DEWALT DWP611PK for use with a shelf pin jig?

[Rich Engelhardt]

Before I put together a jig for it, is the DEWALT DWP611PK a good choice for making shelf pin holes?

[Matt Meiser]

With the plunge base and a spiral bit, yes!

[Mark Kornell]

Very good choice. It is a nice, light router to be plunging a lot of small holes with. And has a pretty effective DC adaptor.

I built a such a jig for my PC 895. Not a huge router, but after a couple hundred holes it seems like it is made out of lead. I've got a DW611PK and I'll be adapting the jig to the DW next time I need to do a set of cabinets.

[Rich Engelhardt]

Cool!
That's just what I'd hoped.
My only other plunge base is for my Freud 1700 & I think that's too much router for the task.

I was concerned the little trim router wouldn't be enough.

[Bill Huber]

The 611 is really not a trim router, it is a 1 1/4 compact router and it has some good power.

The plunge base is set up for a bushing so it will make a good shelf hole driller.

This is a little shelf hole jig I made and it works just great with the 611.

91796523.bzQO6TWT.P1133625.jpg

[Rich Engelhardt]

Bill,
Would the 611 be enough in your opinion for doing half blind dovetails w/the Harbor Freight DT jig?

I also have an older Craftsman 1.75HP as well as a PC 690 I could use so it's no big deal if the 611 would be pushing things.

[Matt Meiser]

Would the 611 be enough in your opinion for doing half blind dovetails w/the Harbor Freight DT jig?

From what I've heard about that jig (and the other cheap DT jigs)...anything is enough because you'll try it once or twice and throw the @#$% thing against the wall. Apparently they are quite fussy to set up.

[Prashun Patel]

The only caveat I have is that half blind DT's have to be routed in a single pass. On thicker or harder stock, this will exert a good deal of torque on a 1/4" shank bit. You can alleviate this by making an initial pass with a straight bit, and then following with the dt bit. But that's a pain.

On 1/2" drawer sides in something like plywood or poplar, I don't think it's an issue.

[Rick Potter]

I like the chamfers on that jig, Bill. Good thinking.

Rick P

[Bill Neely]

I bought an 8mm collet for my 611 so I could use a standard RH boring bit to do 5mm holes. Elaire Corp.

[Bill Huber]

I like the chamfers on that jig, Bill. Good thinking.

Rick P

Thanks, it makes things go a lot faster.

[Jamie Buxton]

I bought an 8mm collet for my 611 so I could use a standard RH boring bit to do 5mm holes. Elaire Corp.

Tell me more. Why is an 8 mm-shank boring bit better than a 5 mm spiral carbide bit for a straight plunge cut? Is the tip of the boring bit ground differently?

[Bill Neely]

Tell me more. Why is an 8 mm-shank boring bit better than a 5 mm spiral carbide bit for a straight plunge cut? Is the tip of the boring bit ground differently?

It's a spur point bit used in 32mm boring machines, it does cut very cleanly and the cost isn't high for either piece.