Let me start off this review by saying that I'm in no way a professional and am squarely towards the bottom-end of DIYer, skill-wise, but I'm learning! This Bosch router reminds me of the one my dad had when I was a kid some 25+ years ago, and while he no longer has it, I can imagine passing this beast down to my kids when they're old enough.
The BOSCH 1617EVS is very solidly-built, being mostly metal, with a heavy-duty plastic shell, plus of course the wooden handles. Those handles, by the way, feel amazing to hold. I've run the router through both SPF and a higher-end plywood, and it's had zero problems with either, effortlessly gliding over the surface. All you need to do is point it in the right direction and keep it snug against your guide (or the bit bearing), and the router does the rest.
In my reviews, I always try to find at least one negative or "less-than-idea" aspect of a product so it doesn't seem like I'm just glossing over things that maybe aren't the best, and for the BOSCH 1617EVS it's really hard to find a negative. Of the two cons I can think of, they're probably both more due to my inexperience than the router itself. First is that I have trouble holding the router one handed on my work piece while turning on the router with the other. I end up (and I know this isn't the best to do) turning it on while holding it in the air, then placing the router on the work piece before starting. And man, you can really feel the force of that 2.25hp motor when doing that! The next "downside" is keeping the cord out of my way. My shop isn't fully setup the way I want so anything corded I use has the cord draping down towards the floor so if I'm, say, beveling all four edges of a piece of wood, the cord either gets in the way or caught up on the clamps. Again, this is probably not the router's fault, but I bring it up because the base does do a good job of pushing the cord ahead of the router while I'm cutting: it's not like you have to worry about the cord getting cut by the router.
I know this router is expensive. I know there are smaller and cordless ones you could buy. But why? Even has a sometimes user of this router (I don't do this work professionally), it will still do everything I could ever need it to and more. In fact, I probably should have also bought with it the router table or plunge base, but I didn't think I'd need those things. I think at minimum, the table would be a good accessory for this router, because you move the piece instead of the router, and with the built-in guide, it can make precision edge cuts even easier.
If you're in the market for a router, buy this. Don't waste your money on anything else. No, Bosch didn't pay me for this review. I just know that you'll regret not buying this router. Maybe not immediately, but eventually.
| Brand | BOSCH |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic |
| Power Source | Corded Electric |
| Voltage | 120 Volts |
| Item Weight | 4.5 Kilograms |
| Horsepower | 1.8774557792112 |
| Maximum Rotational Speed | 25000 RPM |
| Base Type | Plunge, Fixed |
| Manufacturer | Bosch |
| Part Number | 1617EVS |
| Item Weight | 9.9 pounds |
| Country of Origin | Mexico |
| Item model number | 1617EVS |
| Is Discontinued By Manufacturer | No |
| Size | No Size |
| Color | No Color |
| Style | Fixed Base Router |
| Pattern | Router |
| Wattage | 1400 watts |
| Item Package Quantity | 1 |
| Special Features | fixed-base |
| Included Components | Includes 2-1/4 HP Variable-Speed Router (1617EVS), Fixed base (RA1161), 1/4-inch and 1/2-inch self-releasing collets, drop-forged wrenches, chip shield, above-table height-adjustment wrench, and mounting hardware |
| Batteries Included? | No |
| Batteries Required? | No |
| Warranty Description | Warranty |
