Buy Porter-Cable 893PK 2-1/4-Horsepower Fixed- and Plunge-Base KitPorter-Cable 893PK 2-1/4-Horsepower Fixed- and Plunge-Base Kit Product Description:
- Soft-starting, 12 Amp motor features full-time electronic feedback that maintains motor speed through the toughest applications
- Variable-speed control feature (10,000 - 23,000 rpm) enables bit speed to be optimized for changing applications
- Plunge base features machined brass bushings and steel guide rods for a smooth, controlled plunge stroke
- Depth rod with 6-position adjustable turret enables stepped or repeated plunge cuts
- Dual-position switch allows user to cut power while maintaining control of the router
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
41 of 46 people found the following review helpful.
a waste of $250, buy a 690 series instead
By J. Mangers
I've been using PC products for 16 years and have loved every one of them until now. My last router was getting a little tired so I thought I would upgrade from a 690 to the new 893 and am appalled that PC put this unit on the market, it is a total waste of money. Here's what it comes down to: the motor itself is great, lots of power, smooth starting, and much quieter than the 690's, this is where the good review ends. The main problem I've found is that the bases are very poorly designed and constructed. It seems like PC was trying to add a bunch of new feautres to them and ended up sacrificing quality for nifty gadgetry. The new clear plastic base does not glide well over most of the woods that I use, instead it chatters causing rough choppy cuts. I tried waxing it, cleaning it with alcohol and even sanded it with 1200 grit paper and nothing seems to help with this problem. The bases are made from a very thin metal and do not seem like they will hold up well to the rigors of long term use. The plunge base has many problems including: depth adjustment/stop moves/comes out of adjustment when doing several of the same depth cuts in a row, the release lever seems to be desinged in a couter intuitive way and does not release in a consistent manner. The main guides that control up/down movement do not opperate smoothly and it's hard to tell if you've reached the stop or are just hung up in a sticky spot. I took this apart, cleaned it out and waxed everything and this did not solve the issue. The view on the measuring gauge is obscured by the tensioning knob for the gauge. All and all I thought these new features would work welland was looking forward to the next generation of PC routers and what I found is that if this is it, Porter Cable has sunk to or below the level of Ryobi. I see there are several good reviews here and not much critisism, do yourself a favor and look at the reviews for the PC 895PK before buying this router, it is the same unit with an added feature or two. Alas do not be too discouraged by this, the 690 series are still great products, what I would consider to be the industy standard, buy one of these instead and you'll get many years of trouble free use from it. Oh I almost forgot, I contacted PC customer support to see if there was any way to exchange this for a 690, they were unwilling to do anything and were not even the least bit apologetic about the issues I am having.Cheers!J.
16 of 16 people found the following review helpful.
Actually Designed With the User in Mind
By Ronald W. Owens
I needed a router with a bit more Horsepower - my old 1-1/2HP machine was just getting worked too hard. I should mention that I already owned 3 routers - 2 at 1-1/2 HP, and a small "trimmer" type that I use a lot - more as a router than as a trimmer.I used one of the old routers in my router table, with an accessory variable speed control. I had already decided that a plunge base was in my future, because there were just times when nothing else was a better option. I decided to order the new Porter Cable 893PK, which, at 2-1/4 HP was a significant boost in horsepower. It included the plunge base at a better price than buying things separately. It has electronic variable speed, and a "soft start" feature that is wonderful - very little torque at start up. I was amazed at how much more quiet this machine is, than my old ones. Motors and mechanical things rotating at more than 20,000 rpm's tend to generate high frequency noise. Porter Cable has done a great job of minimizing the noise - the usual high pitched whine is gone.I mounted the fixed base to my router table and keep the plunge base for other jobs. Of course, I still own all the other routers, so there are options aplenty.I cannot say enough good things about the design of this tool. The depth adjustment in the fixed base is just fabulous - you just move the lever and make large or coarse adjustments. Fine adjustments are precise, quick and easy, and can be easily reached under my router table. Both the fixed and plunge bases lock or release instantly with the movement of a finger. The variable speed is smooth and maintains the power, even at the slower speeds. In fact, you need to carefully listen and look at the cut when using larger bits - the electronic control keeps a constant speed, so when you begin to really "work" this tool, it is not easy to tell - no telltale slowing down as in the past, just an instinctive feel that you are stressing the tool.It has a spindle lock, so only one wrench is needed. The clever collet design eliminates the old "sticking" issues - you simply loosen the nut and the bit and collet comes away easily. I cannot think of a single thing that I would offer as an improvement to this design. Five stars might not be enough.Ron Owens
18 of 21 people found the following review helpful.plunge base is poorly constructed
By Thomas
I purchased this router to replace a 15 year old Black and Decker Quantum plunge base router. I thought I was purchasing a high quality router that would serve me well for another 15 years. But I find this product unusable as a plunge router. The plunge movement grabs and sticks so much that depth adjustments are impossible to predict. The worst issue is the excessive play between the router bit and the base - 0.024". Try routing with a 0.125" router bit with 0.024" side play.
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