From FWW #243 (Nov./Dec. 2014)
by Marc Adams

Power: 12 amps
Street price: $170
Cut quality: Excellent
Router accuracy: Very good
Control and handling: Good
Cut visibility: Good
Ease of bit changes: Good

This router has a great soft start, is very well balanced, made very smooth cuts, and has an accurate micro-adjust scale on its rack-and-pinion depth system. It has two wrenches, and the base comes off easily for bit changes. On the other hand, the ball-shaped grips are slippery and the baseplate is black, which can hamper visibility.

From FWW #189 (Jan./Feb. 2007)
by Roland Johnson
The Bosch 1617EVS router is one in a new class of routers that features an integrated router lift that makes it ideal for use in a router table. We tested similar routers from seven manufacturers. Our tests included checking runout with a dial indicator and inspected how each router worked by testing it with a tall moulding bit.

The Bosch is nearly identical to the Craftsman 1617-12 and like that other tool makes bit-changing and height adjustment inconvenient. The problem is that the collet doesn’t extend above the table when mounted in a router table and there is no spindle lock for changing bits. As a result, you have to reach under the table to make the adjustment or remove the router altogether. A plunge-base is included but that accessory lacks a built-in router lift.

From FWW #150 (July/Aug. 2001)
by Tom Begnal
For all-around shop use, midsize routers make sense. At 2 hp to 2-1/4 hp, they have enough testosterone to handle most cuts without the bulk that can make bigger versions a chore to run freehand. I gathered all of the midsize fixed-base routers on the market and tested them in the Fine Woodworking shop. The test had three main parts. First, I considered the ergonomics of the routers, using them by hand and in a router table. Then I checked them for noise, runout, and vibration. And finally, I gave them a handheld run to see how effectively they plowed through wood.

This Bosch router can accept large bits, and bit changing is a snap. The micro-adjust features work well, and the housing locks are rated as the best (tied with Makita). It scores well in the vibration category, and it has soft-start and variable-seed options. The 1617EVS has the most comfortable of the knob-type handles. This model did well in the runout test, although it is a little noisier than average.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

Buy at Amazon

Festool DF 500 Q-Set Domino Joiner

This joinery machine revolutionized woodworking for so many. There is no easier way to get mortise and tenon joints—but it comes at a cost.

Buy at Amazon

Bosch 12V Trim Router

Trim routers are easier to handle when you cut the cord, and the Bosch’s compact, curvy shape and unique base give it unmatched control.

Buy at Amazon