Shopsmith Forums

In support of Bosch tools in general, I will say I've never owned or used a Bosch tool that didn't perform at 110%, feel like it was very well made, and be repair and other issue free. In addition to my router and router table, I also have a Bosch jigsaw and a Bosch belt sander. I have used both extremely hard over the years and they never cease to impress me with their functionality, durability, and perfomance (I've owned both for at least 10 years, the jigsaw probably more like 15, whereas I've only owned the router and table for < a year).

I also have owned lots of DeWalt and Makita tools over the same time period and while some of them have also performed at this level, others have been more "middle of the road" IMO, such as some of the various cordless drills and portable sanders. I"m not saying I've necessarily been disappointed in any of these tools but rather they just haven't quite lived up to the quality level I feel I've found in my Bosch tools. Certainly the DeWalt and Makita stuff has outperformed lesser quality brands I've owned, such as Craftsman, Black & Decker, Skil etc.) but just hasn't quite felt as solid, quality built as the Bosch stuff I own. I'd also say the Milwaukee stuff I've owned has also been top notch (sawzall and a hole hawg drill).

All of this is pretty much a qualitative, baseless gut instinct on my end having used most of this stuff to death on home remodels etc. and probably the best place to look for reviews on a specific tool type would be something like the Fine Homebuilding tool reviews, but just wanted to give my props to Bosch for consistently making me feel warm and fuzzy when I have one of their tools in my hand.

As luck would have it I was in the big orange store this afternoon picking up some electrical supplies and lo and behold they had the Bosch MRC23. Nice.... . It fits my hands WAY to well! It is heavy and so the smaller DeWalt will do much better for me in the short term, but if I was a Las Vegas prognosticator, I'd lay odds that the Bosch finds a way into my garage before the ides of March.

Now regarding this so called addiction of which you accuse Ed..... He can quit at any time! He just "chooses" not to.

Be well,

Ben

I have mine mounted in a router table and love it, But! when you are changing bits their is a problem since it was purchased.
When you break the nut it will turn with your fingers for a rotation or two and then lock (the bit has not released yet), then you must use both wrenches to work the nut a full rotation 1/4" at a time for a full rotation before the bit releases. A real pain in the &*%. I have cleaned the collet and applied everything I can think of for a lubricant.

The 1/2" collet is not as bad.

Any thoughts except buy a new one:(

Don G

I took the collette off and with a worn out bit in it, while unloosened I tapped it with a hammer sideways and also used some 1000 sandpaper rolled up into a tube and sanded the inside of the collette. They now release.

All of my routers, Bosch, PC, Freud, and Dewalt, do the same thing. May be a safety feature.

dgreen810 wrote:I have mine mounted in a router table and love it, But! when you are changing bits their is a problem since it was purchased.
When you break the nut it will turn with your fingers for a rotation or two and then lock (the bit has not released yet), then you must use both wrenches to work the nut a full rotation 1/4" at a time for a full rotation before the bit releases. A real pain in the &*%. I have cleaned the collet and applied everything I can think of for a lubricant.

The 1/2" collet is not as bad.

Any thoughts except buy a new one:(

Don G

benush26 wrote:My routers consist of two ancient Craftsman 1/2 hp. They do the job, but I have a chance to get a decent deal (half price) on the above router (used but in near new condition).

I "had" been planning on saving my pin money and getting the newer model MRC23evsk after Christmas.

Who of you have experience with the 1617 model fixed and plunge? Do the idiosyncrasies out way the benefits?

Not too worried about new versus used.

Any thoughts?

Thanks.

Be well,
Ben

I've had the 1617 EVSPK for about 3 years. I use it both mounted in a table and hand held. It has performed flawlessly during that time.

However I personally don't think it's 'comfortable'. When I built my kitchen cabinets I made lots of mortices with the plunge router and found the thumb release very uncomfortable. A couple of cuts no problem but for repeated work hmmm - I wish I'd taken Ed's advice and tried them.

It needs two wrenches for bit changes and that's not always convenient. I'd prefer a router with a spindle lock and a single wrench.

But it's fine.