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I was worried about getting it repaired. I wish all tools were made this solid and engineered with such great care. No questions asked. I have been really pleased with this product. There is no comparison between the two. Milwaukee is much higher quality. However, I found that Milwaukee is repaired locally and when I took it in, the guys in the shop said there isn't a better company out their than Milwaukee. They would even pay the shipping if I did not want to bother stopping by the shop to pick it up when done.
I purchased the Milwaukee after getting (and returning) the Porter Cable Multi-base Router. This is a quality tool from the case to every part inside it. Wish everyone gave that kind of service. I had a problem with it within the first 8 months.
The Milwaukee exceeded the Bosch in every category. The case it comes with feels sort of empty as there are a multitude of slots for additional accessories. When running through wood you can move quickly with no bogging down. Bits are changed with two wrenches (supplied) and takes no time at all. I purchased this router with some apprehension because of all the great reviews I was reading on tool websites about the Bosch routers.
I have used the Bosch on the job and liked it's performance but it just didn't meet my expectations of what I was expecting in a router. Holding the tool you can tell by the heft that it is going to pack more power. The Plunge base has release and depth adjustments in easy reach and moves smoothly weather you are applying even pressure to both sides or just to one side. I'd love to mention something I felt needed improvement but I haven't run into any short-comings as of yet and can only shower praise to the this tool. Let me say those reviews must have been sponsored by Bosch as this router is a joy to work with.
The start-up is smooth and effortless. No regrets. The Base change is straightforward and painless.
The variable speed dial on the router makes it easier to handle. This router is awesome. I have bought cheap routers in the past, they last a couple of years then they break. This router is very solid and built very well, it should last me many years. This router is by far the smoothest running and most powerful router I have used.
The P-C did not have a removable cylindrical motor assembly so it was a pain to install and remove it from my Bench Dog Router Table when I needed to use it freehand and I had to tie down the switch when using it as a table router. On the other hand, the P-C does have dynamic braking so it stops very quickly when it is turned off and it has a much better soft start feature. Just set the bit on the work surface, set the depth plunger, then rotate the "step" beneath the plunger and cut an 1/8" at a time so you don't get chip buildup interference. This Milwaukee 5616-24 KIt was an excellent choice. Milwaukee 5616-24 2-¼ Max HP EVS Multi-Base Router Kit Includes Plunge Base and BodyGrip Fixed BaseI found recently that my Porter-Cable Plunge Router had a slightly bent shaft.
The collet setup on the Milwaukee is better than the P-C. A new Armature/Shaft Assembly was $110.00 and several weeks to get, so I decided that the best course of action in order to be able to continue with my kitchen cabinets was to purchase a new plunge router. With the Milwaukee, I leave the fixed base on the router table and just switch the motor to the plunge base when I need to do freehand work. That said, the Milwaukee is a superior tool. Also, since I am cutting numerous blind dados, the 1/8" step and repeat feature is great.
It was very easy to remove the motor from the plange base and install it in the fixed base. It does not rotate). Another feature I like about the Milwaukee is it has two springs to suppport the plunge base. The reason being the microadjustment knob moves both the bit and the depth control rod. I like the soft start and the motor seems to have plenty of power.
Since I prefer to use a fence instead of a guide attachment, the flat part of the base allows you to keep the router in the same position (i.e. The depth adjustment mechanism on the Milwaukee 5616-24 only moves the depth control rod. This would prevent the bit from making a smooth controlled entry into the work piece. I specifically wanted a new router that had a better method of selecting the plunge depth. Although the router rotated slightly while I moved it along a fence, there was no noticeable undulation in the resulting edge.
The single spring in the Bosch plunge router often allowed the unit to bind when plunging. It has a D shape rather than being completely circular. I also have used the fixed base. I often cut tenons of various sizes and having two plunge routers set to different depths allows me to finish the parts faster.
I have not used it mounted in a table so I can not comment on those features. Making fine adjustments requires several steps, not just moving the microadjustment knob. I purchased the Milwaukee 5616-24 to supplement my Bosch plunge router.
This simplifies the process and allows quick depth changes. This is not a large advantage, because the base centering cone that comes with the Milwaukee does an excellent job. through the entire cutting motion.
The only Bosch feature I think I prefer is the shape of the base. Although my Bosch's manual claims adjusting the depth is easy, adjusting to a specific depth within a.010 inch tolerance requires too many test cuts. The Milwaukee's plunge base is much easier to control.
To date I have only used it to build one table, but I am very pleased with its performance. Regardless of the base the router performed well.
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