POF 1200 AE [Energy Class A]
Bosch POF 1200 AE Router
Bosch POF 1200 AE Router
The POF 1200 AE router enables DIYers to rout grooves, edge profiles or even special mouldings – always with maximum precision and convenience. The powerful 1200 watt motor enables the most demanding projects to be done and ensures a continuous work rate. The Bosch electronic speed control with setting wheel and accelerator switch enables the material to be cut with exceptional precision, while the integrated spindle lock allows for quick and easy changing of the router bits. What’s more, the Bosch SDS system makes it easy to insert the template guide without the need for additional tools.
Information on noise/vibrations:
- Total vibration values (vector sum of three directions)
- The A-rated noise level of the power tool is typically as follows: Sound pressure level 95 dB(A); Sound power level 106 dB(A). Uncertainty K= 3 dB
Product Features:
- Material-specific preselection of the speed due to Bosch Electronic with setting wheel and accelerator switch
- Easy and fast router bit changes due to integrated spindle lock
- Bosch SDS system enables easy, tool-free insertion of the template guide
- Powerful 1200 watt motor for demanding tasks in all types of wood
- Dust extraction port – for dust-free working
- Transparent chip guard protects against flying chips
- Outstanding ergonomic design with softgrip for convenient and safe working
Power input
1200 watts
Spindle lock
Fast router bit changes due to spindle locking at the push of a button
Speed preselection
Material-specific work with the right amount of power
SDS system
Tool-free insertion of the template guide
| Weight: | 3.4 kg |
| Dimensions: | 36.9 x 29 x 15.4 cm; 3.4 Kilograms |
| Model: | 060326A170 |
| Manufacture: | Bosch |
a very good quality router for the work I am doing in the house,would highly recommend it to anyone needing one
Best bit of kit I ever bought (apart from my crosscut saw). It was to replace an old router and when I used the new one I was pleasantly surprised. Yes, it takes a lot of setting up, but don’t all routers.
Bought this for my old boy as a Christmas gift. He likes it a lot, everything he makes has a chamfered edge now, he’s not used it for much else though.
A quick practice run on scrap piece then straight into making doors, worked really well, easy to set up, every piece matched perfectly, not bad when you consider I’ve never used one before, thank goodness for YouTube.
Very good a bit difficult to get started with using it but got hang of it now, very good tool highly recommended.
Bosch router perfect for light home and less occasional use as opposed to the blue Bosch professional range.
Bought this little gem for making loudspeaker cabinets and the odd bit of carpentry work at home as when you consider a no make router would be not be that many shekels less so it’s definitely wirth oaying that little extra for Bosch’s wealth of knowledge in the electrical field. It has 1400watt’s of 230Volt
A.C. power so it is plenty powerful enough for home use….no need for that 3-phase bench router really, is there ?
It has standard collett sizes (1/4″ or 6.35mm and also 8mm) and has a nice smoith weighted plunge action and usable depth gauge on the body and stop on the base if you want to set up for repetitive work. There is a nice dust extraction facility which is proper handy especially with dusty (MDF ! Mask !) materials and/or indoor use and helps keep the workpiece view clear as well as your work area clean when you connect a suitable vaccuum cleaner which is priceless.
There is an electronic speed control to fine tune bit/material speed and also soft start function so you don’t take off, nice !, which comes through experience from their pro-range, and much appreciated. Also supplied is a parallel guide but I suggest you find some 2″ by 1 ” finished face and some bee’s wax and affix to this guide to give better use although shortening the effective length of the guide you will appreciate it when set up right. You can always put your own longer bars onto the guide later on if you want to very easily or fab. a circular trammel (tangent).
The angled handles are much more comfortable in use than the usual upright handles on other machines and there is a good safety switch sytem on these handles to power up the motor, nice. * The power lead comes out the top of one of these and can run up over your shoulder or to a safety dmsytem you may have (retractable socket from above head) to safely keep the lead away from the very high speed powerful high-current motor (up to and above 20,000 r.p.m.) )which is a good thing in respect of not chewing the power lead and you !
Great powerful router. But beware this will not fit in most if any table inserts!! It’s just over the 150 that all table mounts require. You will have to redrill your router table insert to use it on a bench. Oh and of course cable tie the power button as it’s a release to stop kind.
I needed to fit a new bit of kitchen worktop, and bought this to cut the joints and biscuits.
Bought with a couple of bits, and its really good. I was tempted by the 1400 model but glad I got this one as it works really well.
Cut the worktop nicely using a jig, and make a nice clean job of it.
Easy to use once I took the plunge (sic).
The instructions appear to have been written in German and then badly translated into English. But the schematics are accurate and easy to understand. Disregard the English instructions or use the German originals.
The plunge system on this router allows first-class control and the 2 handed grip is perfect to maintain accurate control for a Professional Quality finish.
Highly recommend this router as being the best mid priced router on the market.
To improve my garage workshop tidyness I have purchased connectors and thin walled extraction tubing, smooth on the inside surface that will connect to my vacuum cleaner! This will whisk away the chipping that otherwise get everywhere.
Perfect for what I need with fast delivery. The product could do with a light though and maybe better instructions on how to use.
Currently my favourite power tool. This has met all my DIY need so far including perfectly trimming edges on wooden and laminate worktops ready for edging, Re-furbing some antique furniture and various cutting of fancy chamfered edges. I have also bought some longer bits for 40mm edging. very pleased, good value, Well it’s Bosch isn’t it!
with this item i was happy with and the prise was good also
I’ve used it once. It was terrifying. Very noisy. I cried a little. My line wasn’t straight. I probably shouldn’t be using it without adult supervision. Made a lovely set of shelves though so I can’t complain.
Brilliant piece of equipment for the cost. I spent a while researching what Router to buy and this kept coming up as one of the best low cost Routers. And it lives upto that reputation. Really easy to use for a beginner. I would recommend splashing out on a really good set of bits to use on this Route
Love this and the more you use it the better it gets.
But its a shame that the attachment to connect to hoover to remove dust is not included.
The service and delivery were very efficient but I cannot really comment on the use of the tool as I have bought it as a present for my son.
Amazing, I previously had the lower spec Bosch model without the fine adjustment. What a difference this makes! The new one probably saves me 45 minutes of faffing with the adjustment over the course of a day. Also I waste less wood with inaccurate cuts, so the difference in price between this one and the one without fine adjustment soon pays for itself. Comes with different collets but a shame it doesn’t include a 1/2″ collet.
The router works well after going on inter web to get an idea how to put it together, as the flimsy sheet of cartoon drawings is of little help. Care needs to be taken, as there are three collets with the machine, and no mention of which to use that I could see.
Works well and feels good in the hands with minimal vibrations. Easy to maneuver. The plunge springs are a little tight but i assume it will loosen up with more usage. Nice tough and sturdy case provided! In my opinion for the price on Amazon (cheapest) you can;t get anything better than this considering the Bosch brand, safety features, accessories provided and comfort/ease of use. Money well spent!!!
Well built, as you would expect from Bosch. No problems cutting into relatively soft woods like pine etc… not tried any hardwood yet.
The base plate is detachable, so you can attach it to a router table using M6 bolts.
Great budget investme
Bought as a present for my son who says its very easy to use and finishes off jobs nicely. In fact he made me a very nice chopping block from an old worktop with so all good.
Decent product for the money. But would be better if you could use on a router table.
First time using a router..
It’s not a forgiving tool but this has been great on the 2 jobs I’ve used it for so far!
Can’t fault it, so many attachments and aids.
I would advise watching a YouTube video or 2 before you get going, but as a DIY’er it’s been a dream!
its what you paid for and you will be happy
I must admit I hesitated a little before ordering this router but in the end I decided that, as a humble DIYer I simply could not justify spending a small fortune on the sort of machine favoured by the trade. I need not have worried: it has a nice solid feel and seems well designed, particularly as regards the depth control: once set it does not budge.
By the way, if only to prove that reviews are not always 100% accurate, it actually includes a router bit (OK, a pretty basic one, but still …).
This is a great product not just for the price but in general, great view of the workpiece, easy chuck adjustment/ tool changes, simple height adjustment and comfortable in the hand, its not too wide that it becomes uncomfortable and not too narrow either, my only gripe with it is that it came with a broken heigh adjustment bolt, not really worth returning and getting a mew one just over that though as i can simply make a new one in work. Highly recommend
job as it takes a planed square edge and makes for a very professional finish. I’ve recommended this tool to friends in the trade as it’s really surprising.
It’s been a really good tool, just finished a large project and it held its own.
My only frustration was the colette and nut came totally stuck together, had to use a vice, driver and hammer to pop the colette out to fit the bits I needed.
Disappointed to find this product id now manufactured in China. I thought Bosch manufactured all their products in Europe. Having just returned a Chinese made router from another manufacturer that failed after two small jobs. Will have to see how long this product lasts.
Took a while to decide what router to purchase but after many reviews this appeared to be the top “entry level” router. This comes with a solid carrying case to protect everything and was very easy to set up. Had it plugged in and ready to use within a matter of minutes. The speed dial is extremely useful for when you want to take the time for precision work. Am yet to buy additional bits for some edging on tables I’m planning to make so will write a follow up review after some more use!
This arrived slightly box damaged but none the less, inside all was well and my new Bosch Router works as expected ! Potentially difficult jobs are now made a dream and has opened the way for new designs ! Powerful.
Don’t expect a 1/2 Router. 1/4″ plus metric 8mm. therefore not suitable for kitchen worktop jigs.
However Brilliant for what it is. Nice if it came with a case but for the money you still get a very competent
tool
I bought bosch and I trust the brand. Seems like a good tools, does what most routers do and this comes with some goodies. Kit includes, 8mm straight bit, 3 different sized collets, dust extractor adapter, parallel guide and a circle guide. Router has a clear dust shield built on so you see your path without getting dust in your face. Fairly quiet but ear protection is still a must as is eyewear and a dust mask.
Do read the instruction manual thoroughly before plugging in. The setting to determine the depth was a little bit of a faff the first time, I did a couple of test runs on old timber to get the feel of the machine. It has been plain sailing since. Fairly quiet and comfortable to use. Recommended.
The Bosch router is a fairly clever piece of kit and will perform many woodworking requirements.
You’ll need to look on u tube to get to learn some basic skills if you have not used one before.
A little awkward to use but gets easier with knowledge.
Shame there is not a bigger 1/2 inch collet size.
Quite a heavy piece of kit to use.
Long term you will get better at the functions.
enjoy
Only had a short time so can’t comment on reliability etc however for the jobs I’ve done very good, only slight niggles are the changing of the bit it a tad fiddly but as this is my first router mag be the standard so cant comment and other point is the power seems to drain and then come back on if really worked hard as if the motor is overloaded but over all very good and would recomend.
This is a good powerful hand router. Worked perfectly for my needs and is perfectly capable for use on bigger jobs that require larger bits.
Yesterday was my first time using a router. The instructions are pretty basic but I suspect there’s more on line if you need them. The first time I used it the cutter came out but nothing was damaged (including myself). You really do have to tighten the cutter in. After this the router performed really well.
The stroke/depth of cut listed in the product details is stated as 55mm. However, using 1/4″ bouter bits I’ve found that the working stroke is somewhat less. The reason is (unless I’m doing something wrong) that when the bit is inserted into the retaining collet the bit shaft should be inserted approximately 2/3 to 3/4 of the length of the shaft. The Bosch bits I purchased are then above the base plate (by approx 20-25mm). This results in the 55mm stroke being reduced by the 25mm before any cutting takes place; use any form of jig/guide which has the router sitting above (eg a template guide) reduces the cutting depth even further.
My elu 177e had died, and I needed a replacement fast, I have bought cheaper machines before and have always been dissapointed. The most important part of a router is its accuracy and depth of cut which this one has despite its low price. The soft start is soft, the build quality is perfect, I honestly cannot fault the machine, it does exactly what I bought it for mint.
Spring is really tight so difficult to plunge to depth in a subtle way. Probably should have got a palm router. Having said that, it’s a great piece of kit and well made.
I’m sure you could buy much more expensive routers but I’m not going to be a regular user, and this has done an excellent job on the few small things that I needed to cut.
I really like the look of this router but I should have done my research better as it doesn’t take 1/2 inch cutters so I never got to use it. Thankfully Amazon replaced it without quibble.
I love the way the locking lever is spring loaded to automatically lock the up / down movement. I like the idea of their SDS guide brush fitting but it would be nice if it could take others as well.
The height guide seemed a bit cheap at first but I now appreciate the way it could be zeroed after using the replacement router that didn’t have that facility.
If it could take 1/2 inch cutters it would have been perfect.
The only weak link at the moment is the user. Having never used a router before it will take a while for me to explore it’s many uses so not really in a position to review competently.
Having said that I have found it easy to use and even made some miniature architave for a dolls house. I could not find anything to fault.
This router is much easier to use than my previous one. I just hope that the chuck lock is made of stronger material than most routers seem to have. I used it to rout deep mortices for a new set of gates I was making and it made short work of the job. Very pleased. Now looking for more projects to use it on!
I purchased this model to replace my other small router (Bosch1200), and decided to get this slightly higher powered version. It has a more sensitive depth adjuster than the 1200 and as use it with my Trend door hinge jig it is a worthy additional feature. Also my older models spindle lock was getting tired, (and sometimes slipping! “Arghh! You sod!!!), it was time to replace it. Bosch quality and relative value, even though this is not from their ‘ Professional ‘ range.
If I could go back in time, I think I’d have got something a bit smaller and cheaper (I use it for finer woodworking stuff), as its a bit like mowing your lawn with a combine harvester. That said, it very reliable, very accurate, and hasn’t given me any problems so far, it’s just a bit unwieldy for my needs. If you need a reliable workhorse of a router though, this will do the job.
Because the machine cannot be stood up side down, its awkward to insert the router bits. hence the 4 stars. another problem is the fact there is no serial number. So if stolen, there is no way to trace it.
Its a nice piece of equipment as is all BOSCH made tools
I really struggled as a first time user of a router to get the collets to fit my router bits, the 1/4″ collet provided didn’t fit, so I had to buy another collet which has fitted ok. But spent a good few hours before giving in and buying another collet to see if it was what I had expected.. The larger Collet fitted the router bit that was provided, but was the 8 so a larger collet then the box from Bosch (all 1/4″) I also purchased. So a little disappointed there, but it is all working now despite the extra expense.. Also removing the collet was a pain and had to watch numerous youtube videos to work out how to extract it.. But again got there with trial and error! once working the router gives a great finish so overall happy with my purchase.
I needed this like emergency to fix sliding door to do the track on the bottom, as my other Router was on building site and had to get this quick for speed job it did the job perfectly is not as good as my other one but 4 times cheaper if your not using very often then is a good tool and and fare price.
It does its work, but it doesn’t give a good feeling. It is difficult to make precise cuts because of the way it has to be handled, and even with the guide you can’t really pass twice on the same hole, especially at the start and end of the cut.
I was thinking of giving three stars, but at the end this is not a professional product and it has to be considered for what it is -a DIY tool for small, one off works. I would not recommend it for anyone who needs to do more than that.
Great product, easy to use once I read the manual. However product registration to get the 2 year warranty is a nightmare and I still haven’t managed to register the product. The only way to contact Bosch is via a web form which only supports the US or Canada so no luck there!
It came with a router bit and a bit of wood to test with.
It’s very simple to use and has done the jobs I have needed it for and a few more.
I had the choice of a Silverline, or a Titan router and for the same price, the Bosch 1200ae, well…. Its a no brainer.
It will not do heavy duty cycle work, you will need a larger collet and cutters if you intend to work with a lot of hardwood and using big cuts.
This is a excellent piece of kit, routers r well known for not lasting long I’ve burnt 3 out in a space of 4yrs as opting for the cheaper ones any router 1200w or lower struggles with hard wood this Bosch 1400w trims n cuts like butter I’m very impressed so far. I’ve a Bosch 4 n half inch grinder that’s lasted me the best part of 6yrs never let me down n still going strong now. Bosch is a good make still……..
1. This router does not take 1/2″ bits. As I discovered after buying, any straight bits over 25mm go up to a 1/2″ straight away. So you’re not going to be able to use this for more serious jobs, unless you’re willing to pay through the nose for extortionate high-tech 1/4″ bits.
2. The instructions that come with the router are a bit rubbish, so there’s a lot of things you basically have to guess, or watch youTube videos on, to figure out.
3. It’s pretty hard to see the bit when the router is in use. The dust extractor adaptor only makes it worse.
4. The provided guide is very fiddly and awkward to adjust, as is the depth meter.
5. Changing the bits is very awkward due to the placement of the spindle lock.
On the plus side, the router itself has plenty of power and has had no issue cutting through the wood I’ve thrown at it. It’s comfortable to hold and use and seems to be pretty well built.
My first router, don’t know how I managed without one. Seems good quality, gives good results though I have not used the circle cutter yet. Have been using it on oak, where it coped well. Only criticism is that the guide fence is bent steel, not very accurate at all. Would be better as a plastic mouldingvwith steel rods, and some form of fine adjustment of the fence would be a bonus.
The other thing is that if you want to mount it in a table you need to cable clip the “on” switch into position, the safety feature prevents leaving it on without holding it.
Overal, apart from the above, well made and good value for money.
The router was dispatched last night and arrived this morning, excellent because I wasn’t in a rush to receive it because I’m unable to use it just yet, probably in a couple of weeks. I checked the router, it all works fine and the plunge springs are smooth along with the soft start, no lock-on switch but I can work around that easily, it will be mostly used on a router table but it looks like it will be easy to use freehand. I’m looking forward to getting a couple of projects off the ground using this router, I have used this type before but another brand so I’m confident this will be a good buy. packed well, thank you Amazon for an excellent service.
This is not my first router and as I was fitting two fire doors I decided that the router I had at home for over 40 years was too old and dangerous to use. After much deliberation I opted for the Bosch as a replacement and I was pleased that I had. It was exactly what I wanted and it came at a reasonable price. The router is surprisingly quiet, light and easy to use and handle, it took me longer to make up the jig than to cut out the slots for the door hinges. It came in a robust plastic case with enough accessories for most jobs. Definitely recommended to the DIY enthusias
Although I have not used a router before, so nothing to compare it with, I am thoroughly enjoying the learning experience with this router. Having said that, I didnt find the instructions of how to get started particularly helpful, so it took me some time to figure it out. My initial thoughts were this router felt heavy and awkward. After a bit of practice however, I soon began to appreciate how smoothly this machine operates and actually, while operational, its weight feels just about right. I really like the bright work light which shines over the cutter in operation….great for keeping check on work in progress.
I suppose the first thing to say is that if I was considering this product for professional trade I’d spend the extra and go for a ‘professional’ router with fine adjustment capabilities and proven longevity etc.
Having said that, if I was starting out with little cash, I’d be confident in its abilities, and use it as a second router when I could afford the ‘proper’ stuff.
It is extremely comfortable and stable in use, and despite being confined to quarter inch, 6mm and 8mm router bits, ploughs through anything you throw at it with nice results. I used it straight away on renovating an old wooden sailing boat, tackling some meaty lengths of wood, and it didn’t flinch…………..especially impressed with its deep and long rebating ability.
I’ve also used it to build speaker cabinets of various complexity and have found that the guide plate (provided with attachable pin) allows you to rout perfect circular, rebated speaker apertures extremely easily and accurately, despite it not having fine tuning capabilities. It will also rout down to a very tight radius.
The template guide provided, in conjunction with home-made and appropriately shaped and sized jig, facilitates the cutting of weird and irregular shapes, quickly and accurately.
I noticed in a previous review that reviewer said you couldn’t use the 1200 AE in a router table because of the safety trigger mechanism (excellent feature). It is possible however, by clamping it with a large clip/peg, or some other method. You can also rig up a car jack or simple lever system to raise and lower the router to the desired depth, locking it off in the normal way on the router itself.
The plunge action wasn’t that smooth initially, as other reviews have mentioned, but a quick squirt of WD40 rendered it as smooth as butter. Apparently routers in all price ranges can be a bit sticky initially.
So, to sum up, the Bosch POF 1200 AE in my experience, is an incredibly versatile and capable router, possessing a high degree of comfort and usability for such a reasonable price.
It’s maybe not a ‘pro’ tool, but it achieves professional results and gets a hearty 5 stars from me.
Absolutely brilliant router comfortable to use powerful the power kicks straight in. I absolutely agree that this is a very good introduction into using a router. I’m a complete novice and have never used a router before. I have seen and helped with usage of routers but never actually used one. So i know the importance of fencing using jigs ect. I have seen trend router’s in use and often each cut having to readjust the depth gauge. I have not needed to on this bosch but I do keep checking after each usage. Now I’m using this domestically and brilliant for industry usage then consider a trend.
I did spend quite some time looking at reviews first both on amazon and on google, and within the price range I wanted to go with this came out as the best option for a happy home hobby hero.
I also bought the bosch 15 bit router set to go with it so I could make different shapes. Probably other sets would work as well, but I wanted to make sure the weak link was likely to be me, so any necessary problem solving would have a simple starting point!
Initially I didnt bother with instructions ( I am man) just put it on a piece of wood and pressed go.
After I threw that piece of wood away I had a look at the instructions and how to set it all up and it was really simple and straightforward.
It comes with a guide, as in the picture, which is nice and stable and allows you to quite easily line the bit up. The plunger is very easy to use, just a convenient button click while youre holding the handles.
There is a sort of depth block, so once you set it up you dont have to worry about going too deep, not deep enough or just being inconsistent.(Again, had no experience with routers so all this was important)
The instructions are really very clear, both for these sort of usage set up bits, and for changing the router bits safely. Obviously if you’re genuinely manly, you won’t want anyone to see you reading them, but they’re there in case you need to let someone else use the router at some stage …
So far Ive used this to make skirting board from some planks I had lying around, to put some professional looking finishes to cabinet/box things I was making, to make some nice grooves in some supports for a kitchen unit, and ( freehand) to put some grooves in a shelf which I then filled with luminous(luminescent?) resin to make a really cool glow in the dark type shelf.
I’m a pretty bog standard DIYer but this does let you really add a bit of class to your stuff and is easy, fun and straightforward to use
Delivered promptly, well packaged in its own case all as described. Have used it a couple of times, very comfortable and sufficiently precise for my DIY purposes having recently disposed of a cheaper imprecise router. Cheaper models are a waste of money and there is a large margin between this model and the higher quality routers. Well worth the money for the keen DIY and possibly some professionals.
Really useful bit of kit. One minor gripe – you have to take the extractor attachment off for accurate setting up and this extractor easily gets dust on it which makes seeing the work space impossible. In addition you have to have a very thin guide rail to run the router against if you want to use this mode with the extractor – I used a modified metal carpet door grip. Advice – do not rely on the centre marks on the router if you want very precisely positioned cuts – use a centreing pin or pointed cutter.
A good value router with a powerful motor. Depth guide is useful for plunge cuts, however the wing nut bolt holding the guide had snapped off during delivery, but I had spare ones in the workshop, so not the end of the world. The set up guide has absolutely no diagrams and could do with a quick guide to speed the set up. Only used once so far but impressed with the how much control there is when using it freehand.
On the plus side:
Effective micro-adjust
Great soft-start motor
Minuses:
Base plate has a very small amount of wobble which, if not careful, may give unevenness when milling large areas.
Plunge lock lever requires gorilla thumbs. Not a problem if routing at a fixed height, but awkward if doing repeat plunges.
There aren’t many frills and it is not perfect, but it gets the basics right. If looking for a DIY grade router, given the price you won’t go too far wrong. I originally bought the Black & Decker equivalent – it was awful. Spend a bit more and buy this one instead
It has been used a couple of times now and I suspect it is built to last – especially if you are a DIY user. It kicks out a hell of a lot of dust, but it is pretty easy to clean down. The fine adjustment that this router lets you make is very good and it seems to consistently give a great finish.
I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend it.
Fantastic piece of kit. Solidly built and feels like it could tackle any domestic job. As a first time user of a router u was a little apprehensive as it is a powerful and dangerous machine. I needn’t have worried. The instructions are comprehensive, the safety features a plenty and it was very easy to quickly get the hang of it. I purchased it to make my own ‘paneling’ out of MDF board. The job has turned out a treat and I have paid for the router with the savings made from purchasing plain board vrs already routed board. A great tool and will be used more often one thinks.
Bull nose profile was made with the rounding over bit, then same on other side.
Using the router was satisfying, and the results look good.
The router’s dust extraction adapter must be removed to slide the straight edge of the base against a guide fence. Loads of saw dust all over the place.
For my work so far the light has not been necessary. Neither has the fine adjustment. I imagine they will come in handy as my confidence grows and I tackle more challenging projects.
The router comes with 1 x straight bit (8 mm diameter). I used the 1/4 inch bits. The shanks are smaller allowing slower speed and better control.
The sturdy carrier case keeps the attachments tidy and easy to find.
I am happy with the router an would recommend to anyone who wants a trustworthy tool.
The plastic case keeps the various bits tidy and easy to find.
First i have to say that you find the exact same product in the shops in Greece for double the price so, so far so good BUT having bought a router for the first time, i soon realized that the shank size is of great importance. 8mm is the largest that you get but it is not good enough if you want deep plunge for thick wood . I also think that the plunge mechanism is too hard to be comfortable, making detailed adjustment done only by the rotary knob at the top. Other than that it all is a pretty descent bit of kit aimed at the hobbyist DIYer . If you can’t spend more money at something bigger then this is probably your best choice.
This router feels very well made, and is well designed to be comfortable to use. It’s far quieter than other routers I’ve used. The built-in light is perfectly placed to illuminate the router bit, and the supplied dust extraction adapter is easy to fit and works perfectly when connected to a domestic vacuum cleaner. Depth setting is easy and the micro adjustment is excellent. The fence fits easily and is solidly made. I haven’t yet tried the template guide or the circle cutting gadget, but it all looks substantial and up to the job.
It made a good job of cutting a moulding on the edge of several feet of MDF board and on a shorter length of hardwood
All in all I’m very pleased with it and I think it’s well worth paying a little extra for this quality compared with the DIY stores’ own brand machines.
Excellent price & delivery from Amazon
Good points:
Feels lighter than it is, very easy on the arms for a novice like me
Good selection of accessories, inc 3 collets
Enough power for my requirements (grooves/ dadoes, edges, rounding over) but runs quietly
Easy plunge, easy to lock in place
Very easy bit & guide bush changing
Drawbacks:
Power switch won’t lock on, so I can’t use it on a router table
No micro-adjustment (not a major issue so far)
I know it was cheap but a case would have been useful
I hate to see Bosch tools with Made In China written on them!
(a) The “quick release” mechanism doesn’t seem to work that well. Although it is easy enough to unscrew the collets, the bits seem to have a tendency to jam in the shaft, as some other reviewers have also noticed, and I have already managed to damage one TCT bit while trying to remove it.
(b) The one feature that the Bosch doesn’t have, and my old B&D router did, was a HORIZONTAL micro-fine adjustment for the parallel guide. This is a pity, as I reckon it would only have needed quite a minor addition to the guide, and it would have been very useful at times.
(c) I have discovered that 8mm router bits are harder to find compared with 1/4″ or 1/2″ ones, and the ones that you can find are significantly more expensive. I can make do with 1/4″ bits, but I would prefer to use 8mm ones if they were more readily available.
Another deciding factor was the 22 previous 5 star reviews, and my review is no different. If like me it’s been 20yrs since you last bought a router, things have improved in that time and mostly for the better. The one thing I don’t like is the fact you have to press and hold a button to change bits, this can be hard on the fingers and I much prefer the old method of placing a pin through a hole in the shaft to keep it in place, however I believe this is now the standard way of changing bits on all routers. The depth lock is now a lever rather than built into one of the handles and is by default always locked and has to be pressed to release which is big improvement on the old router. This model comes with a built in led that illuminates the work area and also a very handy case in which to keep it when not in use. The router is well built and solid and has a real quality feel to it. This model is definitely worth the 80 I paid for it.
And once again Amazon’s customer service and delivery were what one has come to expect, excellent.
Also, surprisingly, I had GREAT difficulty in getting a 30mm dia guide bush (to use with a jig) at short notice, so I had to use the 17mm bush that came with the router. Careful measurement & skilled cutting was required.
Both a shame, as it took the edge off buying an otherwise excellent tool.
This is a great machine and easy to use. And it has not burned out despite my lack of knowledge about routing.
I continue to have great fun with my . . . ‘sometimes rubbish’ art work in wood but never has it failed me.
Dust extraction and depth settings work very well and the changing of the “bits” are very easy to do.
Vibration is sometimes felt when I move it in the wrong direction but even this is not that severe.
Sorry I dont know much about the technicals with these machines, but if I can work it and get great results after a little practice, it should hopefully work for you with great results too.
The only cons I can think of are: 1) little bulky if you’re planning to do trimming work in confined spaces. 2) The switch does not have a lock for “Always on” operation so it’s difficult to mount this router on a table.
As for the rest I would surely recommend this tool.