Bosch 1617EVSPK Wood Router Tool Combo Kit - 2.25 Horsepower Plunge Router & Fixed Base Router Kit with a Variable Speed 12 Amp Motor

Product Information

What makes the plunge router such a versatile tool is the wide range of bits available for performing many different tasks: Plunge routers feature a cutting bit that moves up and down, which is manually lowered onto your material for top-down applications. They are the ideal choice for projects that require versatile depths including engraving, grooving, edge profiling and fluting. A router is an essential tool for your woodworking kit, helping you shape edges and grooves, create joints and hollow out materials with precision. Shop our range and find the perfect plunge router, palm router or biscuit jointer to give every project a professional finish.

I’d like to get this off my chest to begin with: I’m not a professional woodworker, nor am I the world’s most competent DIYer. But I do have several friends with workshops and they are always willing to help me make less of a mess. All plunge routers have various features that comply with different tasks. Thus, the most important question you should ask yourself before buying a plunge router is why you need it? When you have a couple of tasks in your mind where a plunge router can be handy, you can choose a product that is best suitable for you. For instance, if you want a router to cut small edges of the wood or soften the sharp edges, you will have to buy a trim router. A trim router is specifically designed to stand on the edge of a wooden piece. Similarly, other types of routers serve different purposes. Required strengthPlunge travel on the Makita RP0900X is also a paltry 35mm which is at the low end of the scale. However, this correlates with the low power of the router and emphasises the lighter routing and more detailed work that this machine is designed for. Accordingly, the Makita RP0900X router is one of the lightest plunge routers on the market with a weight of only 2.7kg, providing the main reason why it easier to handle than most other standard routers. The RP0900X router is also a relatively low-powered router using only a 900W electric motor to power a single rotational speed of 27,000rpm. It comes with a collet for 1/4-inch router bits but can also accept a 3/8-inch collet. However, the usefulness of the larger collet size is debatable given that router bits with this shank size are not particularly common. Importantly, the Makita router will not accept a 1/2-inch collet or 1/2-inch router bits, nor does it have the power to run these larger bits effectively. So anyone planning to use this Makita machine for heavier routing, such as cutting kitchen worktops or similar, should look elsewhere. A motor powers the router, and you can perform various tasks of different strengths depending on it. Experts recommend a mid-sized router because it can cover a wide range of tasks. From typical routing tasks to moderate profiling cuts, a mid-sized router can take care of it all. Some mid-sized routers have such a powerful machine that they can handle large profiling cuts as well. Usually, a mid-sized router has a 1.7 – 2.2 HP machine and is dual mode. A small-sized router can be too small to cater to all your needs, and an extensively large-sized device may be too big for you to work with and carry. Besides, if you are looking for a router for your DIY projects at home, a large-sized machine can be a waste of money. What Features to Look For in a Plunge Router?

Regardless, it’s a solid lump of a tool and certainly feels worth every penny that the cheaper online retailers are currently selling it for. Manchester-based tool and home improvement gurus VonHaus make an impressive amount of kit from blenders to ladders . Their compact palm router offers impressive performance and incredible value for a DIY tool. There are two main types of routers – fixed base (palm) and plunge. The fixed base, like it sounds, is held in place by a static collar, and the plunge base can be raised and lowered during operation by a pair of handles and a spring mechanism. One of the best ways to get the most from your router is by investing in a router kit – you can fit a fixed or plunge base to the motor and get the best of both worlds. Top of the Table It has a 1,400 Watt motor with a soft start that powers the router from an impressive 11,000 – 28,000 rpm and the 55 mm plunge depth can be finely adjusted for intricate work. One of the best features I found on this plunge router is Bosch’s Constant Electronic system that maintains a stable cutting speed no matter what material you’re working with. It’s features like this that help to reduce tear-out and ensure a smooth operation. This is a simple to use, light yet powerful palm router that makes the most of its 710 Watt soft start motor. It can turn cutting bits up to a massive 30,000 rpm. You can select different speeds with the control dial and even use it one-handed if you’re confident.Speed: This can get a little complicated and require some complex geometry, but as a general rule, the larger the router bit, the slower the speed required. The experts at The Router Workshop recommend a minimum of 12,000 RPMS for larger bits (3 to 3-1/2 inches in diameter), and a maximum of 24,000 RPMs for smaller bits (1-inch in diameter).

The best palm routers can produce seriously high speeds, in the region of 30,000 rpm to make short work of timber and other soft materials. The speeds your palm router can reach depend on the size of the motor, and you must accept that the bigger the motor is, the heavier the tool becomes. That said, I can happily report that getting used to this Bosch POF 1200 AE doesn’t take too long and the results are impressive for a tool at this price point. I found accessing the bits to be fiddly and a bit frustrating, while that plastic guard is most definitely flimsy. The brittle plastic that attaches to the unit is very easy to accidentally break.Budget tool brand DEWINNER have worked out a clever way to make decent quality power tools at remarkable prices. Their electric palm router set is ideal for someone who’s just starting out on their woodworking journey. It includes everything a budding DIYer will need to try out one of the most versatile tools out there. One of the most respected names in routing tools, Trend have produced one of the best plunge routers for DIY that I’ve tried out. You can drop the cutting head down to an impressive 68 mm. That’s 13 mm deeper compared with the DeWalt D26204K or the Bosch POF 1400! Weighing in at 6.4 kg, it’s a heavy tool but attached to a table it doesn’t matter. That’s where the TRA001 really shines. Fix it to a table and you’ve got a capable table router as well. Collet Size: Make sure your router can hold the size bit you’re going to be using. While most models offer two collet (the collar that holds the bit in place) sizes, some do not, so don’t assume all routers are compatible with all bits. Most lighter-duty routers only offer 1/4-in. collets.