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Makita 3621 1-1/4 HP Plunge Router
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List Price: $245.20
Our Price: $124.95
You Save: $ 120.25 ( 49% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Makita
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Binding: Tools & Hardware
Brand: Makita
EAN: 0088381015387
Feature: 24,000 RPM for fast, clean routing
Label: Makita
Manufacturer: Makita
Model: 3621
Publisher: Makita
Studio: Makita
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Features
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24,000 RPM for fast, clean routing
Contoured handle design with built in switch for better control
3 turret depth stop for quick repetitive depth adjustment
Rugged polycarbonate housing with a nonmarring base
Uses commonly available 1/4" shank router bits
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Nice Size -- Poor Ergonomics
Comment: This router is an ideal size for much work. In my opinion the 3.5 horsepower jobbies are all marketing hype unless you constantly run the very largest "wing" bits in a router table situation. Makita builds some nice tools, and this one isn't bad quality, either. The base, including the edge guide attachment provision, is above average quality.
The depth stop seems a bit dinky, and I never really trusted it too much.
But the great shortcoming of this router is the power switch. Basically, the grip handle is like a small ball, and the power switch is a trigger or button type deal that must be kept constantly pressed in flush to the ball surface against significant spring pressure. The "reach" of it just seems too short for my average-sized hands, and it can become very tiresome holding that button in for long periods. I don't need any additional distractions while I'm doing critical routing jobs. Obviously, the lack of a lock-on feature practically rules out this router for any router table use. We need more routers in this size range, but unfortunately I can't recommend this one.
Customer Rating:
Summary: The little router that looks like it can't but can .
Comment: I needed to replace my trusty 40 odd year old porter cable D-handle base . This old router was all metal and worked well for everything I ever needed . But time took it's toll on the cord entering the motor housing and this is not a job one can do without paying a good sum and waiting forever .
I looked at all the routers and wanted a plunge cut , not a monster 3 1/2 HP and I don't need speed control or soft start .
These may be nice features but to me just something else to fail .
All the other makita tools I have seem to work great and hold up fine and they all share one common attribute , they are put together well and fit well , even the lest expensive of their line on DIY weekend project tools are built well .
I got this router today and yes it is far from the most expensive and has not the bell and whistles and is made largely of plastic , even the entire motor housing is plastic and then the base is metal .
So I tried it out and it does perform very well indeed , just as well if not better than my old porter cable .
There are few reviews for this model router and one that sold me was the cabinet shop using these for 12 years and wanting to purchase more .
This tells me the router has been around for some time and makita does not keep many tools around for years on end unless they prove out well , I see tool models go many times from makita and some all around for decades and still are .
I had my choice for the same price for the hitachi 3 1/2 HP soft start varaiable speed plunge cut here on Amazon and it was tempting .
Reality and common sense told me it was way too much machine for my needs .
I do guitar amp cabinets and electric guitar bodies and don't need a bit more than 1/2 inch ever .
Any router regardless of the power cannot run a 1/4 " straight bit through maple and better than this one can , unless of course you want a broken bit or a trip to the emergency room to have it extracted .
No other company seems to offer a small plunge router that I could find and none come close to the price of this makita or do they have the long time in production trake record .
Maybe there are still cases where leave well enough alone applies .
I did'nt have alot of money to spend , and I did look at some of the other routers out there with more metal used in the product but many were crude forgings at best and I can't honestly say aluminum is any stronger than this polycarbonate composition .
It does not have a shaft lock system , well I prefer to have a solid shaft rather than one with a hole to weaken it , how much trouble is two wrenches instead of one ?
The only other router I liked was the dewalt plunge with the built in dust extraction system but I did not think I would get used to the feel of one handle so much farther from the centerline of the bit than the other , this felt off balanced and odd to me . Although the tool was nice in many respects it was still not the precision build of a makita , I still felt I would have to make a few modifications and adjustments before I would be happy , the base looked real sloppy to me on the dewalt and the fit of the motor housing still plastic was not all that great , it looked forced together with gaps between the screw positions .
With all the added features the dewalt was $50 more than this makita . This in itself tells me something important .
Customer Rating:
Summary: 13 year old classic
Comment: This router, the lowliest plunge of its time, cheap, 95 bucks at fedco... r.i.p. came with case and wrenches, case long gone, two power cords went by the wayside a makita flaw common in all there corded tools they disintegrate. You may only learn how much you like something by trying something else. I tried a friends recently more power, and bigger handles both problems for what this little router is relegated to, hanging doors. I leave it set up with freud templates and 1/2 bit for routing hinges and strikes in doors. The knob handles set this router apart from the rest up and down a door jamb total control. compact, fits in my finish box, it is perfect. I am glad they still make them. I wish mine had an electric brake, but I will probably leave earth owning this one. I enjoy using this tool.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Convenient Little Router, but . . .
Comment: I have owned this router for about two years, and its small size makes it very convenient for small jobs, but it does have some shortcomings.1) The plunge depth gauge is primitive, and its scale is very difficult to read. 2) There is no way to lock the trigger in the "on" position, so you have to hold the trigger down during the entire operation. 3) The insert plate is not included with this router. To do dovetailing or any other type of template work you will need this, and it is rediculously expensive ...considering that it is just a steel ring.
Customer Rating:
Summary: I miss this router!
Comment: I owned this router for at least 10 years before selling it. It's greatest advantages are small size and light weight. You can work with it for a long time without fatigue, and it can get into small places where other routers won't go. It is also well-balanced and not terribly noisy. After several year's use, the mechanism that locked the plunge depth broke off (it's a flexible piece of plastic that is part of the casing), and while still functional, was somewhat inconvenient. Also the power cord disintegrated but was easy enough to replace. Using 2 wrenches to change collets is inconvenient, but you can avoid bruising your knuckles by positioning the wrenches so that you are tightening or loosening using a squeezing action. This is a 1/4" router, and care should be taken using large router bits mounted on these skinny shanks. The thing turns at 27,000 rpm which generates tremendous g-forces, and it is not a variable speed. As a result, large router bits can bend--I had it happen on 2 occasions to me, and on the second one the bit came loose and flew across my shop with enough force to do some serious damage. It is simply not an appropriate tool for that kind of bit.I have two monster routers now--a Dewalt and a Fein. But I miss this little baby. It is truly one of the lightest routers on the market, and to think that I used it for 10 years with a couple of minor repairs...wish I hadn't sold it. I miss my little Makita!
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Editorial Reviews:
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This Makita plunge router has a 7.8 Amp motor that delivers 24,000 RPM for smooth, clean routing. Has a 1 3/8in. plunge depth capacity. Protected by a tough polycarbonate housing and non-marring base. 1/4in. collet capacity.
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