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What is a "production" router?

7K views 18 replies 10 participants last post by  RvK 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I found a guy selling a Porter Cable 3.25 HP production router for $75. Sounds like a good deal to me but not sure what the "production" part means. I also think it's singlespeed but with soft start. Does that matter?

I've been convinced by various articles and videos that a router is my next logical step and I'd like to go with a reliable brand like PC so I would be excited to snag this deal.

Thanks all
 
#2 ·
sounds like its just another way of saying heavy duty. Generally soft start is good, but on a router it means that most common speed control units won't work with it. Speed control is (usually) only important when using large-diameter bits on a table setup, where you want to slow the bit down, for most operations I don't think its too critical.

At any rate, I'd definetly grab that deal tho, thats a great price and porter cables are (IMHO) one of the best brands of routers
 
#7 ·
It may have just been a router that was used by a counter fabicrator. Someone making Corian or Granite counter tops.
 
#9 · (Edited by Moderator)
Porter Cable calls their 3.25HP routers Production Routers.
http://www.deltaportercable.com/Products/CategoryOverview.aspx?catPath=4272.4554.4557

Sounds like a 7519. Be aware that that monster weighs a ton, and will quickly become tiring for handheld use. It weighs twice as much as a 690 or 892. Nice for a router table though . The variable speed 7518 would be preferable, but they are about $325. $75 is a pretty good deal.
 
#11 ·
Good deal if it's the 7518 or 7519 (which is what it should be based on the HP). IMHO, this is a under-table router. I use the smaller 690's for handheld work and they feel as large and powerful as I'd want for a handheld.
 
#13 ·
Well, since it seems like it's an older under-table, heavy router I'm going to pass despite the great price! I'm really looking for a handheld. On the other hand, I could flip this $75 router on ebay and maybe that can fund a nicer handheld :]
 
#14 ·
Well pretty much all routers can be table mounted or handheld, its usually just a matter of mounting the base with a couple screws. If its just the router motor (it may have been mounted in a lift), its easy enough to get a new base for them (I've seen bases for mine going for $60 new or $20 on ebay)

Around here the 3HP models typically go for around $300 new, so as long as its in good shape and you had to buy a base for it, you'd be coming out way ahead of the curve. Or yea, you could resell it on ebay. A factory reconditioned 690 with a fixed base (a very very good first router) costs about $130

http://www.cpoworkshop.com/routers/fixedbaserouters/690lrr.html
 
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