Router kit decision

[Sawatzky]

My lovely wife is probably going to get me a new router kit for christmas! I already have a PC690LR for hand held use, but it does not have variable speed. I want a kit that will mostly be used in the table, but also for plunge operations. I am looking at the Bosch 1617EVSPK or the Ridgid kit at Home Depot. The Bosch has 1 amp more power and seems to be a great tride and true machine with good reviews. While just slightly less powerful, the Ridgid seems to have more features, a better hight adjustment on the fixed base, got best value from Wood Magazine, and has a lifetime service agreement. Which one do you recommend?

[Cochese]

It wasn't on your list, but you might also take a look at the Craftsman 17543 as well. I've been very happy with mine, especially for the price.

[gsmittle]

I can't speak about the Ridgid since I don't own one, but I'm very happy with the Bosch. Changing bases is painless, the plunge mechanism is smooth and I don't detect any slop, and I find the fixed base in the RT (I bought an extra fixed base for the table) is pretty convenient. I like the quick-release guide bushing, too.

All in all, a durn sight better than the Ryobi three-base kit I started out with.

I suspect you'll be happy with either.

g.

[herb fellows]

I own the Bosch also, no complaints. The Ridgid lifetime guarantee is intriguing though. I wonder if anyone here has ever used it and how it performed if they did?

[L. D. Jeffries]

My money is on the Hatachi plunge. I've had mine for several years now and its gone thru a h-ll of lot of wood. Only thing that ever went "south" was the speed control (my fault-should have paid more attention to cleaning out sawdust) and that was a do-it-yourself installation. Mine is used in a router table now as I have two other routers for hand held stuff.

[Larryl]

I own the Bosch also, no complaints. The Ridgid lifetime guarantee is intriguing though. I wonder if anyone here has ever used it and how it performed if they did?

I purchased the Ridgid drill/driver and the impact driver because of the lifetime replacement on the batteries. One failed within the first year and it was replaced by the local Home Depot. The second failed at about 18 months and it took about 3 months to get it replaced through the local service center(Waco,Tx). However, I suspect most of the delay was because the owner of the service center had his wife in the hospital and his repair business was understandably was a low priority. Other than the time it took, I have no complaints as there was never a question of my not getting a new replacement. I haven't had the replacements more than a year but they still seem as strong as when they were new. Besides the great guarantee I am extremely happy with the tools.

[steve-norrell]

I have a Bosch 1617EVSPK mounted in router lift (JessEm). Its been there for a at least three years. It worked perfectly until about six months ago when the switch failed. The switch was an easy replacement. I am completely satisfied with it. If I wanted a replacement, I would probably get a more powerful unit, in the 3 HP unit.

I also have a Craftsman 17543 that looks suspiciously like the Bosch, but also as an LED light to illuminate the work area. I use it a lot less frequently than the Bosch, so I can't compare its durability. Nevertheless, it has performed perfectly every time.

I bought the Bosch and the Craftsman as two-base kits, including a plunge base. If you are looking for a recommendation, I would go with the Bosch. However, if cost is an issue, I suggest you look at the Craftsman. I am completely satisfied with both of them. (And, no, I haven't tried to mount the Craftsman in a Bosch base. )

Good luck, Steve.

[Chris_B]

Check-out the new Bosch MR23 router

Congratulations! It sounds like you have a head-start on a merry Christmas!

I have Bosch 1617 routers and love them, but there are a lot of good choices, including the Ridgid. But if I was buying today, I'd look closely at Bosch's new MR23 router.



I have not seen one in-person yet, but the MR23 seems to retain most (/all) of the 1617's goodness but adds useful features - most notably a grip mounted trigger, but also a number of other refinements. The cool new features also add about $70 to the price.

If nothing else, this new model will eventually result in great deals on the 1617.

[JR]

most notably a grip mounted trigger, but

Ooooh, I covet that feature!

JR

[Knottscott]

Of the two you listed, I'd go with the Bosch for the reasons you stated, but neither of those choices has the above table features offered by the Tritons and Freud FT1700/FT3000...these also have plunge bases. All have collets that extend above the table and have an auto collet lock for easy one handed above table bit changes. The Freud also has above table height adjust and height lock...not sure about the Triton, but I think it may have the same. The plunge on the FT1700 isn't the best I've used, but its certainly works well enough, and the above table features are super...never used the Triton.

If you're putting more emphasis on the plunge, the Milwaukee has the smoothest mechanism of those I've used...Hitachi, Freud, Bosch, and MW.

[cwsmith]

I have the original Ridgid 2900, 2-base unit and I'm quite happy with it. I use it almost entirely in my Rockler router table top. I'm not sure what the newer model comes with, but the 2900 has both complete 1/4- and 1/2-inch colletts (no adapters), a centering cone fixture (center pin and cone), safety shields and even a dust pickup tube. With the two bases, one is designed to take the "standard" P-C type guide bushings and the other, a different type/style of bushing.

The Ridgid 2900 is compatible with many P-C options (690), including the guide bushings and the edge guide. I use the 690-compatible mounting plate from Rockler on my table.

Other features include softstart, a comparably low noise motor, above table adjustment with the included T-handle, and two rather bright LED's in the collett end of the motor for in-hand use. To use the T-Handle, I had to drill an access hole in the Rockler mounting plate, but that was a piece-of-cake.

The collett design is very well done and very much like the P-C routers that I have seen. The collett design also incorporates a "shank-release". There is a shaft lock, as well as a hex-fitting on the shaft so you can use either a single wrench or both wrenches for changing cutters, whichever you prefer. (The 2900 came with two wrenches.)

Adjustments on the bases are typical of today's routers, including a rotatable "pad" to allow for 1/64th changes on the plunge router. With the fixed-base you can adjust via the standard threaded adjustment screw and knob (in-hand or from under the table) or, you can use the included T-handle from the top of the table.

The multi-speed adjustment dial is actually marked with the RPM and not some vague reference letter or number. The speed control is electronic and designed to maintain the setting and not slow up under load.

The negatives to the Ridgid is that the plunge base is pretty tall, when compared to other units, I think. And, for me, the lock lever on the plunge base is a bit of a stretch. If you have large hands, it wouldn't be a problem, I'm sure.

Currently my bit selection is a fair size Ryobi set my wife bought me many years ago, and of course one of the "damaged-case" 30-plus piece sets from Blades-N-Bits that I purchased a few years ago. Either set has worked great and in this router the two different colletts allow me to use either. There's no chatter with either and neither the colletts or the shanks have shown any signs of poor fit.

Now, I must confess that I haven't any hands-on experience with P-C or any of the other brands. I have a very old (1970's) Ryobi-made Craftsman, and a Ryobi R161 w/table that I got back in 2003. Both are single speed and quite lightweight. I do have the Ryobi 1803 3-base combo, which I like and works okay, even with it's sticky motor housing. But since I am a Ridgid fan, I went off on my own with no advice from anyone, other than what I could learn from a few books. I've been happy with that decision.

Regarding the Limited Lifetime Service Agreement, that's part of the reason I like Ridgid. I've used it for getting a chuck fixed and also for a finish sander repair. In both cases, I got the tool back within the month. I'm quite happy with Rigid. You should take note that the LLSA is a no-cost "option"... in order to get it, you MUST register the tool. (Otherwise, the regular Ridgid warranty is 90-day "Satisfaction" and 3-Years parts and service.

I hope this helps,

CWS

[JimD]

I had a bad experience with a Rigid finish sander. I took it back for repair - it was registered - but it could not be repaired. I guess I could keep taking it back but the first experience took a long time and it was worse when I got it back. So I just bought a Milwaukee I am very happy with.

When I had a fixed base PC690 I was happy with I bought a 3 base PC690 variable speed soft start kit. So now I have 4 bases and two motors. Either of the motors will work in any of the bases. So I have one fixed base on one router table, another on a horizontal table, plus I still have a fixed and plunge base for hand-held use.

The PC690 is not rated as highly as the Bosch or the newer PC but it is still a nice router that does whatever I ask of it. I had to replace a switch once on my oiginal one but it still works just as well as it did new. Occasionally it is nice to have speed control but most of the time either motor works well.

Jim

[jussi]

Quite happy with my Dewalt DW618 and Bosch 1617