Bosch GKF125CEK Colt 1.25 HP (Max) Variable-Speed Palm Router Kit

Bosch quality meets a palm router. Like all my other Bosch tools this one exceeds my expectations. This replaced my cordless Ridgid palm router which would not hold the bit height tight. I went to a corded model because I use it in a shop and the battery ones make the tool top heavy and awkward to use 1 handed. This router runs smooth and is easy to use, the cord has a ball joint to keep it flexible and out of the way. Built with more metal parts like my 2 -1/4 hp Portercable and 3 hp Triton. It weighs more than my cordless, but its actually a plus because the weight is on the bottom of the router not at the top battery, so It stays in place on the work piece much better. The height adjustment is precise and actually holds the bit height fixed all the time, and bit change is the easiest of all my routers. Its easy to grip and use 1 handed and the base has good protection for the hands including a somewhat shielded finger grip on the base for a guide hand. The collet is tight at first but once you use it a few times it loosens up for changing bits. A nice touch from Bosch is that they have the the word Bosch on the collet wrench. That's really helpful when you have a drawer full of router wrenches that look the same. No masking tape and sharpie for this wrench.

I'm, personally, scared to death of hand held routers. Partly because of the potential injuries, but mostly the fear of screwing something up on my workpiece. This is what i call the "Goldilocks" router. Bigger than the Bosch palm sander, smaller than the Bosch plunge router. It's just right for someone like me with more power and easier to maintain accuracy for the end user. It feels good in my hand. I still screw up, but I'm getting better through practice (who'd have thought...lol). It's easy to change bits and get accurate depth of cuts. It's corded, but I like that I don't have to keep changing batteries. Probably gets better power that way. Case is nice. Place to keep everything that came with it nice and secure, keeps dust off the tool. I think, after using it a little bit, the only thing I don't particularly care for is the guide rail. It's rather flimsy and difficult to keep it tightened due to the vibrations of the actual router. Bosch could definitely improve this, I'm sure. Bottom line, I've been slowly upgrading my hand held power tools one by one with Bosch because (1) they are high quality, well-made products, (2) the 18v brushless profactor platform is fantastic, and (3) the corded tools are also the best corded hand tools I've ever used. This corded router is the best one I've personally used. If you buy it, you'll be glad you did. Quit wasting time and money on Festool and come to the blue side. As a side note, I bought a Festool sander because it's supposed to be the "best of the best." I used it twice, put it back in the systainer and went back to my $60 Bosch because it just has more power. Recommend? Definitely! And check out their other tools you might need/want. You can not go wrong. I don't think I've ever seen a head-to-head between Bosch and Festool for any tool except their miter saw and I wonder why. The 10" Profactor miter saw and track saw are currently on my wish list. Saving up for them because I know their worth saving for.

Nice router, plenty of power and easy to adjust the depth of cut. Good for handheld use. I bought it to rout out a slot in my electric guitar, but I have used it for some woodworking as well. I used to be a carpenter so I can attest to the build quality of Bosch tools and this appears to be of the quality I expected from Bosch.

This is a nice tool with good speed power. Assembly easy. Great size. Terrible shipping. Took over a month.

This kit arrived with the slightly smaller, I think European, collet rather than the quarter inch. I took a chance of calling Bosch. Surprisingly I was speaking with a human within a minute or two. Not only that but within a short time the support lady said the correct collet would be mailed to me. Actual customer service!

as described, great value for the money, comfortable to use & works well

Well, I think I wasted $500 when I bought Bosch mid size router and table with fixed & plung bases. I found little to no use of that in my weekend warrior / DIYer work. This trim router and to extension to all trim aka palm router are more useful when you are new to the game. Weight is important so you can hold it tight and hold in writer position. It's good and I like it. Hand positioning the tool from middle throat is stable. Holding from head (top) may feel safe but it's not. Tool will have a higher chance to run away or stumble. I am good with by it's approch. Positive finger tabs to hold the tool at plate is very nice. Your finger and thumb will have less chance to slip and you can take your eyes off from monitoing figured as fingers get a direct feedback from the grip. I found it good and useful to keep my fingers out of harm's way. Power and soft start is awesome. Soft start let tool to ramp up without bull back riding. I haven't use to in any hardwood that may challenge power. Be In softwoods, plywood, formica, mdf it worked as I expected it to work. Adjustments? Easy and intuitive to change bits and to set cut depth. I have not use it for high precision work. Eyeballing, using reference material gave me what I needed. Obviously I cannot blame the tool if I goofed up in measuring. Overall, with an one year of woodworking experice I think it's a good (for that matter any palm router) that I should have acquired earlier. Last but not least, if tool is plugged in light stays on. A good reminder that some other tools can learn and adopt. For example, table saws. I am buying bits as needed and in mid price range.

I wouldn't recommend this as a primary router unless you only do trim work, but as a trim router it's nice. Pros - the lights are nice, the depth changing system allows for both fine and fast course adjust. Soft start is handy, and the feel and balance is nice. Minus - It has some things that I wouldn't expect from Bosch, based on their previous tools. First, the fine depth adjust is a little rough, as well as the lock for that. Like it's not quite built well. Second, the motor noise and vibration is somewhere between what I'd expect from Bosch and HF. It sounds rough and it feels rough. Maybe that's just brand new brushes and this hasn't broken in yet, but it's absolutely not buttery smooth. Not quite enough to deduct a star yet. For the price? It's a great deal. But hoping Bosch isn't gradually reducing the quality of their tools in the US market to match their competitors.