be a consideration for the binding jig. The Ridgid seems to be the new Favorite, but I'm not impressed. |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:00 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
I will answer ur question directly. Buy the Dewalt, deeper collet, easier adjustment, and precisebits.com supports it. Not so much with the colt. They used to love the colt then the quality went downhill. TIR increased, and plastic stuff failed. |
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| Author: | Hesh [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:44 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Mike OMelia wrote: I will answer ur question directly. Buy the Dewalt, deeper collet, easier adjustment, and precisebits.com supports it. Not so much with the colt. They used to love the colt then the quality went downhill. TIR increased, and plastic stuff failed. We like the Dewalt too and we also specifically evaluated both Laminate trimmers (and others) for our saddle mill. Our goal was the closest thing to the PC 310 which was the standard that all others were judged against. The Dewalt won for what Mike said. I'll add that the amount of runout on the Dewalt was significantly less than the Colt which was "critical to quality" for us to incorporate it in our Collins Saddle Mill product. We and our clients have not been sorry we went with Dewalt. |
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| Author: | mqbernardo [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 9:56 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
thanks for the input. Can´t seem to find the ridgid brand this side of the pond. weight is a good thing to take into consideration, thanks for that. I just discovered that a friend of mine has the deWalt router, i think i´ll visit and take my colt base and check the fit. thanks again, Miguel. |
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| Author: | sdsollod [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 10:25 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
I've got a DeWalt laminate trimmer that includes the plunge base. I really like it. Seems well made to me. Good for various uses. I use the plunge base for saddle slots... I do use a Porter Cable on my Fleishman binding jig. It doesn't have the best depth adjustment, but I had it when I made the jig and I have always used it... |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:03 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
I'm curious to know what you don't like about the height adjustment on the Colt? I rather like it on mine. You have to release the latch to make it work. |
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| Author: | Clay S. [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 11:30 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
So what is wrong with the colt? Is it a bearings and brushes thing? (about $20) If it is still limping along you could keep it in the binding jig and get another trimmer for everything else. |
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| Author: | Dave m2 [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 12:55 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Is it a particular model of DeWalt that you guys are talking about? The one available in the UK seems to be : DWE6005... Dave |
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| Author: | J De Rocher [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:44 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
jfmckenna wrote: I'm curious to know what you don't like about the height adjustment on the Colt? I rather like it on mine. You have to release the latch to make it work. On mine, at least, it's totally random whether or not the thumbwheel/screw adjuster mechanism engages or not, and when it does engage, whether it will stay engaged. Also, the height of the bit changes about 4 or 5 thousandths when closing the latch which matters when cutting binding channels. |
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| Author: | jfmckenna [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 2:53 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
J De Rocher wrote: jfmckenna wrote: I'm curious to know what you don't like about the height adjustment on the Colt? I rather like it on mine. You have to release the latch to make it work. On mine, at least, it's totally random whether or not the thumbwheel/screw adjuster mechanism engages or not, and when it does engage, whether it will stay engaged. Also, the height of the bit changes about 4 or 5 thousandths when closing the latch which matters when cutting binding channels. I have not noticed that on mine but I don't use it for bindings either. It could be that their quality of production varied wildly too IDK. But to be clear you are supposed to undu the latch but keep it in the locked mode when micro adjusting, then close the latch. |
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| Author: | J De Rocher [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:07 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
jfmckenna wrote: I have not noticed that on mine but I don't use it for bindings either. It could be that their quality of production varied wildly too IDK. But to be clear you are supposed to undu the latch but keep it in the locked mode when micro adjusting, then close the latch. Yea, I do keep it in the locked mode with the latch open, but the mechanism doesn't engage reliably. You may be right about quality variation. |
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| Author: | Colin North [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 3:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
J De Rocher wrote: jfmckenna wrote: I'm curious to know what you don't like about the height adjustment on the Colt? I rather like it on mine. You have to release the latch to make it work. On mine, at least, it's totally random whether or not the thumbwheel/screw adjuster mechanism engages or not, and when it does engage, whether it will stay engaged. On my (UK equivalent) Bosch, the router body has to be inserted and then turned to engage the height adjuster. Took me a little time to figure it out. Height adjustment is not the best, but I try to release the clamp only just enough for the adjuster to move for fine adjustments. If I open it much more, or heavens forbid, fully, things tend to get a bit "wobbly" |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 5:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Go to a store and mess with the dewalt. U will see how much easier it is to adjust. It also has LED lighting. There was a time when the Colt could be counted on for quality and low TIR. No more. Plus that shallow collet makes me nervous |
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| Author: | mqbernardo [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:19 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
J De Rocher wrote: jfmckenna wrote: I'm curious to know what you don't like about the height adjustment on the Colt? I rather like it on mine. You have to release the latch to make it work. On mine, at least, it's totally random whether or not the thumbwheel/screw adjuster mechanism engages or not, and when it does engage, whether it will stay engaged. Also, the height of the bit changes about 4 or 5 thousandths when closing the latch which matters when cutting binding channels. this. maybe i abused it in the past, i started using it out of the box without ever using one before or reading the manual. but another friend of mine also has the colt and says his height adjustment is also unreliable, exactly in the same way as with mine and, at least, J de Rocher. best, Miguel. |
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| Author: | mqbernardo [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:21 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Clay S. wrote: So what is wrong with the colt? Is it a bearings and brushes thing? (about $20) If it is still limping along you could keep it in the binding jig and get another trimmer for everything else. nothing wrong, but another router is always handy and the height adjustment not working properly makes me want to try another model. i´ll still use it for other tasks, like slotting the peghead. |
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| Author: | mqbernardo [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 6:24 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Dave m2 wrote: Is it a particular model of DeWalt that you guys are talking about? The one available in the UK seems to be : DWE6005... Dave this is the one: http://www.axminster.co.uk/dewalt-d2620 ... 1-4-952707 |
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| Author: | Mike OMelia [ Wed Jan 10, 2018 8:27 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Depth of collet is important. Besides safety issues, you have bearing issues. Shallow collets (like Colt) can put excessive stress and wear on the top bearing. It’s just a dumb design. Maybe ok for 1/8” shank. But not 1/4” |
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| Author: | Hesh [ Thu Jan 11, 2018 5:41 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Mike OMelia wrote: Go to a store and mess with the dewalt. U will see how much easier it is to adjust. It also has LED lighting. There was a time when the Colt could be counted on for quality and low TIR. No more. Plus that shallow collet makes me nervous Exactly! When we did our evaluation of all of the Lam trimmers the Colt did very poorly. We measured nearly .005" runout and one of our apprentices who is opening a shop in California also measured the same amount of runout. He got several of the Colts from a big box store and every one of them he measured had around .005" of runout. For the Collins Saddle Mill runout was a deal breaker and we needed something that could be tuned with a PreciseBits bit to .001" or less of runout. We found it in the Dewalt and that's what we settled on. Excessive runout may not be as much of a deal breaker for binding as it is for a saddle slot but OTOH what benefit is there to runout.... none. |
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| Author: | Dave m2 [ Thu Jan 11, 2018 12:36 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Thanks Miguel |
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| Author: | Dave m2 [ Wed Feb 14, 2018 3:15 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Sorry to revive an old topic but I just received the DeWalt router with fixed and plunge base and what a good tool it feels like. So much better than the standard quarter inch router that many people buy in the UK. I won't name names I shall be rebuilding my binding jig to take it but can see me using it for much more than that. Thanks for the people who reviewed. Dave |
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| Author: | JSDenvir [ Wed Feb 14, 2018 9:46 pm ] |
| Post subject: | Re: DeWalt and Colt routers? |
Miguel, Ridgid is the Home Depot house brand. Steve |
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