A base for router models 891 and 892 that can hold extra parts.
Replacement base for the 893PK, 894PK, and 895PK combination kits.
Plunge base has a through-the-column dust collection system that makes it easier to get rid of dust and make it easier to see the bits and cut lines.
When you use machined brass bushings and steel guide rods, you can have a smooth and controlled plunge stroke.
A base for router models 891 and 892 that can hold extra parts.
Replacement base for the 893PK, 894PK, and 895PK combination kits.
Plunge base has a through-the-column dust collection system that makes it easier to get rid of dust and make it easier to see the bits and cut lines.
An overview of what this item is abou.
Amazon.co. The Porter-Cable 8931 Plunge Router Base has four different depth settings for flexibility and versatility. It’s so easy to use that you can plunge with just one or two fingers. Solid multiple stops and a lever that can be used to lock the open positions make it easy to plunge. Brass bushings add strength, a thumb-turning stop turret makes sure you’re safe, and a dust collector port helps keep your work area clean.
Amazon.co.
The Porter-Cable 8931 Plunge Router Base has four different depth settings for flexibility and versatility. It’s so easy to use that you can plunge with just one or two fingers. Solid multiple stops and a lever that can be used to keep the “open” positions for smooth plunging make this a great tool. Brass bushings add strength, a thumb-turning stop turret makes sure you’re safe, and a dust collector port helps keep your work area clean.
It got 4 stars for the Plunge Base. There were no good things to say about Porter-service Cable’. So sorry this review is so long, but I hope you will find it interesting and, more important, useful.
I bought my Porter-Cable 895PK kit more than five years ago, so it’s out of warranty now. This kit is still available. It comes with a router motor that can be used with a fixed base or a plunge base. In this review, I’m only going to talk about the plunge base. It’s called model 8931. In other Amazon reviews, people say that the original 8931 plunge base had problems. P-C redesigned it based on a better Dewalt plunge base and reissued the new base a few years ago under the same model number. I had problems with my original plunge base, so I bought a new model 8931 plunge base from Amazon. The new 8931 is much better in most ways, but the sub-base on mine is warped. The center is about 3/32″ higher than the circumference, which makes the router move on the workpiece. This is not good. These things happen, so I called the Porter-Cable Customer Care Center at 888-848-5175. I was expecting them to say sorry and send me a cheap replacement sub-base in the mail. They did that to keep this customer happy. A customer service rep for PC was argumentative, ignorant, and rude instead. He didn’t seem to know much about routers in general, let alone the P-C 890 with the different bases. From the start, he only gave me two options: return the whole “thing” to Amazon, or he’d send me to the parts department, where they’d figure out what piece I need and charge me for the part and $9 shipping to send a replacement. He didn’t understand what the “thing” was. The man said that the item isn’t called a sub-base, but it is on every router I own, every router article I read, and even in the parts diagram in the instructions that came with this very plunge base. He also said that plunge bases aren’t covered by warranty because they aren’t complete routers, but only complete routers are covered (while you can buy used items from other vendors on Amazon, this was a new, sealed item purchased and shipped directly from Amazon at their new price). In the beginning, he was very uncooperative when I asked to speak with a manager. I kept trying, and I was able to get through to one. I told the manager what was wrong, and he agreed to send me a new sub-base right away. He said it should take between 5 and 10 business days. If and when I get the part, I’ll write a review. Both ways, my trust in Porter-Cable and their products has been shattered. Festool starts to look like a good deal, even though it costs more.
As an extra thought, if you want to get a plunge base that looks like this one to replace your old one, think about getting a new kit. Amazon has the 895PK kit with the motor, plunge, and fixed bases for $229.30. The plunge base is $119.30. Instead of having two 890 series motors and a full set of bases, I would have bought two of them and used them.
3/6/13: P-C sent me a replacement sub base this week, but it turns out it’s the wrong one. For their old plunge base, they sent a sub base. It’s not for the one they have now. There’s no point in calling P-C customer service again because they’re clueless, useless, and hopeless. Make sure your sub base isn’t warped before you buy a new 8931 plunge base, though. 1) You can return the whole router or plunge base for a new one. You might not like this, but it’s still a good idea. 2) You can make the warped base flat. Some 60 grit paper was taped to my tablesaw, and I took my time sanding it down to the same level. It took about 15 minutes. Then, I spent another 10 minutes going through even finer grits, until I reached 600 grit, which I did for another 10 minutes. Instead of being clear, my sub base is now covered in frost. It’s also very flat. There’s a problem with it now because it won’t work with P-C template bushings because the recess is now too small to hold them in place. It’s possible to move the base of your old 8931 to your new one. A warped base is worse than a bad fit. 4) You can buy a new sub base and hope it’s flat. This is the correct part number for the sub base on the new 8931 plunge base: 606246-00. DeWalt and Black & Decker plunge bases use the same sub base (the same part number), so check around to find the best price on this part. 5) Buy a sub base from someone like Pat Warner, who sells them for a lot of money (just Google “Pat Warner router”). When he makes router sub bases, he doesn’t cast them, so they work great.
