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I gave up, however in fairness to Bosch I received the sheid at the end of Oct.I hope this corrects the above statement. I decided to repair the broken sheild.R.J.CantermenI bought this router on 09/03/2008 and notified Bosch about above problem and promised replament in 2 wks.,when I got no repronse in 3- 4 wks. {Better late than never}R.J.Cantermen I am satisfied with the router (I have several others} my disappointmentis with the lack of results when I e-mailed Bosch that the chip sheild arrived broken. They replied that a replacement would be sent, it's been over two wks.
I also like the ability to take out the motor and put it into a plunge or under-table base as the need arises. I like the size and weight of the 1618 better. The reversible auxiliary handle is a nice feature for anyone left handed. I bought the Bosch 1619 EVS 3 1/4 hp router at the same time as this one. The Bosch 1619 is a plunge router and is much, much heavier.
The Bosch isn't perfect, but I can tell I'll be happier with it that I would have been with the Porter-Cable. I guess Bosch thinks English speakers don't need to be told to read the manual before using it. I only know that because I can read French, as the warning was only provide in Spanish and French. The fine adjustment mechanism has a range of 7/8", so to move the bit more than that you have to use the course adjustment to move the motor up or down into the next notch. If I hold the side of my thumb against it while I pull the trigger it locks just fine.- The motor on this thing feels smoother than that on the Porter-Cable 690RLVS, and quieter too. So here are some thoughts:- The Bosch's fine adjustment mechanism is smoother than the Porter-Cable 890, which I'd tried in a local store, and of course the Porter-Cable 690 doesn't even have a fine adjustment mechanism.
LOLSo far I'm very happy with it, and happy I returned the Porter-Cable and got this instead. I just got one of these, so what I offer here are just my initial impressions. If I think of anything to add after using it a while I'll update or replace this review. I don't see how you could use this thing for any length of time without making your finger sore.- Some people have complained that the trigger lock button is too recessed to use easily, but that's not been my experience.
The router weighs a little over nine pounds and I can hold the router by the trigger without turning it on. So the grip is about 1/4"-1/2" farther from the router than it needs to be and than I'd like it to be.- This may be by design to prevent turning the router on unintentionally, but the trigger requires way too much force in my opinion. The soft start is fabulous, and variable speed is a real plus. I'm lookin forward to having a lot of fun with this puppy.
I guess there's a reason for that, but I don't know what it is, and I couldn't find any instuctions to tell me how to know when I had the correct tightness.- The cord has a little label wrapped around it telling you to read the instructions before using it and all that. Since I want precise control over this adjustment, I prefer the Bosch system over the Porter-Cable's.- I think Bernie must not realize you have to rotate the motor to remove it from the base. As far as I can tell, Porter-Cable doesn't sell a variable speed D-handle version of the 690, so this gets the nod there too.- The depth locking mechanism had to be adjusted, as the motor was sliding around with the lock on when I got it. I originally bought a Porter-Cable 690LRVS 11 Amp 1-3/4 Horsepower Fixed Base Variable Speed Router, but was disappointed in the adjustment mechanism, so I decided to go ahead and spring for this.
The result is something that feels better made than the PC motor. Specifically, the grip is too far away from the router, unless your index finger is 1.25" thick, which mine is not. Bernie is right when he says you can't run the entire range of the height just by turning the fine adjustment, but I think that's a tradeoff to have a more sensitive and accurate adjustment mechanism. It slides straight up and down for the course adjustments, but when you get to the end of the motor's travel you can rotate it and it will come right out.- The handle is too big in my opinion.
I do like the soft start and constant RPM features.The D-handle is very comfortable, and I find it helps to keep me accurate.I have to agree with the other reviewers that it's too difficult to remove the motor from the base. I brought the new 1618EVS to the job and after routing D pine for all togeather maybe 3 hrs. After a long conversation with the authorized tool service center I sent it in for a complete motor rebuild. This router maybe an OK value for the $.
That can't be practical. I don't really know what else is out there for the same price. That means the power cord will connect to the extension cord right at the router base. Wayyy too cavemanish.There is a plunge base available for this motor yet I'm hesitant to buy it because the power cord coming out of the motor is only 5-6 inches long (it plugs into the top of the D-handle).
than what it was manufactured at. Ugghh. (NOT continuous running time) I smoked the motor. I do the router dance - I clamp the router between my knees and twist the motor away from the base with all I got to seperate the two pieces.
However I'm still waiting for that day, in the middle of some job, where it will start spewing smoke out of the motor housing again. They assured me it would come back assembled to tighter specs. I was skeptical that it would be returned to me in any decent workable condition yet two years later I'm still milling trim with it.
Do not really care for D handle routers. Milwaukee 5625-20 production router now resides underneath my benchdog router table. Soft start ramps router up to speed smoothly.
Did not work to well in table as switch works only intermitately in table because of dust. Well made router that gets a one staer demotion for faulty switch. Switch worked fine after blown out w/ compressed air.
Very smooth motor. Really just wanted the EVS motor from the router for my router table. Now motor gets used in my fixed base/plunge base 1617 kit when I need variable speed.
Very good power. Thought I'd try it.
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