Help me spend my money...

[avaserfi]

Thanks for he help everyone. I have started looking for a good quality used router and a drill. I am following all leads. Just wanted to drop by and say thanks .

[avaserfi]

So I have been doing some looking. I can get a good deal on a Bosch 1617PK Router and a Bosch 1032VSR or Bosch 1030VSR drills. Together they will be slightly over budget ($20 or so), but I am okay with that. Anyone have any thoughts on the router and/or which drill would be better (if either are good).

I am looking for tools that will last a while and also be compatible with a router table I will be purchasing sometime in the future. Also, at times I will be using what I would consider fairly large bits (3/4-1" round over/cove and such). Just want to make sure I don't jump at this since I am not 100% about the tools.

Also, does anyone know if the router is compatible with the Jasper Jig?

Thanks for your expertise!

edit: I had a more experienced friend who owns the Bosch 1617EVSK tell me the lower 1617 model that I am looking at with 1/4hp less might not be as good as his model at turning the larger bits. Is this something I should be concerned with?

[jonmulzer]

You won't have any issues. You work with MDF, that stuff machines like butter. My Bosch cuts 3/8x1" rabbets so well that you cannot even feel it cutting in MDF. Makes a ton of dust though, be warned.

[drumpriest]

avaserfi, the bosch 1617evspk is a great kit. Where are you seeing the deal for the 1617pk? Our local Rockler has the 1617evspk at 220$ I think, which surprises me as it's cheaper than Amazon's current price.

[avaserfi]

You won't have any issues. You work with MDF, that stuff machines like butter. My Bosch cuts 3/8x1" rabbets so well that you cannot even feel it cutting in MDF. Makes a ton of dust though, be warned.

Actually, I almost never work with MDF as there are far better materials to make loudspeakers out of*. Most often I will use a decent quality ply (cabinet grade), HDF (high density fiberboard) and oak. Depending on the application any of these will need to be tackled by the router as well.

I was more worried about a larger bit not working as well with less power.

*My standards for music reproduction render nearly ever commercial and DIY loudspeaker in existence as not worthy. This is an example of a subwoofer I have made - pics are littered throughout the thread. It is capable of 115dB at 20Hz in room with no compression or distortion. I will admit though a proper subwoofer is far easier to build then a loudspeaker, but thats on its way.

avaserfi, the bosch 1617evspk is a great kit. Where are you seeing the deal for the 1617pk? Our local Rockler has the 1617evspk at 220$ I think, which surprises me as it's cheaper than Amazon's current price.

What about the regular 1617 not the EVSPK? There is a local place with one factory recondition unit in stock with full warrenty for $170. Do you think the EVSPK would be worth another $50?

[drumpriest]

Oh, scratch that, they actually had the evspke for 220$, which includes bushings and the edge guide, and dust collection setup, etc....

At that price it's definitely worth the extra 50$ in my opinion, it's also compatible with the fx router lift for eventual table mounting, not sure about the 1617pk. Honestly until you posted it, I was unaware of the existence of the 1617pk

[LarryG]

I think the various 1617 kits are all built around the same 12A motor and that the alphabet soup following the numbers indicates what all is included in the kit. I have the EVSPKE and always thought the router itself was identical to the various others with fewer letters. Maybe not, though.

IAC a difference of one amp or so, if such difference is in fact there, isn't going to matter much operationally. You shouldn't be cutting much more than the equivalent of 1/4" x 1/4" or maybe 1/4" x 3/8" on any single pass anyway.

Another excellent two-base router in this same price range is the DeWalt 618. I have a 616 (single-speed version) that I have dedicated to dovetail duty, and I really like its ergonomics and compact feel.