I had an old Ryobi R500 router motor in my router table. It was fairly powerful, 13.3A, and the plunge base got sticky so I used it for probably a decade or more in the router table. But I think the back bearing seized and something at that end melted and I decided it was time for a new router.
So I bought the Porter Cable 7518. I haven't used it much yet but tried using a 3 inch diameter panel raising bit with a back cutter to do a cut in one pass on a pine scrap. Router did not seem to mind at all. I ran it at the lowest speed, 10,000 rpm. Not many routers tell you the rpm for the speed settings but the 7518 does. The feedback circuitry noticably kicked in and maintained a steady speed through the cut. The bit was not particularly clean or sharp. With a new bit, I would try this on hardwood end grain.
I got the fixed base with it because it was only about $15 more than just the motor. But I am not sure I will use it this way. It is very big and heavy. But I might use it to edge a table or something like that with a large bit. The fixed base is like my old PC 690 base, it has a T shaped screw to lock the height. I use pliers or a wrench on the 690. My newer 690 has a better height latching system. But a simple screw works as long as you do not depend on thumb pressure. You twist the motor to raise and lower the bit when the motor is in the fixed base. Some people hate this but I have always found it to be simple and effective.
My router table has a home made lift but many commercial lifts are set up for the over 4 inch diameter of the PC 7518. I saw other motors that were slightly cheaper but for the price difference I decided to just get what I consider the standard for this. It also helps that it uses the same collets as my 690s. A 1/4 inch shank bit is seriously small for this motor but there are some bits I only have in 1/4 inch shanks.
So I bought the Porter Cable 7518. I haven't used it much yet but tried using a 3 inch diameter panel raising bit with a back cutter to do a cut in one pass on a pine scrap. Router did not seem to mind at all. I ran it at the lowest speed, 10,000 rpm. Not many routers tell you the rpm for the speed settings but the 7518 does. The feedback circuitry noticably kicked in and maintained a steady speed through the cut. The bit was not particularly clean or sharp. With a new bit, I would try this on hardwood end grain.
I got the fixed base with it because it was only about $15 more than just the motor. But I am not sure I will use it this way. It is very big and heavy. But I might use it to edge a table or something like that with a large bit. The fixed base is like my old PC 690 base, it has a T shaped screw to lock the height. I use pliers or a wrench on the 690. My newer 690 has a better height latching system. But a simple screw works as long as you do not depend on thumb pressure. You twist the motor to raise and lower the bit when the motor is in the fixed base. Some people hate this but I have always found it to be simple and effective.
My router table has a home made lift but many commercial lifts are set up for the over 4 inch diameter of the PC 7518. I saw other motors that were slightly cheaper but for the price difference I decided to just get what I consider the standard for this. It also helps that it uses the same collets as my 690s. A 1/4 inch shank bit is seriously small for this motor but there are some bits I only have in 1/4 inch shanks.
