TOOL PREVIEW : Porter-Cable's New 890 Router by Rob Johnstone Issue 133 February 1999
For many years, the Porter-Cable 690 has been a workhorse in thousands of shops around the country --both professional and hobby. In fact, most professional shops (and many hobbyists, too) will have several 690s dedicated for specific jobs: roundovers, edge trimming, ogee edges, etc. And it is even common to find a whole series of jigs that a 690 motor housing will slip in and out of in a jiffy. But in recent years a new category of routers has entered the market. They are in the 2-1/4 HP range with advanced features like soft start and EVS systems ... all of them with their own set of bells and whistles. Porter-Cable has been notable by their absence in this category ... but not anymore. Starting in November, Porter-Cable will complete their router line by offering the 890 series of 2-1/4 HP routers. I got a look at a preproduction model and have to say that the wait has been worth it.
Options are the Key The innovative aspect of the 890 series of routers is not that P-C has developed a bunch of bold new features, but that the combination of the latest advancements in this 2-1/4 HP category are all working here to good effect. Much of the technology and advanced user features on the 890 have been seen before in one form or another, but never all in one place. I particularly like the high-low power switches and the power switch lock-out and spindle lock for bit changing. It is quite elegant. And thank goodness P-C kept a flat top on the 890. It annoys me to no end when I try to change bits on a router that has a rounded top ... those designers obviously don’t do much woodworking. Another significant design feature is that the 890 body will fit into a 690 base. All of the jigs and fixtures around the country that were built to fit the 690 should work even better with an 890 ... brilliant! The 890’s clear base plate will also interchange with the 690 plate, so you can use the Porter-Cable rub collars. An optional 890 base plate that accepts rub collars is also available. Dust collection has been well accommodated in each of the three versions of the router. The D-handle router has a very slick through-the-handle (Grip-vac) dust collection option that should be effective and easy to use. Porter-Cable is also offering a storage/carrying case that works as a router rest and bit storage area while the router is in use. The three basic versions of the 890 router series will be packaged into six models. These options will include different base choices (fixed, plunge, D-handled or Grip-vac), as well as combination fixed and plunge base kits, the multi-use carrying case and router table accessory kit. For more information call Porter-Cable at 800-368-1487, or visit www.porter-cable.com	A full-featured router. The new 890 router is available in three basic versions: a fixed base, D-handle and plunge base. A feature that the author appreciates is the one-wrench, above-the-base-plate bit change. The 2-1/4 horsepower motor is sufficient to spin even large diameter bits. Above the router table bit adjustment is easy with a 3/16" hex socket or this specially designed Porter-Cable accessory. You can release the locking buckle and then turn the micro adjust knob through two separate holes drilled in the router tabletop.