Bosch RA1171 Router Table: Review and Upgrades
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 24 ก.พ. 2023
- Do you need a router table but aren’t sure what to get? Don’t want to spend $1,000 on a Kreg or Rockler router table? Check out the RA1171 from Bosch; with a few modifications it can be a great tool for your shop’s growth.
#bosch #RA1171 #workshop - แนวปฏิบัติและการใช้ชีวิต
Love this! You do woodworking like I do. Mistakes happen. Most content providers “never” make mistakes, but you have the courage to show the real process
I love when makers show their mistakes and explain why it happened. Humans make mistakes. I have learned more from my mistakes than any other way. Well done.
Dude the mistake you made when cutting the T track taught me one of the things I was doing wrong with routers. Was kind of weary about using them because I couldn't tell what I was doing wrong and you not only left it in but explained how to not make the mistake again. Thank you.
Glad I could help!
Dude, that was great. You had a slight mishap, admitted it, and then fixed it. Most content creators could take lessons from you. I have the same table. You have shown me many new ideas. May your Shavings be whisker thin, and your bourbon be smooth.
Thank you! It's been a few months now and I don't even notice the extra wide slot.
I was waiting for it... 😬 Kudos for not trying to sugar-coat it. We've all been there. Thanks for the vid!
I really appreciate the important info and ideas you shared in this video-specifically the T-tracks, offset wrenchs (ordering now!), table height, and dust collection. I now know how to modify and most efficiently make use of my newly purchased RA1171. Thank you for a wonderful video!
I’m glad you found it useful! Did you get it when it was on sale over the weekend?
@@GregsWorkshopOregon I did! Ha ha. $170 on Amazon.
I just got one of these at Lowes, normally $230.00 on clearance for $99.00. Couldn't pass it up.
This video was very helpful regarding the upgrades you made and the router lift discussion. I have this model, but still learning how to use it.
Glad it was helpful!
First time watching one of your videos. So good! Loved that you're not afraid to make mistakes and let people see it. I make mistakes every day. Try not to make the same ones. It's part of getting better. I have. a long way to go. Will see what other videos you have. Hopefully just as good and humble. Thanks Greg - Regards - Craig
seeing all these obvious mistakes and bad hose setup makes my confidence skyrocket. thank you for the video, you are a legend
Wow, very intelligent idea to move the router so it pushes into the fence....thanks a lot.
I am lucky that I saw this video.
Kudos on taking that hit like a true man! Well done and thank you for the video.
It was the right thing to do. Honestly I don't even hardly notice the divot anymore.
That was great man! Keep up the nice work!
I'll be saving this helpful video for it's dust collection method and parts. Thanks.
I love your idea for a stand. I'm totally stealing this idea. Subbed!
Hey I'm glad you showed your struggles, let's me know I'm not alone lol... I've been looking at these and others, not sure what I'm goin with yet...I heard some negatives about this one, I think your fence upgrade is all good and your dust collection, to me fence is everything on everything lol...thanks for your time and upload....
I really enjoyed your review. I have been weighing which of the Bosch tables I want. I appreciate your style. Subscribed right away!
I really don't see a need for a router lift when all the routers I've looked at include support for tooled height adjustment and offer the offset wrenches.
Thank you again!
You’re welcome! It’s a good unit for sure.
Really sweet modifications. I’m going to use your T-track idea. Their lift adjustment needs re-engineering… every time I need to change the height of the bit I’m so annoyed I have to unclamp the router and then re-clamp which makes micro adjustments very difficult. Great video man ❤
Thanks for sharing this. You have a nice voice and vibe. I have the same router table
Love your router
Appreciate this video. I have the same table and plan to put in a T track, but just haven't gotten to it. I would have probably made the same error you did, so thanks for saving me from some frustration.
Ha! Glad it was helpful.
Nice review and nice mods to the table. I’ve made that same mistake routing channels 🤦♂️ besides going the wrong way you also had one hand on the vac house trying to collect mdf dust too. Kinda takes your mind off the cut and really leaves you stabilizing the router with 60% of the force you would get with two hands pushing against you temp fence /guide. I’ve also made that mistake and can’t stand sloppy fitting dust ports on tools that fall off if you don’t have a hand on it maintaining pressure. As ridiculously priced as festool tools are they at least have that positive locking ports for dust collection on all their tools.
These are on clearance right now in Lowes, over 50% off! Might be a great time to buy.
Looks like I was a little too early!
Glad to see you incorporated some of my ideas. Nice video. You should have mentioned the handle on the door... ;)
Thanks for this! Too bad about the router mishap. But it’s also a great visual aid on what not to do on the router. 😄 I copied the t-track install you did here at the same measurements. Worked out great. 200% improvement on fence placement. I also changed out the miter track. The one that came with the table seemed too specific to the Bosch accessories and not that great for typical miter gauges. I used the Incra miter track. It was touch too wide, so just sanded the channel on the table along one edge a little bit. Fits nice and snug. Had to sand the bottom of the channel a little too to get the track to sit flush. But mostly around the middle area of the table. For some reason it sat higher there. I love the cabinet style of the 1171. Most of the dust goes down into the box which is huge for keeping dust under control. So worth it adding a few improvements.
Good idea changing out the miter track, maybe I'll look into that.
Where do you get the t- track from?
Excellent presentation great ideas implemented
Thank you!
Thank you!
Really good mods - thanks! I'll definitely add the t-track and thanks to your mistake I'll hopefully not do the same thing.
Great video...and just what I needed to assist me before purchasing a router table for my limited space shop. I especially like the tool cabinet and casters. The mistake you made just shows that you are just like the rest of us...human.
Thank you for the kind words and I'm glad you found the video useful. The router table and cabinet have been a good setup for me.
This is very help full I just got one of these tables and wanted to do the same thing. I learned from you. Thank You for the video. Can you tell me the bit you used in your router. Where and what model is that flange you installed after you cut the lip off of it.
I have this same table and love it, but I'd add one more step to the assembly process. Since it's made of MDF, I'd suggest coating all exposed MDF areas with a spray enamel clear. The exposed ends and bolt holes, such as on the fence boards, will eventually absorb humidity and swell. I took everything apart that needed coating, such as the miter slot guide and router base plate, taped off the Formica and sprayed the edges of the MDF where those parts fit in. Don't use a water-based urethane or any other water-based product to do this! The table is now properly sealed and should last for a very long time, but it would have been much easier to do had I done it from the start. This is the 3rd router table I've owned and it's the best, by far.
Thanks for video sir. Does the unit come with the Bosch offset router wrenches or do you have to buy separately?
great vid..the mis hap was actually good..well for me anyway..would have def made the same mistake . So saved me the frustration..lol..thank you
Glad I could be of assistance!
I've had this router table for a couple of years and will try out some of your upgrades. One thing I have found is that those red plastic tabletop inserts can flex down and create an uneven cut. You have to be very careful not to apply too much downward pressure on your workpiece. I wonder if there are metal ones that fit in there.
Great job on the video.
Thank you! I'm enjoying having a full size router table ready to go, it's really convenient. I've noticed that the plastic plates sit a little lower that the router plate which can make setting bit height difficult, but I manage.
Could always make some wood inserts
I cut some out of 1/8” craft plywood with my laser. Cut two for each. One the size of the opening, flush with the table surface and one slightly smaller to fit flush with the lip just below the table surface. Glued them together with CA glue. Worked out a way to hold them in place with magnets.
Thanks Greg
I’m a real rookie
Maui Hawaii
I'm glad you found the video useful!
Love my RA1171. I too toyed with buying a router lift but find the Bosch set up sufficient for a hobby workshop. I also added the rails for the fence. Dust collection inside the RA1171 cabinet has always been a problem. How well did your hose in hose configuration do on collecting the inside cabinet dust?
It does well enough, there are a couple little pyramid of sawdust that build up that I'm sure have to do with airflow and swirling, etc but I just brush it all toward the 4" fitting and it gets sucked up.
Hey I saw you were using the Skil router, I have the same. Does it fit on that table? Thanks!
Thanks for your video and for making and admitting your mistakes! Question #1: is that t-track a Bosch accessory or one that you fabricated? Question #2: I have a Metabo 2.25hp router. I'm thinking it will fit this table but what are your thoughts? Thanks again. I've been looking for a router table and this Bosch seems to be a good one for my diy needs.
Good day Sir. I have this and i like your t track. I found it on Amazon but was curious what the best way to cut it to fit. Great video by the way.
I use my miter saw. Make sure the saw is fully spooled up before you start your cut and go slow.
Where did ya get the t track? Great video! I'm pretty new at all this and it really made me decide against building my own.
I used Powertec t-track, you can get it on Amazon in various lengths. I like it because it can take multiple sizes of bolts.
I'm interested in the vacuum system please give more detail ie silicon cup?
so how did the dust collection work with the smaller hose inside the 4" hose? Sounds like a good idea in theory but wonder how well it actually worked
It worked really well. I think the trick is to get the smaller hose fairly deep into 4" fitting.
hi Gregg, I'm not trying to be the safety police or anything but I thought i would share that its not good router practice to have the wood sandwiched between the bit and the fence. you always want the wood between you and the bit as opposed to the wood being between the bit and the fence. Which is why they didnt build that much space for the fence to move (because they arent expecting people to use the router the way you are using it). Again, not trying to be a jerk or anything. I believe they say that its slightly less safe to do it this way. Anyways, I liked the review!
That's fair. I wanted that extra space more for cutting rabbets than doing edge shaping with the wood between the fence and the bit, plus the t-track slides better than the factory slots. Thanks for watching!
Should the router lift fit?
9-1/4 to 11-3/4
I'd just widen that groove enough to straighten it out glue in a strip of melamine or something to fill the gap. Clean up the groove with a router and insert your t track back in.
Would this fit a 1 1/2" round over bit? I am looking to make a 3" diameter pole, wondering if I need a table to do the work or can I do it with just the fixed base?
The opening for the router bit itself is 3 1/2" diameter, if your roundover bit is smaller than that it should work on a lower speed setting.
I’m so sorry about that pal 😊
Greg, I was thinking of buying the same table. I already have two shop vacs that I use with my Kapex saw. So, I am thinking to add only a hole on the side but before assembling the table. Anything you would do different? Kevin
I think that would work fine. Most of the dust is generated/collected at the fence anyway, maybe you could experiment with a hose inside the cabinet for the other half?
@@GregsWorkshopOregon I have an old Ryobi table probably 20+ years old which has seen better days. And I have a Bosch Router that would work fine with the table.
I have this router, and I feel like my material will get stuck at every transition. Am I doing something fundamentally wrong or are there adjustments I can make to this? I’ve tried to adjust it all, but the first maybe 4 inches of my cut looks bad.
Do you mean on the fence? Your fence board might not be co-planar, they might need a shim or two. You could also try rounding off the corners a bit to ease the transition.
Would that Skil router you used be compatible with the Bosch table?
Probably, but you might not have the above-table adjustment. You also wouldn't have an easy way to change the rpm as the skil has a screen on top of the router and you wouldn't be able to see it.
Does anyone know if these tables would work for a dewalt router?
Nice review, but this table doesn’t seem to have a fence that is adjustable for edge jointing.
How is the table working out 6 months later? Any more upgrades? Would you have still purchased it?
Working great! I’m very happy with it.
Are you cutting T track into MDF? That dust will kill ya.
Ngl that mistake probably saved me in the future as well.
A normal shop vac hose fits inside the dust shroud on the fence
Nice, makes sense.
Bosh, are you watching and taking hints and notes?
It’s just a lil scratch no one will know…. Take the dust and mix with some e6000 and fill it up, sand it, and paint it. next time put that sucka in a choke hold! 😂
Wood bondo.
You cant go the wrong way cutting a track or plunge cut.. keep your work in front of you and both hands on the router.. 😢 cutting wood between the fence and bit will give you cutout and thrown wood.. sorry for all the criticism but if people follow your advice theyll get hurt...
It’s a shame you never thought to leave links to wrench’s and tracks
Not much help
Bro if a guy is afraid to build a kit router table why be a wood worker … come on
I just don't know why you would buy a thing like that , if you can build a much better one yourself to the design you want in first place 😉😉👍👍
Expediency. Sometimes it's better to buy a tool instead of build so you can get to work on other projects. I'll probably build my own eventually.
Did you have any trouble making the top plate level with the surrounding top?
You just read my mind lol