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whats the difference in a 1613 evs and a 1617 plunge base?

4138 Views 10 Replies 5 Participants Last post by  twmv86
i have an old bosch 1613 evs. i just got a 1617 and an extra base for under the table instead of getting the plunge base. are there any big improvements in the 1617 plunge base? i can see myself getting one at some point but for now i'll have to use the 1613 or the plunge for the dewalt 611.

anyone who has had both shed some light on the differences in the 1613 and 1617 plunge base? thx
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Does the 1613 work well? Not much reason to make the switch if you don't need to. Unless, of course, you just want the new tool.
Does the 1613 work well? Not much reason to make the switch if you don't need to. Unless, of course, you just want the new tool.
I haven't used it since the late 90s but yeah its great. I like the trigger being on the handle. I just didn't know what improvements they might have made in the 1617. always want a new tool. I can see myself getting one at some point but there's a few things ahead of it on the list.
Tim; the 1617 switch is on the top side of the motor. The handles on the fixed base are round wooden knobs...the plunge base has more ergonomically desirable design but the switch is still a long way away from the handles.
That's basically my only issue with the 1617.
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the 13 is monolithic constructed.. the base and motor are one piece...
the 17 is binary... the base and motor are two individual pieces...
Tim, I don't know a lot about the 1613 but the difference between 1613 and 1617 is 4. I got that by subtracting the smaller number from the larger. It was difficult but I hope this helps.
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Tim, I don't know a lot about the 1613 but the difference between 1613 and 1617 is 4. I got that by subtracting the smaller number from the larger. It was difficult but I hope this helps.
I had to take my shoes off but I think you're right.
I had a feeling there weren't night and day differences between the 2 but was curious how the 1617 plunge was. i'll muddle through with what I have until I get caught up on buying other stuff. that's how I got into this mess was reading everyone bragging on the 1617. my goal was to get a mast r lift but just couldn't swing it and get anything else at all. I got an aluminum plate on the way and can always get the mast r lift later, if needed, that fits the hole im cutting soon in my top and both the 1617 & my 7518. that was always the long term goal. I just went at it sideways
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You can use a foot switch to control the motor on the 1617, but having the switch on the handle is really nice. So if you don't replace the 13 and use it for freehand cuts, then you can just get a Triton TRA001 for the table. It is its own lift and 3.25 hp, and costs less than the cost of the lift you're considering. If you want to see a Triton in action, look up YouTube How-To videos by Marc Sommerfeld showing how he builds things. He has a Triton under that table of his, so you can see how it really works. Remember that he removes all safety devices so the camera can follow the action. Leave your safety stuff on.

You should be able to use your existing mounting plate, but may have to drill a hole for the above table crank, which comes with the router. You could use the Triton freehand, but as I age, it's just too heavy for me to safely handle freehand.

One more minor thing, at some point your 13 will need new brushes, so don't be too quick to abandon it. It is clearly a good machine.
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You can use a foot switch to control the motor on the 1617, but having the switch on the handle is really nice. So if you don't replace the 13 and use it for freehand cuts, then you can just get a Triton TRA001 for the table. It is its own lift and 3.25 hp, and costs less than the cost of the lift you're considering. If you want to see a Triton in action, look up YouTube How-To videos by Marc Sommerfeld showing how he builds things. He has a Triton under that table of his, so you can see how it really works. Remember that he removes all safety devices so the camera can follow the action. Leave your safety stuff on.

You should be able to use your existing mounting plate, but may have to drill a hole for the above table crank, which comes with the router. You could use the Triton freehand, but as I age, it's just too heavy for me to safely handle freehand.

One more minor thing, at some point your 13 will need new brushes, so don't be too quick to abandon it. It is clearly a good machine.
I don't see another big router in my future. i never ran the mega bits as much as i intended to back when i bought the big pc and i don't think i will now. if i was starting from scratch today the triton may the way to go but in my situation i already have, if its possible, too many routers. pc 690 & 7518, bosch 1613 & 1617, dewalt 611 w both bases. i toyed with trying a horizontal router table a long time ago. when i picked up the 690 at a garage sale that was the plan. im a lot better at planning than doing. now that im retired i don't have as good of an excuse. maybe if i moved the router table by my recliner
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I don't see another big router in my future. i never ran the mega bits as much as i intended to back when i bought the big pc and i don't think i will now. if i was starting from scratch today the triton may the way to go but in my situation i already have, if its possible, too many routers. pc 690 & 7518, bosch 1613 & 1617, dewalt 611 w both bases. i toyed with trying a horizontal router table a long time ago. when i picked up the 690 at a garage sale that was the plan. im a lot better at planning than doing. now that im retired i don't have as good of an excuse. maybe if i moved the router table by my recliner
Sounds like me, but with cars. I had a 1994 Caravan with no problems bought in 1999. I used it for transporting cancer patients to treatment centres. I got bored so I bought a 2009 Sante Fe 4 years ago just to have something different. A great car. Kept the van. In 2016 I bought a 2009 Toyota Corolla with only 42 kms. on it. My son needed a car to replace his Honda so I bought it, I couldn't pass it up. My son didn't want the Toyota, it was black. He doesn't like black. Geez, now I had 3 cars and my wife has her own Impala. I had to bite the bullet. I sold the van Saturday past. 351000 kms. and not a speck of rust. Great condition. Always repaired when needed. Had about 20 calls from being on Auto Trader. I miss it. I got a refund on the licence fee and insurance to boot. It'll save me $490 insurance a year. A little more expensive than routers but you get the idea, I hope.
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Sounds like me, but with cars. I had a 1994 Caravan with no problems bought in 1999. I used it for transporting cancer patients to treatment centres. I got bored so I bought a 2009 Sante Fe 4 years ago just to have something different. A great car. Kept the van. In 2016 I bought a 2009 Toyota Corolla with only 42 kms. on it. My son needed a car to replace his Honda so I bought it, I couldn't pass it up. My son didn't want the Toyota, it was black. He doesn't like black. Geez, now I had 3 cars and my wife has her own Impala. I had to bite the bullet. I sold the van Saturday past. 351000 kms. and not a speck of rust. Great condition. Always repaired when needed. Had about 20 calls from being on Auto Trader. I miss it. I got a refund on the licence fee and insurance to boot. It'll save me $490 insurance a year. A little more expensive than routers but you get the idea, I hope.

wow and I thought my garage was crowded
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