We appreciated the tight tolerances of the movable base to the motor housing because it really made the whole tool feel sturdy and rigid. All that we had to do was open the quick release adjustment latch and we could freely fine tune the depth using the adjusting ring. Setting the depth of cut was also easy and required no tools. We were also happy to report that the air movement though the tool’s body really helped it do an exceptional job of clearing away the chips as we made the cuts. Given its slim profile, we were able to simply “palm” the tool with a single hand to guide it down the length of wood.
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When we first switched it on, the motor would slowly ramp up to full speed. “Slowly” being defined as just a few tenths of a second versus an instant on where it could potentially be a little jerky since you would experience the full torque of the motor almost instantly. One of the features that we caught onto right away was the soft start motor. The router made smooth, even edges and was easy to control thanks to its compact size. We started by using the fixed base with a new 1/4-inch round-over bit to create a finished edge on a piece of 1x pine material. To test the Porter-Cable 450PK 1.25 HP Compact Router Combo Kit, we used both the plunge base and the fixed base to make a variety of different cuts. Porter-Cable 450PK Compact Router Combo Kit Testing The hard knob-like rubber handles are comfortable and provide a solid hold on the tool. There is also a 5-step adjustable turret stop for consistent stepped cuts. To make sure the cuts are precise, there is a sliding steel bar that can be adjusted for making plunge cuts up to 2” deep by loosening the large thumb screw located next to it. When the lever is released the base is then locked to that cutting depth. The large quick release lever, when depressed, offers smooth and fast depth adjustment. This added weight actually makes the router feel more sturdy as you make the plunge cuts. The plunge base is a little larger than the fixed and with it installed on the router, the total weight is 6 lbs 10oz. On the side of the plunge base there is a quick release for adjusting the cutting depth. Just release the level adjustment locking lever, slip the base off, and slide the new base on. Removing and swapping the fixed base to the plunge base is a cinch. The D-shaped 1/4-inch thick clear plastic sub-base is designed for stability, flatness and visibility. With the adjustable depth of cut ring that screws up or down on the large threads on the router body, you can achieve accuracy of up to 1/64 of an inch. Tight tolerances between the base and the motor assembly and a very positive locking mechanism means you can be sure that once you dial in a depth, it stays locked until you loosen the lever. This base makes it easy to have a firm, comfortable hold on the tool. The removable fixed base is very compact and, since it’s made of aluminum, it hardly adds any weight to the router. A tighter grip means less chance of a slipping bit when the cutting gets tough. The collet has 8 slots and is extended a 1/4” longer than normal to provide better gripping of the router bit shank by providing more surface contact area. There are 12 detents on the spindle shaft which means faster lock ups and quicker bit changes. To change router bits, there is an easy-reach button that, when depressed, locks the spindle so the collar can be loosened. Machined into the body is a helical groove that acts as a tread for the spinning depth of adjustment collar that stays attached to the body of the router. The no load speed of the motor is 27,000 revolutions per minute (which is pretty darn fast) and to make sure that it keeps it’s cool, there are air vents on the top and bottom of the motor housing that direct air flow over the motor when it is on. This router does not have a variable-speed motor, but this should not be too much trouble unless you get into some really specialized types of work.
The soft start, 1.25 HP motor is housed inside the machined aluminum body of the router. The on/off switch is located on the lower side of the plastic housing and features a clear rubber protector that seals it from wood shavings and dust. The top portion of the router’s body is made of black ABS plastic. We were a little bummed out when we found that this kit did not come with a hard shell case. To us, routers are a somewhat a precision type of tool that needs a place to keep them protected and organized when not in use. The kit includes the compact router motor body with a fixed base, plunge base, collet wrench, owners manual and a soft sided nylon storage bag.
Our Porter-Cable 450PK router kit arrived in a cardboard box with everything individually packaged inside. Porter-Cable 450PK Compact Router Combo Kit Features
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