Hello and welcome to the router forum MKLE
Little slow here today ( easter weekend) but i am sure someone will be along to help you
Little slow here today ( easter weekend) but i am sure someone will be along to help you
Dewalt 618 Height Adjustment
This is MKLE, I just joined the Forum because I have a question on the height adjustment of the Dewalt 618 router. I purchased the fixed base/plunger base combo kit and as I was setting it up, I could not get the height adjustment to easily move up and down, it is very tight. I have opened the height adjustment lock. It is looser, easier to turn toward the top, but tightens and becomes difficult to turn near the bottom. Is it possible to lubricate the aluminum threads with something like a lithium grease or WD40 to make it easier to turn or is it something that just needs to wear in?
Any input is appreciated
Any input is appreciated
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
Welcome to Router Forums, our little sawdust pile. Please take the time to update your profile, especially adding your first name. We already have too many N/a members here. Go to the top of this screen under where is says Welcome MKLE and click on "Edit Profile. The more you tell us here, the better we can answer some of the questions that you may ask in the future.
In answer to your question of today -
The fixed base requires that you release the clamp around the motor before turning the ring to adjust the motor/bit height. You then close the clamp and the height should not move until you release the clamp again, if it does, you can adjust the clamp tightness with the nut and bolt at the base of the clamp lever, but only adjust it tight enough to keep it from slipping or you may damage something. The height ring adjustment should move easily with the clamp open and it should not let the motor move in the base easily with the clamp closed.
The plunge base clamp should hold the motor in the base and against the stop when locked. You adjust the motor/bit height by pressing the black lever near one of the handles. You should not release the motor clamp on this base for height adjustment. With the lever depressed the height of the motor/bit and upper base piece should move freely up and down. There is a spring in the shaft to prevent the motor and upper base piece from falling, but It's easy to overcome this spring when the lever is depressed. Releasing the lever should lock the motor/bit and upper base piece at any height that you choose.
There is a plunge stop turret and a rod with a screw in the bottom end for setting the downward plunge limit. The turret lets you plunge to progressively deeper levels so you can make multiple cuts at progressively deeper settings. You can adjust the rod height and the fine adjust screw on the bottom end for more precise settings.
I have three DW618 routers. Two of them are 3 base kits that also include the D handle fixed base. The third is a two base kit like you have. They are my GOTO routers for most of my routing requirements, but I have a stable full of other sizes and models of routers from 7/8 hp up to 3 1/4 hp. Although they are not only one brand or size, each does something better than the others can, so I keep them all, but the DW618 models see most of the use.
Charley.
In answer to your question of today -
The fixed base requires that you release the clamp around the motor before turning the ring to adjust the motor/bit height. You then close the clamp and the height should not move until you release the clamp again, if it does, you can adjust the clamp tightness with the nut and bolt at the base of the clamp lever, but only adjust it tight enough to keep it from slipping or you may damage something. The height ring adjustment should move easily with the clamp open and it should not let the motor move in the base easily with the clamp closed.
The plunge base clamp should hold the motor in the base and against the stop when locked. You adjust the motor/bit height by pressing the black lever near one of the handles. You should not release the motor clamp on this base for height adjustment. With the lever depressed the height of the motor/bit and upper base piece should move freely up and down. There is a spring in the shaft to prevent the motor and upper base piece from falling, but It's easy to overcome this spring when the lever is depressed. Releasing the lever should lock the motor/bit and upper base piece at any height that you choose.
There is a plunge stop turret and a rod with a screw in the bottom end for setting the downward plunge limit. The turret lets you plunge to progressively deeper levels so you can make multiple cuts at progressively deeper settings. You can adjust the rod height and the fine adjust screw on the bottom end for more precise settings.
I have three DW618 routers. Two of them are 3 base kits that also include the D handle fixed base. The third is a two base kit like you have. They are my GOTO routers for most of my routing requirements, but I have a stable full of other sizes and models of routers from 7/8 hp up to 3 1/4 hp. Although they are not only one brand or size, each does something better than the others can, so I keep them all, but the DW618 models see most of the use.
Charley.
Welcome to Router Forums, our little sawdust pile. Please take the time to update your profile, especially adding your first name. We already have too many N/a members here. Go to the top of this screen under where is says Welcome MKLE and click on "Edit Profile. The more you tell us here, the better we can answer some of the questions that you may ask in the future.
In answer to your question of today -
The fixed base requires that you release the clamp around the motor before turning the ring to adjust the motor/bit height. You then close the clamp and the height should not move until you release the clamp again, if it does, you can adjust the clamp tightness with the nut and bolt at the base of the clamp lever, but only adjust it tight enough to keep it from slipping or you may damage something. The height ring adjustment should move easily with the clamp open and it should not let the motor move in the base easily with the clamp closed.
The plunge base clamp should hold the motor in the base and against the stop when locked. You adjust the motor/bit height by pressing the black lever near one of the handles. You should not release the motor clamp on this base for height adjustment. With the lever depressed the height of the motor/bit and upper base piece should move freely up and down. There is a spring in the shaft to prevent the motor and upper base piece from falling, but It's easy to overcome this spring when the lever is depressed. Releasing the lever should lock the motor/bit and upper base piece at any height that you choose.
There is a plunge stop turret and a rod with a screw in the bottom end for setting the downward plunge limit. The turret lets you plunge to progressively deeper levels so you can make multiple cuts at progressively deeper settings. You can adjust the rod height and the fine adjust screw on the bottom end for more precise settings.
I have three DW618 routers. Two of them are 3 base kits that also include the D handle fixed base. The third is a two base kit like you have. They are my GOTO routers for most of my routing requirements, but I have a stable full of other sizes and models of routers from 7/8 hp up to 3 1/4 hp. Although they are not only one brand or size, each does something better than the others can, so I keep them all, but the DW618 models see most of the use.
Charley.
Tha DW 618 is also my go to router.
Never use either grease or WD40 on any woodworking equipment. Both attract dust and while they may improve things in the short term they will make it worse in the long term. Always use a lube that dries non sticky or use a powdered graphite.
I too have issues with the height adjustment on this router. I have it mounted into a router table on my table saw, It is extremely difficult to make micro adjustments because of this binding issue. I am considering using spray graphite on it to see if that helps.Welcome to Router Forums, our little sawdust pile. Please take the time to update your profile, especially adding your first name. We already have too many N/a members here. Go to the top of this screen under where is says Welcome MKLE and click on "Edit Profile. The more you tell us here, the better we can answer some of the questions that you may ask in the future.
In answer to your question of today -
The fixed base requires that you release the clamp around the motor before turning the ring to adjust the motor/bit height. You then close the clamp and the height should not move until you release the clamp again, if it does, you can adjust the clamp tightness with the nut and bolt at the base of the clamp lever, but only adjust it tight enough to keep it from slipping or you may damage something. The height ring adjustment should move easily with the clamp open and it should not let the motor move in the base easily with the clamp closed.
The plunge base clamp should hold the motor in the base and against the stop when locked. You adjust the motor/bit height by pressing the black lever near one of the handles. You should not release the motor clamp on this base for height adjustment. With the lever depressed the height of the motor/bit and upper base piece should move freely up and down. There is a spring in the shaft to prevent the motor and upper base piece from falling, but It's easy to overcome this spring when the lever is depressed. Releasing the lever should lock the motor/bit and upper base piece at any height that you choose.
There is a plunge stop turret and a rod with a screw in the bottom end for setting the downward plunge limit. The turret lets you plunge to progressively deeper levels so you can make multiple cuts at progressively deeper settings. You can adjust the rod height and the fine adjust screw on the bottom end for more precise settings.
I have three DW618 routers. Two of them are 3 base kits that also include the D handle fixed base. The third is a two base kit like you have. They are my GOTO routers for most of my routing requirements, but I have a stable full of other sizes and models of routers from 7/8 hp up to 3 1/4 hp. Although they are not only one brand or size, each does something better than the others can, so I keep them all, but the DW618 models see most of the use.
Charley.
Aside from this issue, I love this router.
Welcome to the forum @Direwolf
1 - 9 of 9 Posts
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