Warning: test drove a new Bosch router at the lumber yard in Phoenix and now my old Craftsman feels gutless

I was checking out some oak boards at the lumber yard in Phoenix last Saturday and the guy let me try his Bosch 1617EVS on a test piece. That router made my own setup feel like I was pushing a butter knife through frozen butter. Has anyone else tried a higher end tool and just felt stuck in the past with their old gear?

2 comments

2 Comments

angela_morgan4d ago

Man that Bosch is a BEAST. I had a similar thing happen when I borrowed my neighbor's Festool sander last summer. My old Porter Cable suddenly felt like it was just vibrating loudly without actually doing any work. It was SO frustrating because I knew I couldn't just run out and buy a Festool right then. But yeah, once you feel that smooth power and precision, going back to a basic model feels like a downgrade. It's like driving a rental car that has ALL the gadgets then getting back into your old beater with crank windows. The Bosch 1617 is a solid router too, I've heard nothing but great things about it for years.

brookeellis4d ago

...and then you go home and your old router just sits there looking at you like a disappointed dog. I swear mine started making this sad whining noise after I got back from trying that Bosch, like it knew I had cheated on it with a younger, stronger model. My whole shop setup suddenly feels like it's held together with duct tape and good intentions. I'm honestly thinking about taking my Craftsman out behind the shed and just... you know, having a talk with it. But then I remember I still owe two more payments on my pickup truck, so it's gonna have to keep on disappointing me for a while longer.