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Good deal on a Bosch?

1K views 18 replies 12 participants last post by  wapakfred 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
I posted a week ago about buying my first router. Got tons of great advice. I found a guy selling the below pictured Bosch for $140 for everything or $100 for just the router and w baseplates. He said its a 1617 EVS from around 2012.

What do you guys think? I have to drive hour and half to see it.

Tool Gas Audio equipment Engineering Machine
 

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#4 ·
I'm guessing those bits have seen their fair share of use, but who knows. I wouldn't pay $40 extra for them, unless they look a lot better close up than they do in the photo.
 
#6 ·
Buy the bits as you need them, then you will only be buying the ones you need. Give his a look, they might be worth the extra, they appear to be mostly Freud…a really good brand. But some of them (the larger ones may only be useful in a router table (not hand held), hence my caution. It's hard to tell much (at least for my eyes) from that photo.
 
#8 · (Edited by Moderator)
If they are only useful in a router table is that mean they are of lower quality?

- pigpencbr
No, it just means they are intended for use in a table mounted router, not a hand held one. The three larger bits are all of that persuasion. Two are rail & stile bits for doing cabinet doors and the third appears to be a tongue & groove bit

If the bits are in good shape and sharp, for an extra $30, I'd snag them too. They all appear to be good quality, some Bosch, some Freud. The chamfer, round over, flush cutting and upspiral bits are very useful. Even if you don't need the others, it would cost more than $30 to replace even a couple of those. If the bits are chipped, nicked or appear dull, then pass. The carbide can be sharpened, but it's a PITA.
 
#9 ·
I'm not in love with that router. Don't get me wrong, I have a few good Bosch tools. I just don't like how you have to twist the router to switch bases. It often hangs up, making the process frustrating. When I'm using my Dewalt 618, everything is easy to use.

I still have a 1617, but it doesn't see much use. The Bosch edge guide is really nice. However, when I need to use an edge guide, I still reach for the Dewalt because it has a lower stance and is easy to control. The Bosch feels a little top-heavy to me (so do Porter Cable, Craftsman, and Freud routers).

Good luck, I hope you find a keeper.
 
#12 ·
JayT covered it pretty much as I would have replied. Two of them are dovetail bits, and I'm betting it will be some time before you need those, and you need the RT to use the large ones. That leaves you with 5 bits (I think, maybe 6) and it's still not obvious to me what condition they are in…it's a matter of inspecting and going from there.
 
#14 ·
I have two of those routers, use them regularly and have zero complaints. Fine Woodworking has rated them at or near the top of their ratings for years. I say buy the router and the bits. If you don't need the bits yet, you eventually will, and you'll pay a lot more than $30.

Unless something is broken, this is one of those deals that you don't take a pass on.
 
#15 ·
The fixed base 1617 sells for around $170 new and the1617 with plunge and fixed base for around $220 So $100 appears to be a good buy but I would offer $125 for everything, your not sure if you will need the router bits he has or if they are sharp. In the photo, I see a mount for a router table and a plunge router so I'm not sure if it also has a fixed base? 1617s get good reviews but I like "D" handle routers for easier control.
 
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