The Joys of Better Tools

[ejs1097]

I picked up my Bosch 1617 EVSPK yesterday and just got done playing with it. Boy is it nice, I'm happier then a tornado in a trailer park!

My Craftsman has the adjustment ring I've been using for the past 5 years and hasn't been locking the depth very good. The Bosch is much quieter and nicer to control. First time using a plung router, can't wait to use it for mortizes an sign making. I know I'll be a happy camper for a long time!

I felt the same way upgrading my skil jig saw with a bosch. Those 2 tools were gifts but now I try to steer folks away from getting tools for gifts. I'm at the point now where I'm replacing some of those cheap tools with better equipement and boy can you tell the difference!

Get this. I call Rocker to get that deal for the 1617EVSPK with the table mount base and a $25 gift card. They were out of the extra bases and only had the special that had the edge guide. I took a raincheck. They called and got the base in and when I went to pick it up the only router they had was the display model. The Owner said "just give him the edge guide and be done with it." So I walked out with the 1617EVSPK with Edge Guide, dust extraction hood, template guide, centering cone, table base and a $25 gift card for $220.00.

[JR]

Excellent! I made a similar upgrade upade 6 months ago, and am very happy with it, too. I have those same accessories, but not the undermount base.

Good luck with it!

JR

[rh111]

You made an excellent choice in router. I got mine about 1 1/2 yrs ago and love it. It's also funny that I did the same thing with the jigsaw as you and upgraded to a Bosch. The old jig saw heads with me to the firing range this weekend.

[SARGE..g-47]

Afternoon Eric...

You'll be making up-grades for years to come, Eric. After 35 years of em, trust me on that one! ha.. ha...

Regards...

[bthere]

For me, there are good things about making do with less than best quality tools over the years. A few that jump out at me are:

First, it can get you going when you don't have a budget for anything better.

Second, you get to develop your skills when you need to work around the limtations of a tool. For instance, not having a dovetail jig or a router that cut precisely forced me to cut dovetails by hand.

Third, when you do upgrade to a significantly better tool, you appreciate it. When I upgraded from an old Craftsman jig saw to the Bosch, I didn't have to convince myself that the Bosch was better. It was plainly evident in almost every way.