Thread: Makita 3600BR

The Makita 3600BR is a good worker and trouble free, mines ten year old now I also have the predecessor 3600B, square base and close to twenty year old. The only real problem is the tin orange table its mounted in.

Regards Mike

Originally Posted by MICKYG

The Makita 3600BR is a good worker and trouble free, mines ten year old now I also have the predecessor 3600B, square base and close to twenty year old. The only real problem is the tin orange table its mounted in.

Regards Mike

Very droll.
I mount mine in the orange beast and use it freehand. I have another (Maktec -handyman version, but only one spanner needed) in my shop-built table to use with the Gifkins jig. I'm tempted to buy the second hand one for the table but two spanners are a PITA.
Cheers
Mike

G'day shedland,

Out of interest is your maktecs fine adjustment up to scratch? All the demos I have tried seem to get stuck, not as good as the makita 3612.

I suspect given that they are made in china that they come from the same factory as the copies that are been sold on ebay. (I am expecting one of these in the mail soon, will write a report on how good they are).

I was tempted by the maktec given bunnies had them reduced down to $199 but changed my mind because of the sloppy fine adjustment.

PS in my humble opinion the 3600 and 3612 are two of the most well made routers ever. Lots of grunt, very well made, very smooth plunge, a joy to use

regards

Marios

This is the bit for this forum.
PS: the same joint also has 2 x Makita 3600BR routers in really good nick with guides and 1 x 1/2" bit. 1 @ $159 and 1 @ $169. I think thats less than half the price of a new one. I've had one for years and its never let me down. If anyone's in the market for one I could buy them and send on (you reimburse + freight). PM me if you're interested.
Cheers AS Quoted by Shedhand

Thats very generous and a nice gesture Shedhand ...it's a pity I've got my quota of routers.
One greenie winging it's way.

What a great forum..blokes like you make it so!

Cheers

Originally Posted by routermaniac

G'day shedland,

Out of interest is your maktecs fine adjustment up to scratch? All the demos I have tried seem to get stuck, not as good as the makita 3612.

I suspect given that they are made in china that they come from the same factory as the copies that are been sold on ebay. (I am expecting one of these in the mail soon, will write a report on how good they are).

I was tempted by the maktec given bunnies had them reduced down to $199 but changed my mind because of the sloppy fine adjustment.

PS in my humble opinion the 3600 and 3612 are two of the most well made routers ever. Lots of grunt, very well made, very smooth plunge, a joy to use

regards

Marios

G'day Marios
The fine adjustment on the Maktec is a bit dodgy when reducing the depth of cut. I compensate by putting a small amount of lateral pressure on the winder as I wind it. Increasing the depth is ok. I got the Maktec cheap off eBay (150 bucks from memory) I should have checked one out at bunnings and I probably wouldn't have bought it. The only really useful feature it has over my 3600BR is that it only needs 1 spanner to change bits and I can do that from the top of my home made router table. the other good thing is that the 3600BR round base and the Maktec base are the same size and shape if I ever need to fit the BR to my table. The Maktec came with spare bushes for the motor, guide assembly, a spanner, a good quality (Makita) HSS 19mm bit and 2 reducing collets (6mm and 9mm). For an entry level 12mm router its not too bad though at the price.
Cheers

I Have a problem with my 3600 BR, probably self inflicted because it was knocked of the bench. I can set the unit up for depth of cut, make the first pass but the cutter will not return to zero (level with the base plate); unless I undo the black depth setting knob. It will then, after a number of anti clockwise turns jump up, closer to the base plate. It may take two or three goes at this to get the cutter back to level with the base plate, a further pass results in the same problem.

My first idea was dust in the slides. I took it appart cleaned it with an air line and metholated sprits. At the same time I checked the base and slid bars for square on a surface plate, they seemed OK. Also there were no marks or abrasions on the slide bars. Ideas like weak plung return springs and oval body slide holes come to mind. Has any one had a similar problem that they managed to fix?

Regards

Johngi

Johngi, I also have the 3600 BR, about 22 years old now and still going strong. I also dropped mine off the bench (Twice) and for a while suffered the same problem. I think with mine the slides may have been pushed out of alignment about a poofteenth. It was a long time ago and my memory insn't what it used to be but I think a couple of wacks with a mallet and all was good. I also smeared a bit of Lanolin grease on the shafts and she is as good as new. I know hitting it with a mallet sounds a bit rough but they were only tiny taps.
Hope this helps. Steven
PS This thread is nearly 2 years old.

Thanks Steve,

It is encoriging to know that a similar/same problem has been fixed. As you will know the unit is still usable but everthing is much slower.

I will give the lanolin idea a go first. With regards to hitting it with a malet, no problems. My basic training was in the RAF (electronics) and I remember one particulare instructor advising, "Don't force it lad, use a bigger hammer". This based on the rational that hitting it once hard with a big hammer causes fare less damage than hitting it lots of times with a small one.

Once again thanks and I will let you know the eventual outcome.

John
Sydney NSW