Bosch 1618EVS 2-1/4-Horsepower D-Handle Variable-Speed Router
 | Format: Tools & Hardware List Price: $397.00 Our Price: $217.90 Your Save: $ 179.10 ( 45% ) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Average Customer Rating:   |
Features: 2-1/4 hp, 12 amp motor
Accepts 1/4-, 3/8-, and 1/2-inch collets
Quick-change template guide
Electronic feedback circuitry maintains selected speed
One-year warranty
Editorial Reviews:
Bosch recently introduced routers that it claims have the highest power-to-weight ratio in the industry. We believe them. The 1618EVS is a member of Bosch's new Magnesium line. This variable-speed router features a stout 2-horsepower motor coupled with an all-magnesium base and housing. The result is a lightweight, well-balanced, and smooth-operating machine that offers fast results in demanding applications. The D-handle provides excellent control--especially when reaching and turning on and off--and the auxiliary handle reverses, which is handy. (Bosch's 1617 model features this same motor in a base that has two nicely finished, hard maple, knob-style handles: it's prettier than the 1618 but not quite as easy to grip.)
Something Bosch engineers are proudest of is what they call the "precision centering system," which makes the router bit track at true center. It's an important feature for multiple-pass applications like jig cutting, and fine woodworkers will particularly appreciate it. Ease of height adjustment is a way of measuring quality in routers, and Bosch has come up with a system that works as well as any we've tested. A large flip lever releases the motor for adjusting. Rather than twisting as the height changes, the motor raises and drops in a straight path. The result is a simple and smooth-working course-adjust that couples with an efficient microadjust to make fine-tuning the depth of cut easy and accurate. Removing the motor from the base is a similar operation: simply release the flip lever, depress the course-adjustment lever, slide the motor out until it stops, then turn the motor counterclockwise and pull. It couldn't be easier, and there's no thumbscrew to wrestle with. Anyone who switches bases frequently will appreciate this design.
The 1618EVS also has soft start and electronic variable speed, more or less industry standards today. The collet is self-releasing, which means there's no need to tap the spindle to change bits, and the collet depth is 13/16 of an inch, a few 16ths deeper than that of DeWalt or Porter-Cable--one more weapon in Bosch's battle for a truly centered bit. --Mark McDonald
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Spotlight customer reviews:
Customer Rating:
Summary: Broken chip sheild
Comment: 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 decided to repair the broken sheild.
R.J.Cantermen
I 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. I gave up, however in fairness to Bosch I received the sheid at the end of Oct.I hope this corrects the above statement. {Better late than never}
R.J.Cantermen
Customer Rating:
Summary: Great Router
Comment: 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.
I like the size and weight of the 1618 better. I also like the ability to take out the motor and put it into a plunge or under-table base as the need arises. The reversible auxiliary handle is a nice feature for anyone left handed.
Customer Rating:
Summary: So good, and could be better
Comment: 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 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 Bosch isn't perfect, but I can tell I'll be happier with it that I would have been with the Porter-Cable. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Specifically, the grip is too far away from the router, unless your index finger is 1.25" thick, which mine is not. 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 router weighs a little over nine pounds and I can hold the router by the trigger without turning it on. 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. 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. The result is something that feels better made than the PC motor. The soft start is fabulous, and variable speed is a real plus. 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 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. I only know that because I can read French, as the warning was only provide in Spanish and French. I guess Bosch thinks English speakers don't need to be told to read the manual before using it. LOL
So far I'm very happy with it, and happy I returned the Porter-Cable and got this instead. I'm lookin forward to having a lot of fun with this puppy.
Customer Rating:
Summary: After rebuild - it's a good router
Comment: I brought the new 1618EVS to the job and after routing D pine for all togeather maybe 3 hrs. (NOT continuous running time) I smoked the motor. After a long conversation with the authorized tool service center I sent it in for a complete motor rebuild. They assured me it would come back assembled to tighter specs. than what it was manufactured at. 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. 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.
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 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. Ugghh!! 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). That means the power cord will connect to the extension cord right at the router base. That can't be practical.
I don't really know what else is out there for the same price. This router maybe an OK value for the $.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Smooth operator w/ trouble prone switch
Comment: Very smooth motor. Soft start ramps router up to speed smoothly. Very good power. Do not really care for D handle routers. Thought I'd try it. Really just wanted the EVS motor from the router for my router table. Did not work to well in table as switch works only intermitately in table because of dust. Switch worked fine after blown out w/ compressed air. Milwaukee 5625-20 production router now resides underneath my benchdog router table. Well made router that gets a one staer demotion for faulty switch. Now motor gets used in my fixed base/plunge base 1617 kit when I need variable speed.
Accessories:
Technical Details
Binding: Tools & HardwareBrand: Bosch
EAN: 0000346312454
Feature: 2-1/4 hp, 12 amp motor
Label: Bosch
Manufacturer: Bosch
Model: 1618EVS
Publisher: Bosch
Studio: Bosch
