The Bosch RA1181 is the best selling router table on Amazon and for all the right reasons.
While Bosch might not be premium brand like Festool, it definitely delivers the best value-for-money router tables in the market and Bosch RA1181 is a pretty good example.
This table is built for the DIY dads and casual woodworkers. However, If you’re planning to take up complex or professional projects, you might want to invest into something a little more high on performance.
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Initial Impressions
At first look, the Bosch RA1181 comes off as a sturdy and ergonomic router table. Despite the low price, the RA1181 boasts every important feature that you’d need from a router table. From a large work-surface to an aluminium router plate and an efficient dust collection system, it covers all your bases.
Built and Design
The router table comes in three major parts i.e. the table, the router plate and the fence, thus the assembly process is pretty straightforward.
What we like about it is that it’s a 27”-long by 18”-wide cast aluminum table which is as close as it gets to a full scale models. The surface is very flat and is designed to reduce friction when sliding the piece across the table.
The RA1181 features a standard ¾”-wide by 3/8”-deep miter slot that runs along the table and is compatible with any common miter guide or jig.
Aluminum Router Plate
One thing we loved about the Bosch RA1181 is that it comes with an sturdy cast aluminum router plate that comes pre-drilled to be compatible with a variety of routers. That means if you already have a router that you love, there’s a good chance that you wouldn’t have to buy a new one just for the sake of upgrading to a table.
The router plate is tough enough to counter the torque created by even powerful routers like the 3 1/4Hp Bosch 1619EVS.
It also comes with three snap-in inserts that reduce the diameter to 1”, 2” or 2 ¾” as per your requirement.
Adjustable Fence
The adjustable fence is supported by an aluminum extrusion 25”-long by 4 7/8”-tall and a pair of 12 ½”-long by 3 ¾”-tall MDF (medium density fiberboard) that can produce a center gap from 0 to 3 ¾”-wide and thus you can use a bit of size upto 3 ½” in diameter.
Dust Collection System and Other Accessories
The RA1181 features a dust collection system that can be attached to a standard 2 1/2-inch hose.
Apart from the router table, you get a set of three mounting-plate insert rings, router mounting hardware, dual-outlet 15 Amp switch with overload protection, two adjustable featherboards, adjustable clear guard, starter pin and guard, and two 1/16-inch outfeed fence shims.
So that covers up pretty much everything you’d need to get started with most of your basic projects.
All in all, the Bosch RA1181 is a very well-designed, sturdy and functional router table that offers ample of working space and at this price tag, it makes for the perfect table for DIY guys and new woodworkers.