Editor's Review: Tool Test: Routers for Router Tables

by Tom Begnal

review date: August 1, 2001

Roland Johnson said:
The Bosch 1617EVS router is one in a new class of routers that features an integrated router lift that makes it ideal for use in a router table. We tested similar routers from seven manufacturers. Our tests included checking runout with a dial indicator and inspected how each router worked by testing it with a tall moulding bit.

The Bosch is nearly identical to the Craftsman 1617-12 and like that other tool makes bit-changing and height adjustment inconvenient. The problem is that the collet doesn't extend above the table when mounted in a router table and there is no spindle lock for changing bits. As a result, you have to reach under the table to make the adjustment or remove the router altogether. A plunge-base is included but that accessory lacks a built-in router lift.

Tom Begnal said:
For all-around shop use, midsize routers make sense. At 2 hp to 2-1/4 hp, they have enough testosterone to handle most cuts without the bulk that can make bigger versions a chore to run freehand. I gathered all of the midsize fixed-base routers on the market and tested them in the Fine Woodworking shop. The test had three main parts. First, I considered the ergonomics of the routers, using them by hand and in a router table. Then I checked them for noise, runout, and vibration. And finally, I gave them a handheld run to see how effectively they plowed through wood.

This Bosch router can accept large bits, and bit changing is a snap. The micro-adjust features work well, and the housing locks are rated as the best (tied with Makita). It scores well in the vibration category, and it has soft-start and variable-seed options. The 1617EVS has the most comfortable of the knob-type handles. This model did well in the runout test, although it is a little noisier than average.

Editor Test Results: