Well that all changes today as The Geek Pub’s X-Carve get’s an upgrade from the 24V DC spindle that was included in the original shipment, to the DeWalt 611 router. My X-Carve just went from neat to awesome! The DeWalt DW611 Router as an X-Carve Spindle Also Read: Makita KP0800K vs KP0810 Hand Planer Comparison Report Our Final Word: Makita RT0701C vs DeWalt DWP611

To test the DeWalt DWP611PK 1.25 HP compact router, we used both the plunge base and the fixed base to make a variety of different cuts. We started by using the fixed base with a new 1/4-inch round-over bit to create a finished edge on a piece of 1×4 pine. We found the router made a smooth, even edge and was easy to control thanks to its compact size (a fact that also meant we were able to simply “palm” the tool). We were also happy to find that it did an exceptional job of clearing away the shavings which, along with the LED lights, gave us plenty of of visibility. One of the features that we noticed is that this router utilizes a soft start motor. When we first switched it on, the motor slowly ramped up to the desired speed. “Slowly” being defined as just a few tenths of a second versus an instant on, where it could potentially be a little jerky since you would experience the full torque of the motor instantly. DeWalt router with 1/4” round-over bit at work The compression springs and wing screws are available through servicenet.dewalt.com. They do not come with the plunge base but make nice original equipment additions for adding shop made or aftermarket edge guides. Use two of each of the springs and screws in the plunge base and place the spring under the wing screw to hold tension to prevent it from loosening when not in use. The plunge base actually does include one of these wing screws for setting the depth guide only. It does not come with the spring under it, but the plunge base depth adjust on the larger DW618 router does have the spring so I also added a spring to my DWP611 plunge depth set wing screw as well. This same screw as described above is what fits the base for the edge guides (for both the DWP611 plunge, and the DW618 fixed and plunge bases). The DeWalt DWP611 wins again in this area. LED is important especially when working in a workspace with poor lighting. Depth Adjustment SystemUpgrading the X-Carve to the DeWalt 611 is breeze and only takes about 10 minutes to accomplish. In fact, it took me more time to read the directions than to actually do the upgrade. The DWP611 has a large opening on one side of the body to allow the dust and wood chips to eject from the machine. Unfortunately, this opening is big enough for several fingers to slip into and it is very close to where you hold the machine. A compact, or trim router is a rotating cutting tool with a flat base that accepts different sized and shaped bits to cut a specific pattern into wood. These bits can be designed to cut along the edges of a piece of wood, in the middle of the wood, or both. More than likely, the ornate lines of your doors, trim (hence its name), moulding, or baseboard were made with a router. The Dewalt DWP611 router is a fantastic tool. It’s easy to set up, easy to adjust, and easy to use. Like most Dewalt products, it’s priced near the top of the category, but it’s not as prohibitively expensive as some other Dewalt products.

The DeWalt 611 makes a fantastic spindle for the X-Carve, as compared to the original 24V DC spindle that was included. The original 24v spindle was extremely underpowered and had a hard time even cutting MDF and hardwood. Aluminum was basically out of the question, as you’d have to cut slow slowly and make so many passes that it just became an effort in futility. However, the base has a little bit of play on the screw threads. While this doesn’t seem to affect the cut depth, it is a bit annoying when you’re changing direction and your hands slip an eighth of an inch. The dust ejection port is near where you hold the router These smaller routers don’t have handles. Instead, you hold the router by wrapping your hands around the body. Most are less powerful than traditional routers and typically only accept the smallest sized bits—¼-inch shanks. Trim routers are perfect for small projects that don’t involve a lot of material removal. Rounding over the outside edge of a cabinet, cutting a juice groove in a cutting board, or cutting slots for T-bolts are all perfect tasks for a compact router. About the Dewalt DWP611 Compact Router Another fantastic upgrade that comes with the DeWalt 611 is that is has LED lights on the bottom that directly light the surface of your material. This makes it very easy to see what is happening with your materials and the bit (remember to wear safety glasses). This was an unexpected plus I found out after the upgrade! The only downgrade I have found is that you will lose your automatic spindle on/off control. You’ll have to manually turn the router on or off with each operation. And let me tell you, with all the other awesome benefits, this won’t even matter in the bigger picture. Upgrading the X-Carve to the DeWalt 611And, for such a small router, the 1.5-inch cut depth is plenty for what most people need. The visibility is almost unmatched

Shop-Vac brand universal tool adapter 90687 fits the dust collection attachment. It must be cut to fit. Use sections 2 and 3 as shown in attached pic to adapt to a 1-1/4” Shop-Vac hose. To remedy this problem, I used some velcro wire-wrap and simply wrapped the 611’s power cord around the drag chain ever four to five inches. That seems to work out fine. The Makita has more extra items for you. It includes a 1/4″ collet and a straight guide apart from a wrench and a standard base. The DeWalt DWP611 is a 110v/220v handheld router that your simply remove from its base and insert it into the X-Carve as a spindle. You will need a DeWalt 611 spindle mount from Inventables to mount it, as the the DWP611 is a much larger unit and will not fit in the 24V spindle’s mount.Which one’s speedier? According to the data we’ve gathered, it’s the Makita RT0701C, with an RPM rating of up to 30,000 RPM. In comparison, the DeWalt has up to 27,000 RPM. Weight