DeWalt 6182 Plunger Offset Subbase

A subbase and router for all occasions. Expect fixed base and plunger performance from this ensemble.

Use for templet and bearing guided cuts. Make circles. The 6" x 11-5/16" long plate is the perfect platform for the 618PK castings. Your router will not tip whilst routing edges, turning corners, or working on templets.

The subbase resides just outside (x 1/16") the casting circle. The cutter hole is centered on the diameter of the round end of the plate. And, with a centering arbor, the cutter is centered to the collar.

Make circles and disks. Custom drilled pivot holes available for any disk or hole from ~2-14" in diameter. Make that speaker nest exactly in its port or cut precise arcs and disks for templet use. Make a round subbase!

The neoprene sleeve (supplied) on the collet wrench will keep you from dinging the plunge posts. Lock the wrench on the subbase; it may save you a minute next time out. There's still room to moor the wire-set to the knob for easy storage too.

Easy adjust to final target depth inspires this operator to use the plunger more frequently than the fixed base router. Remove the depth stop fine adjust screw and turret (permanently) to facilitate the adjustment. A difference measurement on the work determines what feeler gage to use. Expect target depths to .001" accuracy.

Expect to rout all around your templets without tipping. Routing out around the footing of the templet without an offset subbase will result in errors and bobbles.

Expect a fun time with the DeWalt 6182 plunger and my offset subbase. The subbase platform will add substantial application, allow you to see the work and cutter, provide mooring for the collet-wrench and wire-set, make circles, and most importantly, put you in control of the machine.

The plunge casting is the heaviest (~11 pounds with motor & power cord!) of three 618PK castings and the most unstable routing along the edge of stock. Count on instability and loss of control without the offset subbase, (except where surrounded by substrate). While routing along the edge of stock with a 1-1/2" diameter cutter only ~40% of the casting is on the work. At the turn, that number drops to less than 22%; impossible to keep the router from tipping! Install my subbase and the router will be in your control on templet projections, right angle turns, circles, edges, wherever instability may exist.

The design of the plate is no accident; it is exactly and precisely made for the 6182 plunge casting. It is the longest (11-7/16") plate in my inventory. The extra length maintains the 2 hand plunge function, while providing all the application of a fixed base router. In my view, you could skip the fixed base in the 618PK and more than make up the difference with just the plunger and my offset subbase. (Notwithstanding, you can use the subbase on the DW6184 Fixed-Base casting with most of the same benefits.)

The plunge router is the safest and most expeditious router for circle making. The plate is drilled with 5 pivot holes (pivot pin supplied), and when used with a 1/4" cutter, will produce precise 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 inch holes. (Precision custom pivot holes available). Drill a 3/16" hole through the work or templet. Insert the pivot pin in the hole and in the desired pivot hole. Plunge, rotate, and rout ~1/8/pass (use a short 1/4" solid carbide bit for best results). Plunging from both sides of the work is permissible. Leave a web of stock ~1/64" thick and punch the disk out. This tactic keeps the disk from breaking loose whilst routing, (sometimes making a mess of things).

The 12mm thick subbase will not deflect. If the plate were to bend while you're routing you might ding the work or the router may kickback. For your convenience the cutter hole is centered to the round end (240 degrees of circle) of the plate. The subbase is supplied with either a DW/PC collar/guide-bush cutter hole, or it is milled to 1-3/4" for general use. Nowhere is there casting beyond the outside dimensions of the plate. As such, if you drop the router, you will probably drop it on the plate. You may fracture the plastic but the chances are great the router will go back to work unharmed, mine have! (Accident insurance at no cost.)

I have included a neoprene sleeve for your collet wrench. Without it, you may ding one of the plunge posts while changing cutters. If you hook the open end of the wrench under and against the knob and plunge the stop down on the rubber it will keep the bugger in place. There will still be room to wind the wire set on the knob if desired.

There are no remarkable benefits to an offset subbase if the router is supported all around its casting. Nonetheless, the design of the 6182 plunge casting is such that it will benefit from my oversized (7-5/8") round subbase on inside work. The casting is less than a full circle and the plunge tube axis is beyond the cutter hole center. Both of these factors render the machine somewhat tippy in the normal direction of travel. Part of the larger plunge tube resides outside the 6" circle of the casting; as such it is subject to hitting clamps and guides. Expect less of this and more inside stability with my round plate.

A word about target depth and plungers.
No router, as supplied, has the engineering of a Bridgeport mill. You cannot dial in target depth on the first shot and hit it. The plunge router can come quite close, however, but you have to be able to measure the work. To hit target depth in 2 shots, mill the first pass as close as practical. Now measure the work, note the change in depth required for the end point depth, and place a gage between the depth stop and the anvil equal to that change. Lock the depth stop, plunge, and proceed to rout to final and exact depth. Remove the turret and the fine adjust screw (permanently) to facilitate. Hitting target depth this way is simple and precise; something the fixed base routers guess around at. With this plunger (and the DW 621) and that knowledge, I'll rout with the plunger for just this benefit and time savings. Cutters for edge work outnumber those for inside work by more that 3:1. As such, there is far more edge work and it should be done with an offset subbase for safety and control. Given the depth control of the plunger it makes perfect sense then to rout with my offset subbase on your plunger, right? Save time, get more application, precision, safety and fun from your routers with my subbases.

Pricing and ordering information (Please select cutter holes: 1-3/4" or DW/PC collar/guide-bush)

Prices include: Completely machined and deburred subbase, all hardware and assembly, freight (UPS Ground) and packaging, neoprene wrench cover, and 3/16" pivot pin.

Email pat@patwarner.com for more information or make selection and send remittance to

Concerns about collar/cutter centeredness: See the Collar Guide and Sundries links.