Two cordless routers by their makers' figures
| Router | Battery platform | Speed range (rpm) | Collet | Largest bit | Bases | Speed control |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DEWALT DCW600 | 20V Max | About 16,000–25,500, seven settings | 1/4 in | 1-3/8 in cutting diameter | Fixed, plunge | Soft start; electronics hold the speed |
| Milwaukee 2723-20 | M18 (18 V) | 10,000–31,000, six settings | 1/4 in | 1-1/2 in | Fixed; plunge and offset listed separately | Feedback control holds the speed; overload protection |
Each row is that maker's own figures; DEWALT calls its speeds approximate. For comparison, Bosch's corded Colt compact router runs 16,000–35,000 rpm, also on a 1/4 in collet. Not a ranking.
Equipment notePaid link
20V compact router, tool only
DEWALT DCW600B
DEWALT's DCW600 from the table above: 16,000 to 25,500 rpm on 1/4 in shanks and bits up to 1-3/8 in; DEWALT says it is not for use in a router table.
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What to compare
- The battery platform. Each router runs on its maker's own batteries and charger; Milwaukee says to recharge only with the charger specified. If you own one maker's batteries already, that narrows the choice.
- Collet and bits. Both take 1/4 in shanks only, so 1/2 in shank bits are out. Check your bits: router bits.
- Largest bit and lowest speed. 1-3/8 in on the DCW600, 1-1/2 in on the 2723; larger bits are rated slower by their makers, so the bottom of the speed range matters — see the speed chart.
- Bases. The fixed base comes with both; check whether the plunge (and, for Milwaukee, offset) base is in the box you are looking at.
- Speed control. Both makers describe electronics that hold the set speed under load; Milwaukee adds overload protection that stops the motor until it is reset.
- Conditions of use. Milwaukee gives an ambient operating range of 0–125°F for the 2723; batteries and chargers carry their own rules in their manuals.
- Guides and dust. Edge guides, template sub-bases and dust shrouds differ by maker; see jigs and templates.
Note— Voltage is not a comparison
18 V and 20V Max describe the battery systems, not cutting ability, and neither maker publishes a runtime for its router. This guide does not estimate either.
Limits that come with cordless compact routers
Neither router goes in a table without restriction: DEWALT says the DCW600 is not to be used in a router table at all, and Milwaukee says never to put the 2723's plunge base in one and to operate the router only when it is held. Both say to remove the battery before changing bits or making adjustments, and both warn against climb cutting. For table work, larger bits or 1/2 in shanks, a full-size router is the tool: the router guide and router tables.
Before buying a cordless router
- Batteries and charger of that platform, owned or included
- 1/4 in shank bits within the router's largest-bit limit
- A speed range low enough for your largest bit's rating
- The bases you need, in the box or sold to fit
- Guides and dust collection for your jobs
- No plan to mount it in a table against its maker's instructions
Corded compact routers are compared in choosing a compact router, and how compact routers are held and used in palm and trim routers. Using any handheld router safely is in using a router; bits are drawn in the bit profile chart.
Sources
Specification-based: every figure is the maker's own for the router named. Voltage is listed as published and not used to compare power or runtime; neither maker publishes runtime, and none is estimated. No router was tested, none is ranked, and no prices are given.
- 1.
DCW600 20V Max* Compact Router, Instruction Manual. DEWALT, 2022.
Used for: 20V Max battery; seven approximate settings from 16,000 to 25,500 rpm; 1/4 in shanks; cutting diameter no more than 1-3/8 in; fixed and plunge bases; depth ring at 1/64 in a mark; soft start and electronic speed control; worklights; removing the battery before bit changes; 'Do not use in a router table'; avoiding climb cutting.
- 2.
M18 FUEL Compact Router, Cat. No. 2723-20, Operator's Manual. Milwaukee Tool.
Used for: 18 V M18 battery; 10,000–31,000 rpm; 1/4 in collet; 1-1/2 in largest bit; fixed base with plunge and offset bases listed separately; feedback speed control and electronic overload protection; an LED; ambient operating range of 0–125°F; charging only with the specified charger; the battery removed before changing accessories; the plunge base never in a router table and the router operated only when held.
- 3.
Max RPM Guide for Amana Tool Router Bits. Amana Tool.
Used for: Maximum speeds falling as bit diameter rises, which is why the bottom of a router's speed range matters for larger bits.
- 4.
GKF125CEN Colt 1.25 HP (Max) Variable-Speed Palm Router. Bosch.
Used for: A corded compact router's published specification, for comparison: 7 A, 16,000–35,000 rpm, 1/4 in collet.
About this buying guide
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