Bosch 1619 plunge for the table and the 1617 combo or fixed based for free hand..
they set standard for everybody else and will give you decades of HD service..

 

Welcome Diane...i'm another who is partial to Bosch. I've got a 1617 fixed base mounted in a table and another 1617evspk (fixed/plunge package) for hand work. Also have a Bosch Colt PR20 with both fixed and plunge bases for lighter hand work. As a hobbyist, not much i can't do with that lineup--though i wouldn't mind trying a newer Bosch MRP23 on for size!!

You may find that the Dewalt or Porter Cable (among others) routers feel better to you. Establish what you're likely to use it for, go to a few stores and see what a few feel like in your hands. I ended up buying about 5 routers used (craigs list, and one on ebay) before settling on the Bosch line. Sold the others back to the world at about break-even, so it was a cheap test.

earl

 

Be careful and stay away from Skill routers

Make sure to look carefully at the router you buy, and not just look at the price. I recently bought a Skill router with a fixed and a plunge base, and it turned out to be an awfully bad choice. The main problem, which I did not look at when I purchased it at Lowes is that the router has a very bad arrangement for mounting a fence. As a matter of fact it does not include one! When I tried to attach it to one that I have the rod openings where much smaller than in most routers, and most importantly it lacked the screws to lock the rods in place. Instead it has flimsy screw (2) that with great effort you could put the router upside down and tighten. Of course when you drill the holes for larger rods these screws are useless. The bases are so thin that I do not think I will be capable of re-drilling for a proper lock screw from the top as in a good router.
As it stands I will be installing this miserably designed router in the router table, since my old Craftsman collet finally failed.
Take your time and look closely at Porter Cable and Bosh, and don't assume anything. Do not just look at price and a name you recognize like I did with the Skill (now owned by Bosh). I even had to buy the dust collection kit at a $30/each for both the fixed and plunger base...
Caveat Emptor! Let the buyer be aware!

 

Thanks for all your input. Great ideas and information from all of you to help me understand what I should be looking for. Thanks

 

I'm a very happy Bosch 1617 kit owner. Both bases, and a really great set of accessories are another reason I love this thing. Bought a motor only for permanent table use. You can use the fixed base on a table and adjust height using the fixed base, which is great. It has an terrific edge guide to help with making dados, several dust collection accessories that fit perfectly...all in all a great machine. I also prefer its handles to any other. The soft start and electronic speed control are more technical features, but they work very well.

I agree that you might want to check out the other major brands, PorterCable, DeWalt, are also available in kits. I also made the mistake of buying a Skill router and found I'd wasted my money.

 

i am same as you, i bought a plunge router first getting fixes one nex. i like the plunge because you can use both ways

 

hi, i too was undecided at first until i bought the Bosch 1617EVSPK 12 Amp 2-1/4-Horsepower Plunge and Fixed Base Variable Speed Router Kit with 1/4-Inch and 1/2-Inch Collets. i bought it at Rockler for $239 and found it cheaper at Amazon at $189.
I have since bought the under table mount that'll stay there forever and a edge guide for it as well. this kit can do just about anything. the router is strong and gets the job done without effort. read up on it before you buy. i love mine. good luck

 

Do not, I repeat, do not buy a Porter cable router unless you want to through the bases away, both of them, and use the motor only in a lift, which is very expensive, wish I had known this earlier and bought a Bosch. All I hear about them is good, can't imagine you going wrong from what is said about them by users that talk about them on this forum. The bases on the PC routers may be O.K. for some folks, but it has been my experience that the parts that lock up the fixed base on the one I have are made of soft aluminum and wallow out pretty quick and the parts that I needed to replace the worn out ones were on back order an I never could get them. Actually I quit trying after buying the Mast R lift from Incra which cost considerably more than the router. I'm referring to the PC 893PK. I use the baes now to hold down scrap paper from blowing away when the fan is blowing in the shop, they work pretty good for that and if I misplace one of them, so what, they are absolutly useless to me in my opinion. I guess that it is fair to say that I can't say enough bad about the curret line of Porter Csble routers.

Jerry

 

I would say get a Porter Cable they have been around a long time and they set the standard for most routers plus you can get parts just about anywhere in the states..
Most of the newer PC's come with a lift built in..just like the Sears

But I like the Sears (2 1/2 HP ) over the Bosch and the PC it comes with all the extra items in one kit...and at a lower price on top of that..

www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00927680000P

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I would say get a Porter Cable they have been around a long time and they set the standard for most routers plus you can parts just about anywhere in the states..
Most of the newer PC's come with a lift built in..


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Bj,
The lift that came with my PC was of no value to me when installed in a table. the dust kept getting in between the motor and the base which would bind the motor in the base so that I would have to take the thing all apart and fight to get the motor out of the base, what a bad deal that was, the only fix was to buy a new, and differenct router, or buy a lift for the motor of the PC which as I said, I did, and all works well. PC have been the standard in the past, but in the case of the 893, it is not a machine that you would want to put in a table for the reasons mentioned above.

Jerry

 

I have the Bosch 1617evspk combo. Works great. fixed base is mounted under a table. I use the plunge base for hand held jobs. Actually, I also have a second motor/fixed base. Makes it easy to do different operations and leave one motor mounted with a bit I use often.

Hope this helps.
Mike

Here is one of the routers mounted in a fixed base under a table top that I clamped to my work bench and supported it with a stand.

 

Bosch has the 2.3 hp model now?
it's the upgrade from the 1617?
plunge and fixed bases with switches in the handles?
there's a review of it on youtube ....
I'd paste the link but I can't do that until I've got 10 posts, dang .....

 

I have to agree with BJ. The current Craftsman routers are a big bang bang for the buck option. I have the model #27683 12amp and it has taken everything I have thrown at it. If it burns up, take it back to the store and trade it for a new one. In the next month I will find out how well it is made, we have a lot of long molding to make. That should be a real test. By the way BJ can you change bits from the tabletop on your #27680?

 

Hi Dick

Yes very easy but I do cheat a little bit with a off-set wrench..

MLCS Heavyweight and Precision Router Tables

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