Choosing a router can be agony. There are so many to choose from … then do you choose fixed base or plunge? And what about collet sizes?

Well Bosch has made choosing a router easy with their 1617 EVS which can be either a fixed base or a plunge and if you buy the dual package you actually get both bases and the router also comes with both quarter inch and half in collets so you can use any router bit you want.

The Bosh 1617EVS is a rated at two and a quarter horse, but the real rating is that it is a 12 amp motor. Most outlets in the average home are 15 amp which is the maximum amperage they will take before they trip the breaker. The Bosh 12 amp is a powerful router but not so big that it is difficult to hold on to for those hand routing jobs.

This a fairly "specific-use" tool, but really top flight. They used to be called butcher-block planes because they were used mostly to flatten endgrain maple butcher block. I carve large pieces of poplar with alot of end grain glue joints and with my regular compliment of planes and sanding equipment, I wasn't able to get really dead flat joints. The low angle jack plane is a very well machined handplane. It is a "simple" block plane with an iron body that has an adjustable throat, a bronze lever cap and cherry handle and knob. The blade is a hefty 3/16 " and is adjusted with a bronze knurled screw. There is no lateral blade adjustment, but the bed is ground so true and the forward adjustment is without any slop so you dont need it. Every piece of the plane is rock solid so even on end grain you get perfect curls. I also use this plane on tough woods (curly and birdseye maple) long and short grain with great results.When I look at this plane as a machine, with the exception of a few carving tools, nothing I own is as well made. I had always looked at $225 planes like jewelry, nice but unneccesary. But You really do get what you pay for atleast with this plane. On a 1 to 10 scale it's an easy 10. If you use hand tools extensively (you caveman!!) certainly try out one of Lie-Neilsen's planes. The only downside is the price, but it will last your lifetime. Incedentally, this plane did not need any "tuning" before use, five minutes on the blade with a leather strop and it was perfect.

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For a mid-level price saw, in my opinion, you cannot beat this saw.  The motor. one and a half horse,  is  quiet compared to other saws we have tried.

After assembly, it gave me true and accurate cuts right out of the box. something that I was impressed with, but you should check your own, you might not be so lucky.