Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Product Details

Product Dimensions: 8 x 27.5 x 22.8 inches
Shipping Weight: 34.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
ASIN: B000H12DQ6
Item model number: RA1181

By : Bosch
Price : $184.99
You Save : $173.76 (48%)

Product Description

Amazon.com Product Description
The Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table provides a premium large work surface for woodworking and routing. Designed to fit a variety of routers and able to mount on any workbench, this router table is a versatile piece of equipment that will serve as an indispensable part of any woodworking shop. And its 2-1/2-inch dust collection port offers better dust collection for a healthier work environment. The large aluminum top makes the table both durable and portable.

The RA1181 fits a variety of routers and features featherboards that adjust for a range of stock sizes..
The Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table kit includes:

RA1181 Benchtop Router Table
Set of three mounting-plate insert rings
Hardware for mounting most Bosch routers
Two adjustable featherboards
Adjustable clear guard
Starter pin and guard
Two outfeed fence shims (1/16 inch)

Designed for Versatility and PrecisionThanks to its versatile design, the RA1181 lets you work with a variety of materials while ensuring precision with every cut. With a tall aluminum fence measuring 4-7/8 x 25-1/8 inches (HxL), the table handles tall stock with ease. The fence also features adjustable MDF face plates for better support and smoother operation.
The rigid aluminum router mounting plate stays flat and true for precise, accurate cuts, and for added versatility, it's pre-drilled to fit a variety of routers.
The easy-to-use featherboards attach to the fence and table and are fully adjustable to fit a variety of workpieces. They provide additional support and control while feeding stock across the routing table.
Dust Collection Port and Accessory SlotThe RA1181's powerful dust collection system excels at dust removal. It features one dust collection port for removing dust and debris, and it fits standard-sized 2-1/2-inch vacuum hoses.
Use the accessory slot to add additional featherboards, as well as 3/4-inch optional accessories, such as any miter gauge measuring 3/4 inch x 3/8 inch deep.
The RA1181 Benchtop Router Table measures 27 x 14-1/2 x 18 inches (WxHxD) and weighs 30 pounds. It has a maximum fence opening of 3-3/16 inches and a maximum throat opening of 3-5/8 inches. It is backed by Bosch's one-year limited warranty, 30-day money back guarantee, and one-year service protection plan.
What's in the BoxRA1181 Benchtop Router Table, set of three mounting-plate insert rings, mounting hardware, two adjustable featherboards, adjustable clear guard, starter pin and guard, and two 1/16-inch outfeed fence shims.
The RA1181's high aluminum fence accepts tall stock and has adjustable MDF face plates for added support..
Amazon.com
A benchtop router offers significant advantages over a handheld machine. It's safer, because you're moving the wood over the bit instead of the other way around. It's also versatile, allowing you to do a number of cuts that aren't possible with a handheld. And because it has a fence, it gives you a degree of control and precision that is simply impossible with freehand routing.
Because you're sliding the wood across the surface of a bench router, it's important that the surface be as frictionless as possible. The RA1181 features a generous 27-inch long by 18-inch wide table that's made out of slick but durable cast aluminum. In addition, he surface near the fence is rough-ground to minimize surface contact, which further reduces friction.
Though the caveat "some assembly required" applies here, the manual is clearly written, and I found the setup process to be straightforward. Once fully assembled, the RA1181 attaches to just about any workbench via the leg assemblies, which have flat "feet" that you can clamp to the table. You can also use the pre-drilled holes to screw it to your work surface if you don't need it to be portable. (Note that most benchtop routers need to be mounted on a smaller table-using a standard worktable may leave it uncomfortably high.)
Once secured to the table, the RA1181 is very stable, and can handle high-horsepower routers and larger work pieces without bucking. The cast aluminum mounting plate accepts a variety of routers-and not just those made by Bosch. The fence is good and rigid, and is adjustable from 0 to 3-3/4-inches wide.
This is a great little machine, and its portability and capacity for bigger jobs makes it as good a fit on the job site as it is in the home workshop.--Josh Dettweiler

Technical Details

Benchtop router table; attaches to any workbench
2 adjustable featherboards; dust collection port; dual outlet switch; 6-foot power cord
Aluminum fence with MDF face plates; aluminum router mounting plate
Includes router table, 3 mounting plate insert rings, mounting hardware for most Bosch routers, 2 featherboards, adjustable clear guard, starter pin and guard, outfeed fence shims
27-inch by 18-inch work surface; 1-year warranty

Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table

Customer Reviews

I've been contemplating getting around to building a router table for far too long. I've been limping by with my tablesaw router insert. I had gotten a great deal on the Bosch 1617 Plunge/Fixed combo a while back. I thought that this would be a good pair, using the fixed base mounted in the table, with above table adjustment, and the plunge base for handheld use.
The table is cast aluminum and it was as square as I was able to measure. The router mount plate is a strong cast aluminum piece as well. It shouldn't sag from leaving a router mounted as I have seen in some other plates. There are adjustment screws for each corner and each edge (a total of 8). This allows you to mount the plate perfectly flush of the table top. The fence is an extruded aluminum piece with adjustable MDF faces. It was square and true. Also included were two 1/16" plastic sheets to slide behind the MDF for using the table as an edge jointer. This is a nice idea for someone starting out, but I prefer a real jointer.
The power switch is a little odd. You lift a plastic lever to turn on a rocker switch. If you press down on the lever at all, it will shut off the switch. This should work well, but I can see a possibility of breaking the plastic lever. That would not prevent the switch from functioning, it would just be harder to turn off.
The featherboards included will be usable and are pretty well designed. The storage area in one leg is a great idea, but it is impossible to put everything not in use in there. I will most likely mount this on top of a rolling cabinet with some drawers. I could also see eventually keeping the aluminum top and replacing the plastic legs with a cabinet. The top should last for a long while.
Overall, I believe that I will be happy with this purchase. I think it is decent at the regular price and I would consider it a bargain with the total of 30% offers that were applied when I purchased it. I would check the Bosch site and verify that your router will fit this table. There is mention in the instructions about drilling holes for above the table adjustments of some Porter Cable and other routers. However, mounting holes are provided for many routers. If your router isn't listed, you would need to drill accurate holes to mount. If you aren't exactly centered, some operations on the table will be very hard to do (such as routing with a template and bushing.)
Although this Aluminum top doesn't need paste wax for protection, unlike cast iron, it is a good idea. On my BT3100 table saw, the aluminum can leave grey streaks if it is not paste waxed. Just something to think about with this.

Check the table for flatness when you get it! My first one had a high spot about an inch to the left of the table insert. I returned it and the second one did also. I called Bosch and after some time it turns out that they had some production errors. Bosch customer service was very good. I like the design of the table. Hopefully it will work well, but I have had to spend 3 or 4 hrs trying to get a table that works.
PS Look at the bottom of the table for 3 digits in red. My table was batch 787.