1617EVSPK Wood 12 Amp Plunge Router

Highly repairable professional power tool with excellent long-term parts availability but some recurring design issues.

• •Durability: Multiple users report 10-18+ years of continuous use with available replacement parts throughout the lifespan.
• •Common Fixes: The power switch frequently gets clogged with sawdust but is easily serviced with compressed air or contact cleaner - simple maintenance keeps it running.
• •Parts Access: Bosch maintains excellent long-term parts support with replacement collets, wrenches and components readily available years later, unlike competitors whose discontinued parts render tools useless.

Bottom line: Built to last decades with standard maintenance and widely available replacement parts, but dust-prone switch design and some flimsy plastic accessories prevent a perfect score.

This router is the real deal — a genuine workhorse that woodworkers are passing down to their kids after 18 years of hard use. The community is clear: it's built like a tank with proper parts support, but has one achilles heel that keeps it from perfection.

• •Rock-solid longevity: Users report 10, 15, even 18+ years of continuous use, with one saying if it ever dies I'll buy another one and leave it at that. The heavy aluminum housing and 2.25HP motor handle hardwoods without breaking a sweat.
• •Fatal flaw - dust kills switches: The power switch consistently fails from fine dust infiltration, especially from MDF. Multiple users report the router won't turn on after heavy use until they blast the switch with compressed air. One frustrated owner noted: Flimsy attachments, loose tolerances and sensitive to dust, humm...
• •BIFL-worthy parts support: Unlike competitors who discontinue parts, Bosch keeps replacement collets, wrenches, and components available years later. A heavy BOSCH usually means it will be with you pretty much forever, and you'll be passing it along.

Bottom line: Despite the dust-prone switch and cheap plastic accessories, this is a buy-once tool that delivers decades of reliable performance — just keep compressed air handy.

Bosch offers a standard one-year limited warranty on the 1617EVSPK router, which is basic for power tools but comes with some frustrating limitations.

• •Coverage Terms: Only covers defects in material or workmanship for one year from purchase date, excludes accessories and normal wear parts.
• •Claim Process: Requires returning the complete tool to a Bosch Service Center with proof of purchase, shipping costs paid by customer.
• •User Experience: While Bosch has a reputation for long-term parts support, the warranty process itself is not particularly generous or convenient for users.

Bottom line: Standard 1-year warranty with a somewhat burdensome claim process. Long-term reliability mentioned in user reviews is more impressive than the actual warranty coverage.

The Bosch 1617EVSPK has near-legendary status in woodworking communities, consistently praised as a buy-it-for-life workhorse that users own for 10-18+ years.

• •Durability: Woodworkers regularly report decades of reliable service, with many planning to pass it down to their children. The robust construction and reliable 2.25HP motor handle everything from oak to maple without bogging down.
• •Value: The combo kit format (fixed and plunge bases) is seen as economical and space-saving for serious hobbyists, offering professional-grade performance.
• •Quirks: Users note the power switch is prone to dust failure (fixable with compressed air), and plastic accessories like the chip deflector are brittle. The router also lacks modern features like integrated dust collection.

Bottom line: Despite minor complaints and its dated design, this router is unquestionably a BIFL favorite that woodworkers enthusiastically recommend for its proven longevity, power, and continued parts availability.