Looking for a cheaper router with dust collection?

[JonP]

$328 when the regular Amazon.com item is out of stock:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg...X0DER&v=glance

Awwww... you guys are making my 618 feel bad... :

$328?? That sounds high. Was that the triple base one, or just the plunge/fixed setup? There's a D-ring handle thing as the third base you can get as a package...

Wierd... just looked and saw that price on the two base package, and then $270 for the 3 base one??? What's up with Amazon? Searching out of Google found the two base package at $230 and $260...

I paid well under $250 for the plunge/fixed, on a sale price.

I'd say it gets 60-80% of the total dust when plunging... yeah, not perfect but it helps. It's nicer to have the smaller base when doing roundovering, edge trimming, etc.. and you are going to miss a lot of that dust even with the collection base anyway. I'm not sure if you can take the motor out of a 621 to put in a router table, if you ever got one, like you can with the 618.

That $30'ish dollar edge guide/dust collector looks like a good idea. Collecting from the bottom will help catch the non plunge operations dust that dosen't get normally dealt with.

Just a contrary opinion... I know I've gotten used to mine, and I know a 621 has MUCH better collection... but maybe you're better off than you think, for $100... (or $130) It would save you money for bits...

[Mazeroth]

I see Amazon has the DW621 in stock for $199 shipped so I may jump on that one tonight. Before I order I was wondering if you guys think the $235 kit is worth it that comes with the vacuum edge guide and carrying case? For some reason I thought the DW621 came with an edge guide but I could be wrong, or does this more expensive kit just come with a better one?

DW621:

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW621-HP-Plunge-Router/dp/B00005S7TD/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1202686394&sr=8-1

DW621 + edge guide + case:

http://www.amazon.com/DEWALT-DW621K-Electronic-Carrying-Universal/dp/B00005QX31/ref=pd_bbs_2?ie=UTF8&s=hi&qid=1202686394&sr=8-2

Edge guide info:

http://www.amazon.com/Dewalt-DW6913-Router-Adjustment-Adaptor/dp/B00002232W/ref=pd_bxgy_hi_text_b

One other thing. Up until now, building speakers, I've never seen the need for an edge guide as I do all my cutting on my Ryobi BT3100 table saw. Am I missing something not having one?

Thanks!

[technimac]

Lemme see.....
Router alone: $199
Edge guide: $33
Router, Edge Guide & Carrying Case: $236
Is the carrying case worth $4 to you?
That's the bottom line here.
Good luck with your decision...either way, you're a winner with the DW621 :T

BTW, the 618 isn't a piece of shit, I've built a lot of stuff with it (both plunge and fixed base iterations) and it's still going strong, but the 621 is a better choice primarily because of it's beefiness and superior dust collection capabilities.
Cheers, Bruce