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  1. #1
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    Default Bosch GOF1600 CE router - First impressions.

    Not a full review, just s sneak peak at Bosch's new (In Australia anyway) toy.

    I've currently got a large triton in the table, a deceased smaller triton (that you can't get parts for anymore) and have also had an older 1/2" Hitachi as well as a couple of 1/4" trimmers (ozito and makita). I'm by no means an expert but I've been through a few models that I didn't like.

    I was in the market for a 1/2" router to be used exclusively hand held. Ergonomics and visibility of the bit were the most important things with this purchase. I know the makita's get a good rap but I just never really liked the feel of them. Hard to put my finger on it, perhaps the hard plastic grips??? Dunno. The Bosch looked good but I had a hard time tracking it down in WA.

    Anyway,



    First the bad.

    As usual we're getting f^%ked for price in Oz. The router was $450 and came with bugger all. The american versions come with 2 bases (plunge and fixed). We just get the plunge. It didn't even come with a fence!!! Believe it or not the fence is a $170 extra!!!! It did come with a template guide and a spanner. The template guides have a novel twist and click fixing which I'm sure will be very handy if Bosch ever release some different sizes of guide .


    The indifferent.

    It's heavy, about the same as the big Makita, heavier than the Hitachi. I don't really mind the weight in something like this as long as it's easy to push around (which it is).

    The Good.

    The ergonomics on this are by far the best I've found. The big rubber coated handles are super easy to get a good grip on, the trigger and lock falls naturally under your finger. Perhaps the most different aspect of this as opposed to other routers I've had is this locking mechanism. It's a very large spring loaded lever. When it's pulled down (easily done with your thumb without changing your grip on the handle it's a super smooth free plunge mechanism). When you let it go, it locks. Brilliant!





    The other good thing is the micro adjust works after it's locked, not before as usual. I always had trouble with the Triton changing height as you locked it. No such problems with this unit. The micro adjust has a rotating scale around the adjustment knob so you can fine tune the cut.



    It's got a clear polycarbonate base (difficult to see in the above pics as I've got the template guide carriage installed) and a couple of LED lights in the motor housing that shine down on the cutter which makes everything very easy to see. There's also a clear dust collection collar that sits around the base which did a pretty good job of removing debris connected to a festool Midi vac.

    The soft start does it's job and there's very little vibration so all the spinning things feel well balanced which is a good sign. I haven't done a lot of work with it yet so will try and update things as I get further down the road with this.

    For now though, it looks like it's going to be a good 'un.

    Any questions, fire away!

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  3. #2
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    Quote Originally Posted by dalejw View Post

    The american versions come with 2 bases (plunge and fixed). We just get the plunge. It didn't even come with a fence!!! Believe it or not the fence is a $170 extra!!!!
    Thanks Dale. These look good. As it has interchangable bases (in the US anyway) I assume the motor comes out of the base and could be fitted to an American style router lift. If that's the case it opens up some options for Aussie users.
    Oh and Carbatec sell these for $499 and the picture on their website shows a fence attached.
    Those were the droids I was looking for.
    https://autoblastgates.com.au

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    Good work Dale, thanks for that.

    Ya know, Bosch are so near and yet so far with this router. I accept the for it's main purpose you have found it to be a goodun, but the plot thickens.....

    In order to be able to use any of the multitude of Router Lifts on the USA market, one needs a router motor only. At $450 it would be worth buying this router for that application, as 240v 50 Hertz motors only do not exist anywhere, and the price of one from the States becomes very exxy when you add in a stepdown transformer.

    The problem is that the motor of the GOF 1600 is exactly ¼" to large in diameter to fit a router lift. So near and yet so far....

    The motor size seems to be NOT restricted by the power available from a given diameter. Porter Cable make a motor only that is 3½ HP and is the proper diameter.

    It's all a bit frustrating and I reckon that if they could make a router of the right diameter and power then they would absolutely rip in the European market (and therefore here, in our massively important market ), and so would the Router Lift manufacturers.

    Maybe I should talk to one of their Product Managers here - they may not even know about Router Lifts (in Chermany, I mean). There is some precedent for that - Plane Floats were completely unknown in Europe until about a year ago, but everyone has them in the USA, and yet Liogier in France have been making Milled Files (which is almost identical to a float) for 100 years. Go figure.

    EDIT: NCA, I know you were thinking of me , but unfortunately.....
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    Quote Originally Posted by NCArcher View Post
    Oh and Carbatec sell these for $499 and the picture on their website shows a fence attached.
    Yeah and that's the thing that pisses me off as well. All of the original pictures Bosch had up of this router had the fence attached. Even the ones off the Bosch website (which they've since changed, the carbatec website still has the original pic up).

    I asked the guys at the shop to pull open the box up so I could have a look and a play. I'd decided I was going to get it and had a look in the box and was like "where's the fence?". The guy at the shop had a look on the website and it was pictured with the fence but didn't mention it in the specs. He eventually rang the Bosch rep and was told that it's an extra in Australia. It looks like a pretty nice fence but $170 ???????

    I'm not completely sold on it yet, there's definitely some play in the non locking leg (a bit more than I'd like) but I'll measure it and compare it to the Triton to see what I'm dealing with.

    I lament the lack of router lift options here as well. Is it really that hard?????

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    Quote Originally Posted by dalejw View Post
    I lament the lack of router lift options here as well. Is it really that hard?????
    Yup.

    https://www.woodworkforums.com/f271/stepdown-transformers-240v-110v-2000w-router-motor-182159
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  7. #6
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    Hey FF, What lift did you want to put it in???

    I thought the PC7518 was the standard which was 4.25"

    Just measured the can. Spacers??? Should fit the Kreg


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    Quote Originally Posted by dalejw View Post
    Hey FF, What lift did you want to put it in???

    I thought the PC7518 was the standard which was 4.25"

    Just measured the can. Spacers??? Should fit the Kreg
    This little sucker:
    http://www.jessemdirect.com/Mast_R_L...II_p/02202.htm

    3½" max, and the Bosch is 3¾".

    The PC may be larger - I've not actually checked it.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    Quote Originally Posted by FenceFurniture View Post
    This little sucker:
    http://www.jessemdirect.com/Mast_R_L...II_p/02202.htm

    3½" max, and the Bosch is 3¾".

    The PC may be larger - I've not actually checked it.
    Hmmmmm dunno who's got their wires crossed here, it's probably me. That plate says it'll accept the PC7518 which is 4.25" and the Bosch is smaller.

    I can't find where it says max motor size is 3.5". It says the max cutter size is 3.5" but that's all I can find.

    I may be completely wrong or you may be in luck....

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    Quote Originally Posted by dalejw View Post
    Hmmmmm dunno who's got their wires crossed here, it's probably me. That plate says it'll accept the PC7518 which is 4.25" and the Bosch is smaller.

    I can't find where it says max motor size is 3.5". It says the max cutter size is 3.5" but that's all I can find.

    I may be completely wrong or you may be in luck....
    Be careful what you say here - my apron is starting to get distorted. I sure hope you're right. How certain are you that the PC is 4¼"? In the mean time I'll recheck my emails from Jessem, but after I measured the Bosch I emailed them and they said it would only fit some other "not quite" a real router lift.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  11. #10
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    I wouldn't go pitching any tents just yet but from the PC site

    http://www.deltaportercable.com/prod...roductID=11099

    It says 4.2". You do have the plastic switch rail contacts to deal with but they could be disposed of. It looks like they'll fit the gaps. Give us a shout if you want any other measurements.

    I reckon you're ok.

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    Jeez, I think my apron is becoming a tent. The lugs shouldn't be a problem because there are three clamps around the cylinder for the lift - the lugs should sit between them. That only leaves the most problematic lug of all to deal with.
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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  13. #12
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    oooh, I can feel the tent collapsing......is that black part 4.2" - if so then the silver part is less, like around 3½"......
    Regards, FenceFurniture

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    I hear ya, I just bought an Incra LS in exchange for a jewelry box.

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    Let's not pack up the camp just yet.

    http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/pc7518rvu.html


    The heart of the PC 7518 is the 15-amp, 3 ¼-hp motor, designed to continue producing that power for many years to come. The finely machined 4 ¼"-diameter cylindrical housing is tough and locates the lower sealed ball bearing close to the collet. This drastically reduces the potential for shaft runout and vibration, extending the life span substantially.

    It makes no sense to spec the size of the bit you're not going to clamp to.

  16. #15
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    Ok, aside from Fence Furniture's camping trip, there's a bit of play in the non locking side of the Bosch. More than the Triton. I put a 1/2" bit in each router, set it for a 2mm cut depth, clamped it to a board, plunged it and moved it around. The result was a max diameter of 13.1mm on the triton and 13.2mm on the Bosch.



    Not a heap but to be honest I'm a bit dissapointed. I haven't got the gear to measure the flex in the mechanism accurately but I'd say be prepared for a 0.2-0.3mm plunge bounce in the Bosch. Won't really make a difference for what I'm using it for but still feel like it should be a bit better for the price.

    It doesn't change how "right" this feels when you're using it. I haven't used the festool but that was deliberate... I don't have that much money to spend on my 5th router

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