Woodendigits,
This is LBrandt in response to your postings about the 1180. Yes, I have the RA1171, with the metal mounting plate, and I like it very much, but as you know, I still haven't put a router in it. I'm still deciding on which one to get (I'll probably go with the Bosch 1617EVSPK). I'm really a novice when it comes to routers, but I wonder about the quality of the 1200. Didn't you (or someone) mention that some of the Amazon reviews on it didn't sound very good? And when I looked at the 1200 on the Bosch website just now, it says that it has a "No-Flex phenolic router mounting plate with levelers", so you'd still be getting a Bosch phenolic mounting plate.
You might consider asking Bosch to replace the 1180 with the RA1181. I've seen the RA1181 on the Bosch website, (the website doesn't even show the 1180 anymore) and it shows that the 1181 has a metal mounting plate, unlike the one on your 1180.
(I posted the specs on the 1181 a few days ago).
I must assume that the fact that they've changed model numbers from 1180 to 1181 means that they've improved something, and that something may be the mounting plate. It seems to me that if you like everything else on the 1180 except the plate, then the 1181 might be a good idea.
One thing to consider about the 1171 is this. My RA1171 has a floor (an MDF bottom), and although it seems like a good idea in the sense that it (along with the sides and front door) encloses everything, it makes the usable depth a little less than the 1180/1181. I had been considering getting the tall Bosch 1619EVS 3 1/4 HP router for it, but Bosch tells me that the 1619EVS will be a tight fit in my 1171. The router that I'll probably get (the 1617EVSPK) will fit easily, but the 1171 table might give you a problem someday if you want to mount a really tall router in it.
Louis
This is LBrandt in response to your postings about the 1180. Yes, I have the RA1171, with the metal mounting plate, and I like it very much, but as you know, I still haven't put a router in it. I'm still deciding on which one to get (I'll probably go with the Bosch 1617EVSPK). I'm really a novice when it comes to routers, but I wonder about the quality of the 1200. Didn't you (or someone) mention that some of the Amazon reviews on it didn't sound very good? And when I looked at the 1200 on the Bosch website just now, it says that it has a "No-Flex phenolic router mounting plate with levelers", so you'd still be getting a Bosch phenolic mounting plate.
You might consider asking Bosch to replace the 1180 with the RA1181. I've seen the RA1181 on the Bosch website, (the website doesn't even show the 1180 anymore) and it shows that the 1181 has a metal mounting plate, unlike the one on your 1180.
(I posted the specs on the 1181 a few days ago).
I must assume that the fact that they've changed model numbers from 1180 to 1181 means that they've improved something, and that something may be the mounting plate. It seems to me that if you like everything else on the 1180 except the plate, then the 1181 might be a good idea.
One thing to consider about the 1171 is this. My RA1171 has a floor (an MDF bottom), and although it seems like a good idea in the sense that it (along with the sides and front door) encloses everything, it makes the usable depth a little less than the 1180/1181. I had been considering getting the tall Bosch 1619EVS 3 1/4 HP router for it, but Bosch tells me that the 1619EVS will be a tight fit in my 1171. The router that I'll probably get (the 1617EVSPK) will fit easily, but the 1171 table might give you a problem someday if you want to mount a really tall router in it.
Louis
