Thread: Dewalt d26204k now available in australia

Mid 2012 I was looking for a compact router system, it hadto have speed control and plunge and fixed bases. I was very impressed by reviews of the DEWALT611 router series in the US and the 240 volt version called the D26204K in theUK. Quite a few forum members had imported units from the UK as they were notavailable in Australia and news from DEWALT Australia seemed to indicate thatthey had no plans to introduce the model here. I considered importing a unitfrom the UK but after being quoted £80.00 sterling to ship a unit I decided tohave a think about it. I was in the process of checking out the Makita RT0700CXkit this year when by accident I came across a site in Australia offering theD26204K kit, JUST TOOLS to be precise and the price of $249.00 was under the UKprice I had been given, freight to Adelaide was only $12.00 so I was very firedup indeed. I decided to check around in Adelaide for availability and foundGASWELD in Marion had a unit. I made a quick visit and compared the DEWALT tothe Makita on the spot. Whilst I liked the extra tilt base of the Makita intheir kit and the availability of an offset base for an extra charge and thefact that it was a little more compact I did not like the rack and pinionadjustment on the fixed base and the bit was harder to see. Whilst GASWELDoffered an extra year on the Makita the DEWALT came with a three year warrantyand a money back guarantee if you did not like it after trying it out. I alsoliked the two LED lights on the base of the motor assembly which lights up thebit in use very well indeed.<o></o>

Opening the box and seeing the contents was reallyimpressive. You had the fixed and plunge bases and two edge guides – one waspressed metal and one was cast alloy. You also got the centring cone and shaft,a spanner, the two rods for the edge guides and to my surprise the elusiveround plastic base plate that many members could not seem to source. You need thisbase plate so that you can use template guides with the fixed base as the “D”base plate that is fitted to the fixed base has no provision for templateguides. You also get two vacuum shroud adaptors. In all you got a lot of kitfor the money. I should add that GASWELD beat the JUST Tools price and I savedthe $12.00 freight charge as well.<o></o>

I found that some of the accessories did not fit properly inthe case but I fixed that by squashing the lugs on the blow moulded case withMultigrips and spraying some Teflon dry lube on the lugs.<o></o>

I also had to exchange the supplied template guide as it wasdistorted quite badly despite being a very solid article. It appeared thatduring the drilling and countersinking of the two holes in the guide that unduepressure had been used which bent the guide in two places. GASWELD got areplacement guide in within a few days and it was not bent.<o></o>

In use I found the unit performed really well with bothbases. My FESTOOL CT22 hose fitted perfectly after removing the rubber endadaptor. I tried the hose with the plunge base and vacuum adaptor and on a flatsurface doing a trench it was dustless. However I found that if you hung thebase over an edge to trim or round it over you did start to get dust not beingpicked up. I intend purchasing the edge guide with vacuum adaptor that isavailable as that looks as if it would solve that problem.<o></o>

The vacuum adaptor on the fixed base is held on with twoscrews but the adaptor on the plunge base relies on two lugs and one screw tofit it to the base. This arrangement works very well indeed to secure theadaptor but when removing the adaptor make sure that you squeeze the piece ofplastic that depresses the lug rather than trying to force the adaptor off asyou will surely break it. I was impressed by the lack of dust sticking to theplastic adaptor but that may well be because of the anti-static properties ofthe FESTOOL hose as it has a static drain system incorporated within it.<o></o>

The LED lights are great and even with the vacuum adaptor youget a very clear view of the bit at all times.<o></o>

In conclusion I found the kit to be great and highlyrecommend it and GASWELD. I hope this information may help some members. Sorryif I have rambled on a bit.<o></o>