BOSCH Cabinet Style Router Table RA1171 , Blue

Great value router table. I considered making my own (lots of plywood around) but by the time I added the cost of the remote switch, hardware, a router mounting base, and t-slots, I was close to half the cost of this unit. My weekends are more busy now so it was worth the additional cost. Pros: It's Bosch and is designed to work with my Bosch 1617 router fixed base. Sturdy (heavy!) MDF construction (not particle board). The aluminum router mounting plate, fence extrusion, and miter slot add strength and wear resistance to the heavily used pieces. It took me a about an hour to assemble and adjust. I had no issues with fit up. I also didn't have issues with adjusting the router base plate flat with the table - it took me five minutes with a long level. There are two screws at each corner of the mounting plate, one holds it down to the table, the other acts against it as a height adjustment. Loosen them all, then adjust the heights with a level, then tighten it down. Also, the MDF table top I received (May 2013) was chamfered on the inside edge, so none of my workpieces catch while routing. I sat this on top of a set of Craftsman roller drawers with some non-slip drawer liner in between. I haven't had to clamp it down yet; the drawer cabinet wants to wobble on its casters before the router cabinet slides. Dust collection: there is a 2" hole on the rear left of the unit. I plan on installing a Y to route dust collection to the fixed router base (Bosch sells a kit for this) and to the fence. Cons: I wish Bosch would have included plastic inserts to cover the unused countersunk holes (some of them 3/8") in the router mounting plate. I will probably will these with something on my own. To be fair, the holes haven't affected operation; I just like a cleaner look. Also, the included feather boards are a pain if you take them out of the t-slot. They are made of more parts (to standardize manufacturing) and don't fit into the slots one-handed, (or easily two-handed, for me). That said, you're not buying this table for the accessories, and you can easily modify them if needed. One commenter added bolt clamps on his fence for quick adjustments, I plan on doing the same (though the included knobs work fine).

This is actually a really nice router table. It's heavy and sturdy, so I think it will last a long time. It's made of laminated particle board, with the router plate and fence made of aluminum. It's nice to have a door that keeps the sawdust mostly contained -- there is some that sprays out from the bit and also out the back of the vacuum port. My shop vac hose it not large enough to connect directly to the round vacuum port - I'm not sure where to get an adapter. There are actually two ports, one on the fence and one on the back of the cabinet. The one on the cabinet would only be partially effective because the space inside is so large that sawdust will collect in it even with a vacuum on the port. The fence is very nice -- adjustable in width to accommodate different size bits. Featherboards are effective, although the wood doesn't slide real well by them if they are even a little too tight. The external on/off switch is great and convenient. I used it both with the fence to do some rounding edges, and also without the fence for curved pieces... both ways worked fine. Overall I really like the cabinet w/door rather than an open box so that I can keep my bits and other router accessories in there when not in use. I am going to build a roller cart for it so it's lower in height and moveable -- it's pretty heavy to carry. Also I can then bolt or clamp it to the cart, as it can slide around on a tabletop when in use.

I purchased a Bosch RA1171 router table after looking at the Craftsman model 26608 and the Bench Dog ProTop Contractor. The Craftsman, a close cousin to the RA1171, was the same price but didn't include featherboards or a starting pin, had a plastic (instead of aluminum) router mounting plate, and its fence wasn't as tall. The Bench Dog was highly recommended by lots of users, but was more expensive and didn't include an external cabinet-mounted power switch. The Bench Dog would have cost $250 with shipping and an add-on power switch. The RA1171 was $160 with free shipping. Since I don't plan to make heavy use of the router table, I decided to keep my costs low and take a chance on the Bosch. I'm glad I did. It took an hour and a half to assemble the table and install my Bosch 1617EVS router. Assembly was straightforward, there were no missing parts, and the instructions were easy to follow. All parts fit perfectly without the need for adjustments or fussing. The only glitch was that the vinyl edge trim around the table top was a little too tall, creating a lip. This was easily trimmed with a utility knife. There's enough room (just barely) inside the cabinet to adjust the router speed, change router bits, adjust the router height, and change the collet, all while the router is still mounted to the table. For dust collection, I attached 2.5" diameter reducers to the ends of 4" diameter hoses on my Delta 50-760. One of the reducers attached easily to the dust port in the cabinet. The dust port on the fence was a problem because the port is located too close to the table top; it won't allow a 2.5" reducer to be connected. Flipping the port to a vertical orientation didn't help. I had to scrounge around at a hardware store until I finally discovered a 2.5" rubber plumber's coupler that was 4" long. This was perfectly sized to move my reducer away from the table top. The designers at Bosch should have known better than to design the fence dust port this way. I'm happy with the dust collection. On small roundover cuts with the stock pressed against the fence, there was no visible dust kicked out. On heavier roundover cuts using the guide pin (with the fence several inches away) the results were pretty good, although some wood chips escaped. After using the RA1171 several times over a six-month period, I've noticed a design flaw that makes it difficult to properly level the router mounting plate. At each corner of the router mounting plate, there is a special fastener that does dual duty by setting the height of the mounting plate and also acting as a receptacle for the hold-down screw. While this is an ingenious way of saving money for the manufacturer, it leads to problems if the fasteners are less than perfect. To level the plate, a hex key is inserted into the leveling pads at each corner and then turned to raise or lower the plate. Once the plate is level, machine screws are dropped through a hole in each corner and driven into a threaded hole in the middle of each leveling pad. In theory, the torque to tighten the screw will be less than the torque to rotate the leveling pad. "In theory" is the key concept here. For some reason, at one corner the screw was a bit "sticky" and caused the leveling pad to rotate when the screw was driven in. So, after getting the plate perfectly level, I drove in the four corner screws and discovered that the plate was no longer level. After some trial and error, I discovered that switching the "bad" screw to another corner minimized the torque so that the leveling pad did not rotate. Now the plate is perfectly level. (Other solutions to this problem could include lubricating the hold-down machine screws, or adding a drop of Locktite to the external threads on the leveling pad.) All things considered, I'm very happy with this table. It performs well, has plenty of features and accessories, and the price is low. It does have a few quirks that can be dealt with. Once it's adjusted properly, it works great! I highly recommend it.

Great router table for the money especially if you take the time for a few simple upgrades. Sure there are way more precise and accurate router tables out there but not everyone has $500+ to spend. This has been a workhorse and over the past few years has had hundreds of feet of mostly hardwoods run through it and I haven’t really had any issues. Yes dust collection could be better but it’s really not a problem if you’re using the fence. i recommend a Y-splitter dust hose to get the fence and the box with the same tube. just leave it hanging with a quick disconnect for whenever you need it. Also, you should definitely route out two channels for recessed T-track to replace the through-bolts that are supposed to secure the fence. Out of the box the bolts used to secure the fence really don’t do a good job and the fence can loosen up pretty easily. Throw some T-track in there, spend 1 hour and $20 and it’s so much better.

I knew the reviews on this were pretty good and now that I’ve got it I see why. First, a router table is basically a level board with a hole and a fence so I logically thought I’d just build one. Turns out, and I checked, I couldn’t source all the parts, especially the fence for less money than what they charge for this. This has everything you need and it goes together in half an hour. Very solid once assembled and they even give extra screws to accommodate all the various routers the plate is drilled and countersunk for. I dropped my Hitachi right in after securing it to the aluminum plate and it’s a perfect fit. Not sure why some people say leveling the plate flush with the table is hard -it took about 60 seconds with a screwdriver and a 1-2-3 block. There are certainly some tweaks and mods I’ll do to this (like putting the fence on real t track) but right after assembly I could run stock trough and get the edge I wanted. This looks like it will hold up long term. I did add glue to the edges when I put it together and replaced the power switch with something more robust but this is a solid value all around. Highly recommend this table.

I first saw this router table at the local Lowe's home improvement store, I like it instantly. I ended up buying from Amazon. Amazon beat everyone else's price. Ok more about the product. A typical Bosch product, heavy duty thru out. The construction is top notch, you will realize this when you lift up the box it comes in (super heavy). I was able to assemble the router table in about 35-45 minutes. The instruction manual is spot on for easy assembly. The top of the router table is a perfect size and very smooth with a built in rail for accessories. The fully adjustable fence locks down tight and stays where you put it. Without tools the fence can be removed to give you 360 degree access the the router table or bit. A door on the front of the table closes perfect with a magnet catch. On the back of the router table is a 2" hole for the power cord to run to your outlet. The on and off switch on the front right of the router table comes equipped with a safety lock-out key, to prevent the router from being turned on. (always unplug the table when doing adjustments) I happen to own a Dewalt router that I used with the table, I installed it without issue or any additional purchases. The top of the table adjusts effortlessly with a philips screwdriver to get the plane perfect. I highly recommend this product for your home woodworking shop or even job-site use.

Great value. Everything assembled without issue. I really like the ability to use a large panel bit. And, I think the single fence with spacers to add to one side for planning is smart. The table and fence are solid and well constructed. I can't imagine what else I would look for in this price range. If you're looking for something portable and reasonably priced, this is a great value. (Oct 6). I used this with my Porter Cable router last night to route some base trim with a large panel bit. I was amazed how quickly I got it all set up. And then, I was more amazed that it stayed true and nothing shifted on me while I quickly routed about 20 boards. Sooo easy. And then, when finished, I quickly put it all out of the way. Unless you need a large pro router table that is set up all the time, this table is a godsend and I highly recommend it. I also love that it is heavy enough to want to stay put on its own (I actually clamped it to the tailgate of my pickup truck, lol). If I would have tried to clamp each board to a workbench and then route each one it would have taken 4 times as long with no where near the same results.

I've had my eye on this for the better part of a year. Finally went for it after I couldn't get my Craftsman portable table saw's router table attachment set up to my liking. I will be using this primarily with an Incra iBox jig to make box finger joints while I dedicate my table saw to non-dado cutting activities (changing blades is a bit of a pain). The cabinet is well built, and assembly was easy. Seems pretty sturdy. My DeWalt router mounted just fine - no adjustments needed. I like the storage compartment (plenty of room for all of my router accessories) and the outside-mounted on/off switch (so I don't have to reach in to turn on the router). The fence looks well made, though I haven't used it yet. One thing to keep in mind is that this cabinet is 14.5 inches tall. So, if you put it on a standard work bench it is going to sit up pretty high unless you are a 6-footer. I knew that going in (I'm not 6'), so I tried to figure out the best solution. I purchased a fold-up portable outdoor table that is 24" tall with the legs fully extended. You don't want anything taller than that. It's not solid as a shop-built table but it should do the job. I can clamp the cabinet to the table. Two things keep this from getting 5-stars. First, unless you permanently mount it somewhere it really needs handles. You can mount it on a flat surface that is wider than the unit and drill hand grips, or you can mount handles to the sides of the cabinet (which is what I did). It is tempting to carry it from the tabletop surface, I caution you against it. It will only be a matter of time before the screws holding the top down rip out of their mounting holes. Bosch, if you are reading this, think about adding some handles to the sides. The second item is particular to me and caught me by surprise. Incra miter bars come with adjusting disks that allow for a custom fit in any T-slot...except the T-slot in Bosch's router cabinet. I had to purchase a 3-foot section of T-slot material (standard 3/4" by 3/8"), cut it to size and replace the T-slot that came with the unit. All is fine and it works well. It was just an extra step (and a few extra $$) that could have been avoided if Bosch had used a standard T-slot design. All in all, though, I'm pretty pleased with my purchase. I expect it to do the job for a long time. If anything else comes up, I will amend this review.

What a great piece of equipment to have in anyone's wood shop, but not this one, it's mine. :P The day I bought this baby I also bought: the router lift, 2 quick change template guide holders, the 8 piece template barrel set, the centering tool, the deluxe edge guide & a 1617...a 2.25HP router with both bases & a dovetail jig. Boy did the wife's credit card take a $1K hit that day. The unit was the same price as the plastic version, so who am I to complain. The unit came in it's original box, which means it was flat packed & it arrived in one piece without any bruising. After unpacking it I noticed that the 1" machine screws were missing. They are there, just unscrew them from the top aluminium plate & screw in 4 of the 8 - 5/8" machine screws in the small bag of parts. Other then that it went together in under 20 minutes & I was burning up some cheap bits in no time. Solid build, heavy MD5 board throughout & built with the swedish store techniques & hardware. The Bosch router lift screwed right in & the fine adjustment rod access is dead center of the front face of the plate so adjustments are a breeze once the lift has been set up the very first time. The entire Bosch line is easily interchangeable, as it is designed for & changing bits is a breeze from up top of the table, just remove the center piece & voila, it's all there in front of you with lots of room to work changing the bits. The best $1K I spent this year. So far. The shop is now full of noise, cigarette & wood smoke & there is a lot of scrap wood lying around with small runs of ogee bit & round over profiles cut into them. Anyone need 6" of 1x4 cedar with a 1/4" cove cut? Now taking orders...

Buen producto

Good

Con la garantía de la marca Bosch es una buena mesa de trabajo. Si bien es cierto que te puedes construir una de mayores dimensiones, la verdad esta mesa tiene todo lo necesario, las guías, los enchufes, una base sólida y sobre todo la compatibilidad total con el router de la marca, para hacer tus trabajos de una manera más precisa, he trabajado con brocas de 1/2" y es estable. Para un aficionado a la madera como yo es un buen producto.

I bought this after seeing mixed reviews and looking at other brands and am very happy that I went with this one. It came early and comes in an easy to carry flat packed box. Assembly is straightforward and the directions are easy to read and fallow. This took me less than half an hour to put together and be ready to joint lumber (that includes adding your router and a bit and leveling to center plate to the table). I am very happy with this product and would recommend it to anyone needing a good affordable router table. It comes with a fully adjustable centerplate as well as fence. Also the fence can be shimmed to allow for jointing of boars an these easy to add or subtract shims are included. Also the center plate is pre drilled and marked for different most models of router and includes different screws also. So yes when you have this assembled there will be extra pieces left over not to worry you haven't forgotten anything lol. Even with my huge Milwaukee router a box of bits and the adjustment tools all inside the cupboard this stand is easy to lift onto your work surface and lift of and store under the workbench when not in use. This can be bolted to a bench but It's lots sturdy enough to not slide around while in use and I use mine on the slick surface of my table saw.