Buy Porter-Cable 7518 Speedmatic 15 Amp 3-1/4 HP Fixed Base 5-Speed RouterPorter-Cable 7518 Speedmatic 15 Amp 3-1/4 HP Fixed Base 5-Speed Router Product Description:
- 15 Amp motor provides the power and durability necessary for the toughest applications
- versatile, electronic five-speed motor with 10,000, 13,000, 16,000, 19,000, and 21,000 rpm settings accommodates various router bit cutting diameters and applications
- Soft-start feature reduces torque at start-up and motor maintains constant speed under load
- Auto-release collet system allows for easy bit removal after use
- Precision machined aluminum motor housing and base; Dust-sealed switch and sealed ball bearing construction enhance tool durability
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
210 of 212 people found the following review helpful.
No Faults
By A Customer
According to Pat Warner, this router was specifically designed for use in a table. I've had one for about 3 years now, and I can't really fault it. I've never used it handheld; I have other routers for that. The soft-start is really much easier on the nerves. The adjustment mechanism - when it's clean - is fast and precise, but it does have a problem with sawdust clogging it. I was in the habit of changing bits while the motor was still mounted, but I developed the habit of taking it out to change bits and cleaning the threads on the base before remounting it. The problem of the cord I solved by shortening it to about six inches long and using an extension cord. The best was to do that is to shorten it at the motor end rather than the plug end. The motor is powerful enough to drive a horizontal panel-raising bit at full depth without hesitation. Operator hesitation is another matter though! As per PC practice, the buyer gets two separate collets, one for 1/4" shanks and the other for 1/2". The collet is tightened by using two wrenches (supplied) which is more reliable - if more awkward - than the shaft lock used on other makes.
137 of 142 people found the following review helpful.
7518 is a very good router
By Francis P. Engbert
I use my Porter Cable 7518 mounted under a table. The speed control is essential, especially when using large bits. The soft start and relatively quiet operation are big bonuses. The only problem that I have is adjusting the height: This requires the motor to be rotated which can cause dust that is accumulated on top of the motor to become lodged in the threads that adjust the height, causing the mechanism to jam. Once in a while I have to unmount the router, remove the base and thoroughly clean. Otherwise it easily beats other routers I've used.
76 of 77 people found the following review helpful.For What It's Worth
By Joseph Freenor
I was very surprised to see the 7518 getting anything but 5-star reviews. I have had mine for five years and had nothing but marvelous experiences with it. It has more power than you're ever going to need, has a soft start that's a very nice feature, variable speeds which come in handy at times, and it's pretty much bullet-proof. What's not to like?
I learned the bulk of my woodworking at Palomar College, which is where I was introduced to Porter-Cable routers. We were taught to always unscrew the base when we changed bits, so it's natural for me to do it that way. Their main workhorse is the Porter-Cable 690, and anything that will stand up to the kind of abuse that 150 students per day can dish out... I first purchased the 690 because of that, and when I made the ultimate router table in the Jigs and Fixture class, I graduated to the 7518.
Because of the weight (18 pounds), I have never left the motor in the router table, as some of my fellow students found that doing so tended to deflect the insert plate over time. I do leave the base attached at all times, but when I'm finished with the router table, I unscrew the motor, blow out all the sawdust from both motor and base, then store the motor in a cabinet. There are no scratches on the motor, and it has always been very easy to adjust the depth of the bit. I think those who are having problems with sawdust gumming things up over time could resolve this by simply taking off the motor and blowing out the sawdust when they're finished using it.
Changing bits has never been a problem because of the procedure I was taught at Palomar. I merely lift the insert plate with attached router out of the router table, unscrew the base and change bits. Pretty simple, really.
I have mostly used the 7518 in my router table, but there have been a few times when I've needed it for hand-held operations. The only drawback then is the weight, but all that power comes at a cost, I suppose. Actually, the much-maligned (and deservedly so) Sears router does pretty well for edge routing because of the light weight and those big handles.
After LOTS of use I can honestly say the 7518 looks like it's brand new. I firmly believe that I will be doing woodworking for the next thirty or forty years, and I have every confidence that my original Porter-Cable routers will still be in use, having, at the very most, had the brushes replaced.
It's a superb router. Buy it with confidence.
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