The Top 3 Bosch 1617EVSPK Router Accessories:
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The truth is wood routers are just a powerful motor unless you have bases, bits and other accessories that turn them into a powerful tool for any workshop. Most routers,including the Bosch 1617EVS, are just that: router motors, but Bosch does offer kits that include bases. The two most common bases are fixed and plunge, but even with these bases the router is limited without bits, guides and tables. Most of these bases are sold in a kit with the router including the 1617EVS and since I have already written a post about all the different types of bits for wood routers. I have decided in this post that I am going to focus on the 3 best accessories that you are going to want for your 1617EVS Bosch wood router. Those accessories are the router table, template guides and the centering pin tool.
Router Table:
The first accessory to me that every wood worker wants is a table for more stability when they are running some of the larger bits. The Bosch Tool Company has two types of router tables that you can purchase for your 1617EVSK wood router. The first one is the model number RA1181 Bench top Router Table. This model has a dust collection port, feather ports and an aluminum fence measuring 4-7/8 inches in height by 25-1/8 inches in length to accommodate tall stock with ease.
The second model is the Bosch RA1171 Cabinet Style Table. This is the one I would prefer to have in my work shop as this one is able to mount on any workbench giving it more stability for the heavy pieces of stock and the ability to hand the larger size bits without any kick back. This model has the dual dust collection ports for removing more dust and debris while working and they both can fit a standard-sized 2-1/2 inch vacuum hoses. The design on this router table helps to reduce the noise for a better work environment and comes with two feather boards. The feather boards attach to a fence that measures 4-7/8 x 25-1/8 inches and are fully adjustable to fit a variety of work pieces. This provides additional support and control while feeding tall stock across the routing table.
Router Template Guide:
The next accessory that is nice to have is a set of template guides. They can be used to accurately router the edge of your stock to a specific shape, to router cavities and mortises, or even to accurately bore positioned holes. They’re especially useful when making several parts that all need to be the same size, or when working with a complex shape. The one that I found the most helpful is the Bosch RA1125 7-Piece Template guide set. This is a nice set to have as it has the most common sized template guides. The set comes with a sturdy case that has room for 3 extra guides should you buy another size. But what is really great about these adapters is that they snap into your Bosch router - quick and easy and they stay in place. The only down side to these guides is that you need a RA1126 template guide adapter (sold separately) to use on the Bosch 1617EVSK, but it does come with a RA1100 threaded guide adapter. This adapter allows you to use Porter-Cable template guides in a Bosch Router.
Bosch RA1151 Router Sub base Centering Pin and Cone:
This handy little tool is a must have to center any template guides and attached sub bases that you own to your router. If your router has a 1/4″ or 1/2″ collet, this centering pin and cone tool was designed to make it quicker and easier for you to center the sub base and guide templates to your router. The RA1151 Router Sub base Centering Pin and Cone is required for any Bosch wood router that has a Precision Centering Design which you will find on the Bosch 1617EVSK model. The reason that you need to purchase this tool is that Bosch doesn’t supply one with their routers or the kits.
Summary:
These 3 accessories are going to make your routing jobs easier, but the real must have of these accessories is the centering tool as the Bosch routers don’t include it with their router kits, and you can’t use the guides without it. The next accessory that I would consider purchasing is a router table. These are great for the workshop and really allow you to use your router to its full potential. The table gives you the stability to work with large pieces of wood stock without any kickback and the guides are just nice to have for that extra touch or when you want to create shapes for sign making, inlays, and shaping identical furniture parts.