I know this has probably been asked a dozen or more times in the past but being new to the forum I'll plead ignorance. Anyway, is the Porter Cable 892 mid-sized router a good choice for table mounting or are there better routers out there? Also I know with this P-C model you can change the bits and the height from above the table but does it actually work well? Thanks in advance for your thoughts and expertise on this subject.
jkbixby
Larry,
Welcome to the forum!
The 892 works fine in a table, I used it in mine before I got the 7518. It was mounted in a lift so can't comment on the above-table height adjustment or bit change capabilities but it's a good router, quietest I've ever owned, smoothest start(beats the Festool 1400), and does what you'd expect for a motor of that size. Height adjustment is easy in the base hand-held with an average amount of slop. I'll hazard a guess it works about the same upside-down.
Decent tool, I use mine a lot. Not as much as my Bosch 1617 but that's because I have two bases for the Bosch, one with Pat Warner's precision base and another with his offset base with the dust catcher permanently mounted. I like the depth adjustment on the P-C a lot more than the clunky multi-step version on the Bosch, backlash is about the same, the P-C beats the Bosch hands-down in noise level and softness of start. The Bosch beats the P-C in dust collection with their accessories.
I really like the P-C collets, all their routers(except the trimmers) use the same collets and wrenches. Getting the bit out is a simple one-step operation, loosen the nut, yank the bit and you're done. Unlike almost all manufacturers which require you to loosen the nut, back it off a few turns and then apply the wrenches again for the second stage of getting your bit back. Not a big thing but it grows into a major PITA after a while, you start wondering why P-C can do it and no one else can.
Anyway, MHO is that you could do a lot worse for your money than the 892.
HTH,
Bill
Welcome to the forum!
The 892 works fine in a table, I used it in mine before I got the 7518. It was mounted in a lift so can't comment on the above-table height adjustment or bit change capabilities but it's a good router, quietest I've ever owned, smoothest start(beats the Festool 1400), and does what you'd expect for a motor of that size. Height adjustment is easy in the base hand-held with an average amount of slop. I'll hazard a guess it works about the same upside-down.
Decent tool, I use mine a lot. Not as much as my Bosch 1617 but that's because I have two bases for the Bosch, one with Pat Warner's precision base and another with his offset base with the dust catcher permanently mounted. I like the depth adjustment on the P-C a lot more than the clunky multi-step version on the Bosch, backlash is about the same, the P-C beats the Bosch hands-down in noise level and softness of start. The Bosch beats the P-C in dust collection with their accessories.
I really like the P-C collets, all their routers(except the trimmers) use the same collets and wrenches. Getting the bit out is a simple one-step operation, loosen the nut, yank the bit and you're done. Unlike almost all manufacturers which require you to loosen the nut, back it off a few turns and then apply the wrenches again for the second stage of getting your bit back. Not a big thing but it grows into a major PITA after a while, you start wondering why P-C can do it and no one else can.
Anyway, MHO is that you could do a lot worse for your money than the 892.
HTH,
Bill
Welcome to the family Larry! It's great to hear from you.
I had an 892 in a table for many years. I used it with just the above-the-table adjustment tool for height adjustment (no lift). It worked really well for me. It had plenty of power and did everything I asked of it. The height adjustment was very precise, and the collet comes above the table for bit changes (no stooping under the table!) You have to pull the motor out of the base every now and then to blow the sawdust out of the rack mechanism because sawdust gets packed in there, but that's normal maintenance with about any router.
There is only one limitation that I know of - because of the hole size in the base, you can't run the very largest horizontal panel raising bits (the 3-1/2" ones) without some modifications. Most insert plates limit you to a hole size about 3-1/4" which means a bit size of 3-1/8" max. If you want to run the bigger 3-1/2" bits you either have to buy a lift/plate assembly with a bigger hole to drop the motor into or build up the top to safely accommodate the bit on the top side of the table. That may not be an issue for you now since you're learning to use it and (I'm assuming) you will probably be using smaller bits for awhile. When you're ready to spin the big ones, you'll just need another set-up, right? :laugh:
I hope this helps you. The 892 really is a great router and works well (at least for me).
I had an 892 in a table for many years. I used it with just the above-the-table adjustment tool for height adjustment (no lift). It worked really well for me. It had plenty of power and did everything I asked of it. The height adjustment was very precise, and the collet comes above the table for bit changes (no stooping under the table!) You have to pull the motor out of the base every now and then to blow the sawdust out of the rack mechanism because sawdust gets packed in there, but that's normal maintenance with about any router.
There is only one limitation that I know of - because of the hole size in the base, you can't run the very largest horizontal panel raising bits (the 3-1/2" ones) without some modifications. Most insert plates limit you to a hole size about 3-1/4" which means a bit size of 3-1/8" max. If you want to run the bigger 3-1/2" bits you either have to buy a lift/plate assembly with a bigger hole to drop the motor into or build up the top to safely accommodate the bit on the top side of the table. That may not be an issue for you now since you're learning to use it and (I'm assuming) you will probably be using smaller bits for awhile. When you're ready to spin the big ones, you'll just need another set-up, right? :laugh:
I hope this helps you. The 892 really is a great router and works well (at least for me).
Gentlemen,
I am looking at this router for a custom table and lift application, so I'm not concerned about the height adjustment system; I just need the spindle motor, I guess you'd call it.
They are reasonably priced on Amazon ($160).
However, one of the Amazon reviewers posted something that gave me pause:
No one above mentioned this safety feature with the 892. Is it a new thing? Can it be easily uninstalled? If not, it's a dealbreaker for me and I'll have to find another router for my table application.
I am looking at this router for a custom table and lift application, so I'm not concerned about the height adjustment system; I just need the spindle motor, I guess you'd call it.
They are reasonably priced on Amazon ($160).
However, one of the Amazon reviewers posted something that gave me pause:
Well, since that's exactly what I have planned this comment stopped me in my tracks. I am currently using a Triton in my quicky router table, and one of the reasons I want to replace it is because it has a cute safety feature that means I have to reach under the table every time I want to turn it on, which is only tolerable because I don't yet have dust collection.
No one above mentioned this safety feature with the 892. Is it a new thing? Can it be easily uninstalled? If not, it's a dealbreaker for me and I'll have to find another router for my table application.
Mitch if you enclose your router without making certain modifications you'll starve it for cooling air which will likely shorten it's life and/or the life of any electronics it has.
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