Porter Cable 890 vs 690 Router

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I have been using a Porter Cable 690 series Router for several years now, and been very happy with it's performance. However, it is beginning to wear out. So I am considering upgrading to a 890 series. Because of the higher horsepower rating, and the fact that it uses the same size collets.

I just wanted to post this as a poll, to see what others experience has been with the PC 890 series Routers. Particularly if you upgraded from a 690 series.
Please post any comments about the 890's performance.

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Come on folks! I KNOW some of you have a Porter Cable 890 series Router.
What is your experience with these?

[LazyMan]

The 892 has a spindle lock feature saving from the scissor knuckle skinning action of dual wrench tool changes. I had 690 but never used the 892, but with a $28 difference from amazon you really have no excuse not to get the 892. In fact, I would call you a fool if you didn't.

[ger21]

The 892 has a spindle lock feature saving from the scissor knuckle skinning action of dual wrench tool changes.

You need to learn how to use the two wrench method. When done properly, there's no danger of skinned knuckles. I've had an 892 for over 5 years, and have never used the spindle lock.

http://www.woodsmithtips.com/2010/09...g-router-bits/


As for which is better for CNC use?
I had an 892 in my cnc when I first got it running. When I got a Super-PID, i pulled the 892 and used an older 690 with the Super-PID. Mainly because I plan on selling the router eventually, and wanted to keep the 892, which is now in a standard router table.

From my experience, the 892 has more power, is smoother, and quieter.
But my CNC is not rigid enough to put them both through a "stress test" to see which is actually better.

The new dual spindle machine I'm slowly working on will have two 892's. though.

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You need to learn how to use the two wrench method. When done properly, there's no danger of skinned knuckles. I've had an 892 for over 5 years, and have never used the spindle lock.

One Hand-Two Wrench Technique for Mounting Router Bits | Woodsmith Tips


As for which is better for CNC use?
I had an 892 in my cnc when I first got it running. When I got a Super-PID, i pulled the 892 and used an older 690 with the Super-PID. Mainly because I plan on selling the router eventually, and wanted to keep the 892, which is now in a standard router table.

From my experience, the 892 has more power, is smoother, and quieter.
But my CNC is not rigid enough to put them both through a "stress test" to see which is actually better.

The new dual spindle machine I'm slowly working on will have two 892's. though.

Thanks for your opinion. Do you happen to know, if the 892 has the same diameter motor as the 690? It sure would be convenient, if it does- so that I can just unbolt the 690, and bolt in the 892 without modification to the router clamp blocks! I actually ordered the 892 from Amazon.
Anyone know the specific modifications needed on the 892 to install the Super PID? (Which color wires need to be removed, etc.)

[ger21]

They are both 3.5" diameter.

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They are both 3.5" diameter.

YES!!! That's what I was hoping for, so that I can simply swap out the Routers. The 3/4 HP increase in power should allow me to speed things up in my Oak wood carvings.

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They are both 3.5" diameter.

Well, (for those of you who are interested in the comparison), I received the 892 Router yesterday, and swapped it out with the 690. The motor fit into my 3.5" clamp blocks perfectly!

However, the 892 features a built-in spindle lock. Which has a sliding plate to lock the spindle lock into the disengaged position, once the Router is switched ON. The spindle lock, is actually a spring-loaded pin, which must be pressed in (and held there with one hand) during tool changes.

This was a disappointment for me, since I had already designed and installed a spindle lock on my machine, which features a notched lever for locking the spindle during tool changes, and for locking the spindle lock mechanism into the disengaged position before starting the Router. (Can be seen in the Winter Edition of Digital Machinist Magazine 2010).

The spindle itself is longer on the 892 than the 690, and protrudes from the body of the motor just enough to render my self-designed spindle lock useless. (Well, It just requires the use of a thicker sliding plate, to engage with the flats on the Router's spindle to again be useful).

As for the performance, I am simply amazed at the difference the 892 makes in comparison to the 690! It's somewhat quieter, (since it has a maximum speed of 23000 RPM vs the 690's 27000 RPM). The slower speed has also presented a new problem: the wind from the 892 is not strong enough to keep the chips and dust blown off of the work piece. I do have a dust collector system, and dust shoe. But haven't really used it much with the 690, since chips stayed out of the way of the tool for the most part.
But it is obvious that I will now be using the dust collector with the 892 as a REQUIREMENT!

The additional 3/4 HP of the 892 makes a BIG difference in the cutting performance. As a test, I set the Feed Rate Over ride in Mach3 to 250 percent. (An increase in cutting speed from 50 IPM to 125 IPM- however, the maximum motor speed I have tuned is only 67 IPM- the speed it actually ran at).
The machine performed flawlessly, on the roughing cut using a 1/4" diameter straight flute cutter. However, the machine lost steps on the Z with the Over ride set this fast, during the finishing cut using a 1/8" diameter Rotozip tile cutter bit. (And plunged too deep in the material, breaking the bit).

So, the test defined the limits of the machine using the 892. Ultimately, 5 hour cuts have been reduced to an average 3 hour cut! Cutting solid Oak, this is a dramatic IMPROVEMENT in performance! The Router hardly slowed down at all, when plunging into the work piece. (This was the reason I tested at 250% over ride). So it is now a matter of experimentation, to determine the new speed limits I can push with the new Router.

Overall, I am very happy with the 892. Except for the need to modify my spindle lock to accommodate the longer spindle shaft. And when funds will allow, I may try installing a Super PID (IF I can ever find a straight answer in the specific modifications needed on the 892 to install the Super PID).

[Drools]

Thank you for the comparison, I'm probably not the only one to find this helpful.
Do you have some pictures of the spindle lock?

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Thank you for the comparison, I'm probably not the only one to find this helpful.
Do you have some pictures of the spindle lock?

I do, however copyright agreement with Digital Machinist prevents me from publishing. You will have to see the article in their magazine for the graphics.
But, here is SOME of the description. Without violating the verbatim copyright agreement of the article. It's basically just a 3/8" thick steel plate, which has a slot cut in the end which faces the spindle (cut to the width of the flats of the spindle). The plate is suspended from a 1/2" bolt with a large flat washer, inserted through a 1/2" wide slot located at the opposite end of the plate.

To use, you simply push (slide) the plate toward the spindle, and rotate the spindle by hand until the flats align with the opening of the slot in the plate, then continue sliding the plate into position until it grips the spindle shaft. (Just like an open-end wrench). The latching lever is then flipped down, to hold the plate in this position during tool changes.

When finished changing tools, simply lift the latching lever, and slide the plate back out, and again lower the latching lever, until the notch is seated against the back side of the push block to latch it in the disengaged position. This prevents vibration from allowing the slide plate to drift into contact with the spindle during cutting operations.

With the 892 Router, (because of it's longer shaft), I will have to either replace the 3/8" thick plate with a 3/4" thick plate, or bolt a 3/8" plate to the existing 3/8" thick plate. I am leaning more to this second option, as this will allow my machine to accommodate both models!

Please note, that the abbreviated description above is incomplete. For a more complete understanding, you really should see the article.

[ger21]

And when funds will allow, I may try installing a Super PID (IF I can ever find a straight answer in the specific modifications needed on the 892 to install the Super PID).

Here you go.

Build Your Tools • View topic - Super PID

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Here you go.

Build Your Tools • View topic - Super PID

Thanks Gerry,
I may just have to invest in one soon!