DeWalt D26670 Trim Router Review
A crude tool with a powerful motor
by Lorenz Prem
Testing my way through all trim routers on the market I made my way to the yellow one. The DeWalt D26670 with its rugged construction promises to be an interesting one. Let's take a look what the D26670 can do in the Hingmy workshop, and how it stacks up against the competition.
The DeWalt D26670 Trim Router
The D26670 is a commercial trim router from DeWalt. The kit includes the motor unit and a solid base. The tilt base and offset base are available as part of the larger kit.
The base and motor housing are made from cast magnesium. This gives the trim router an above average level of durability. The base in particular seems indestructible even when exposed to outright abuse.
The design of all parts of this kit make it possible to store the router in a toolbox alongside other tools without having to worry about any parts of the kit going out of alignment. Simple dents and impacts only produce cosmetic damage. Proper alignment is maintained through superior design.
The D26670 is a simple router that works well for simple tasks on the job site.
The top cap is attached to the body with only a single screw. The cap moves a little when twisted, which is a departure from the rock-solid feel of almost all routers on the market. On the plus side, the cap won't cause you issues while cutting.
The only control on the D26670 is the power switch on the side of the body. The switch latches with a satisfying click, but it is not dust proof. When activated the router comes to life at full power causing a noticeable amount of start-up torque. There is no soft start feature and the router will power up when it is plugged in while the switch is in the ON position.
Bit changes are completed using the collet wrench included in the kit and the built-in spindle lock. The spindle lock button is too small to be called comfortable, but its metal construction ensures a long life. The wrench included in the kit is poor. Most owners will quickly replace it with a better model.
The bit spins in the center of a rectangular, plastic sub base. The sub base is 1/4" wider than it is deep. This makes it very important to use the correct edge when working with a guide fence. The engineers made a poor descision that will likely be the cause for many silly errors and angry users. Groves cut into the edges of the standard 1 1/8" opening allow the installation of guide bushings.
The Depth Adjustment Mechanism
The motor moves up and down along two pathways machined into the base of the motor housing. A thumb screw in the back of the router pulls the two pieces together for a solid compression fit. With the screw fully tightened the system guarantees the bit spins plumb and nothing goes out of alignment during the cut.
On the negative side the thumb screw takes some time to loosen. Removing the motor unit to install it in a different base is particularly cumbersome.
A metal wheel on the rear support acts as the fine adjustment mechanism. Turning the wheel in either direction slowly moves the motor unit up or down. Opening the thumb screw beyond a certain point disengages the motor unit from the wheel allowing for the motor to move freely. When connected the fine adjustment wheel works well. Fine depth adjustments can be made accurately and with confidence.
The router's vertical range comes in at a very limited 1 1/8". That's enough to run most bits typically used in a trim router, but leaves little room for using the D26670 for non-standard work.
In Use
The excellent motor and sturdy base combine to make the D26670 a great router for making simple cuts. Edge and slot cuts alike pose no challenge. The rectangular base creates a particularly stable setup when the router is being pushed along a guide fence.
The incredible simplicity and high build quality of the D26670 makes it a great option for job site work. It cuts very quickly, and can go all day long, if you need it to.
Using the D26670 becomes cumbersome when you are making complicated cuts. Setup is not as quick on this router as it is on other trim routers. The lack of a variable speed feature outright disqualifies the D26670 from making cuts with large bits or in wood species that need a slower motor speed.
Dust Collection
The D26670 has no dust collection whatsoever. The downdraft from the motor fan blows most dust away from the immediate area surrounding the bit, but after that journey the dust is left to settle where it falls.
None of the other base options offer dust collection. If you care about this feature at all, you should take a pass on the D26670.
Compared to the Competition
The Makita RTC701C, Festool MFK 700, and Bosch PR20EVSK Colt all are more versatile than the D26670. Their variable speed motors make then a far better choice for woodworkers and anyone who needs a versatile trim router.
The D26670 is a close copy of the Porter Cable 7310 trim routers. Since both companies are owned by the same parent, the internals of both tools are likely identical. Superficial exterior differences aside, these two models compete only on price.
Summary
The D26670 is a very powerful, but also simple router. It excels at making standard cuts at speed and in high volume. The router's very high build quality makes it a great choice for anyone who is looking for a job site trim router. Commercial installers will get many years of trouble free operation out of their D26670.
The missing variable speed feature, and cumbersome setup make the D26670 a poor option for woodworkers. It is simply too difficult to make some cuts with this router. The missing dust collection keeps it out of any spaces where dust is a concern.
D26670 Trim Router DeWalt |
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The Good
- powerful motor
- fast cutting speed
- durable, sturdy base and motor unit
- bits spin perfectly plumb
- micro adjustment wheel is a little finicky, but works well
The Bad
- thumb screw must be removed to separate the motor from the base
- the small kit does not include a tilting base
- single speed
- has only ~1" of usable plunge range
- power cord on the short side for on-site work
- top part of the motor housing moves when pushed
- spindle lock button is small
- base is not same width and depth, a source for silly mistakes
