Product Description With its compact size and spirited performance, the 1-horsepower Colt variable-speed palm-grip router kit from Bosch is a very versatile tool. It's not just a laminate trimmer, but is ideal for trimming deck planks, hinge mortising, edge forming, slot cutting, dovetailing, window cutouts and decorative inlays. The PR20EVSNK variable-speed palm-grip router kit has a palm-grip design with soft grip to make it the most comfortable router in its class, yet it also has enough power to do the job and is more comfortable and easy to use than larger routers. The softstart reduces start-up torque while the Bosch constant response circuitry monitors and maintains speed under load for consistent performance and overload protection. Easily move the motor from base to base with the quick-clamp system to work on other areas of your project. A convenient Front Spindle Lock on the motor was designed for easy, one-wrench bit changes, and a shaft wrench is also included for those who prefer to use two wrenches to change bits. Bosch even covered the small details by angling the cord to help keep it out of the way. The contents of this kit make it ideal for all router users.
Amazon.com Product Description The Bosch PR20EVSNK Colt Installers Kit with Edge Guide is ideal for professional laminate installers. This kit supplies all the necessary tools for rounding over deck planks and railings, mortising hinges, cutting slots, dovetailing, and much more. The Colt Installers Kit also offers a range of capabilities for do-it-yourselfers and woodworks of all levels.
This kit comes with the PR20EVSK router, three bases (fixed, tilt, and offset), roller guides, straight edge guide, underscribe assembly, carry case, and wrenches.
The PR20EVSNK Colt Installers Kit with Edge Guide offers:
Highest horsepower rating in its class.
Variable speed of 16,000 to 35,000 RPM.
Constant-Response Circuitry to maintain speed under load.
Includes router, three bases, roller guides, edge guide, underscribe assembly, carry case, and wrenches. View larger.
Rubber over-molded grip allows for stable, one-handed operation. View larger.
Powerful Motor, Variable Speed, and Depth Adjustment for Precise Results The PR20EVSK palm-grip router owes its robust performance to a 1.0-horsepower (the highest rating for small routers), 5.7-amp motor that spins at a variable speed of 16,000 to 35,000 RPM and has a soft-start that reduces startup torque. Additionally, depth adjustment is; even micro-fine adjustments take little effort thanks to the wheel on the back of the router's base.
User-Friendly Features for Flexibility, Comfort, and Reliability This user-friendly tool offers simple, straightforward operation. First, the collect accepts standard 1/4-inch bits to give you job flexibility, with an impressive maximum diameter of 1-5/16 inch. For added convenience, a front spindle lock on the motor means easy, one-wrench bit changes, but a shaft wrench is also included for those who prefer to use two wrenches.
In addition, the speed dial is conveniently mounted on top of the tool body for easy access. An added bonus, the motor housing has a palm-shaped, rubber over-molded grip that allows for stable, one-handed operation.
Constant Response Circuitry for Stable Motor Speed This model includes Bosch's "Constant Response" circuitry, which monitors and maintains speed under load for consistent performance and overload protection. Constant Response works by detecting tough loads and then increasing power to maintain the selected RPM. Working with stable speed lets you concentrate on controlling the router, so you'll always make clean, burn-free cuts.
Additionally, a quick-clamp system allows the motor to be easily adjusted and moved from base to base. For further convenience, an angled cord exit keeps the router's cord safely out of your work area.
Three Bases Adapt to the Job at Hand All three bases included in this kit are modeled from high-end castings and no-mar plastic sub-bases, and they use flip-lever, adjustable locking cam levers to secure the motor.
Moving the motor from one base to another requires no tools. Additionally, the fixed and tilt bases have an easy-to-use micro-fine adjustment feature; the offset base bit height is fixed because of the belt drive system.
The tilt base features detents at key angles to allow routing at special angles and in hard-to-reach areas. It also has the same bit-height adjustment as the fixed base, but it can pivot 45 degrees forward and 30 degrees backward.
Accessories for Versatility and Precision An underscribe attachment mounts to the fixed base, so you can create precise seams between sheets of laminate. There's also a straight edge guide that directs the router along the edges of the workpiece, or up to 3-5/8 inches from the edge. Finally, a special roller guide for the offset base attaches to the sub-base plate, so you can use templates to cut or trim openings when working in confined areas.
This kit comes with a one-year warranty.
What's in the Box Palm grip router; drop-forged wrenches; straight edge guide (PR002); roller guide (PR003); offset base with roller guide (PR004); tilt base (PR005); underscribe plate with wrenches; carrying case; PR20EVS motor; fixed base (PR001); and 1/4-inch self-releasing collet.
Lots of accessories, but several important ones are missing...April 28, 2010 AgedWireHead(Houston TX USA) 3 out of 3 found this review helpful
The PR20EVSNK Colt Installers Kit is a great product, with accessories to quickly perform a number of tasks, especially related to installing cabinets and laminate covered counter tops. It performs edge forming tasks like chamfers, ogees, coves, and round overs much easier than larger routers. For fine furniture it is a great tool for mortising decorative stringing. It actually makes installing stringing fun.
The Bosch Colt 1.0 HP router (PR20EVS) is a fine tool that meets every expectation I have for a small "single-hand" or "palm" router. The Bosch motor speed control works great, as it does on the larger Bosch routers. The Colt is designed for small-profile 1/4-inch shaft bits, which can be installed and removed rapidly. In fact, the best feature of this router is fast setup, even when changing bases. The shaft lock on my unit works very well, but just to make sure Bosch also provided a thin 10 mm (3/8 inch x 1/8 inch thick) open-end wrench. If you have difficulty depressing and holding the shaft lock, just use the wrench. The provided collet wrench is a 17 mm wrench (about 11/16 inch). The motor slides in or out of the standard or tilt base with ease. The offset base takes just a little more effort, and I will discuss this more.
The standard base has a square sub-base, which actually makes a lot of sense when it is used against a guide. The motor clamp or lock works easily with the thumb. The fine adjustment works easily (when unlocked) with clear markings: each revolution is 1.25 mm or 3/64 inches). The depth gauge is clearly etched in the motor case in both 1/6" and 1 mm divisions, with just a little more than 1-inch (27 mm) of travel. One issue is that the fine adjustment mechanism must be cleaned (and greased) regularly. Dust combines with the grease in the exposed portion of the screw.
Two included attachments make the standard base more useful. Both attach at the same fixture: the straight edge guide and the roller/bushing guide. The straight-edge guide works like any other of these devices on larger routers, but it is smaller and has no fine-adjustment feature. It is pretty easy to adjust, with appropriate wings on the adjustment locking nut, but someone with arthritic fingers might find it troublesome. The roller/bushing guide is equipped with a fine adjustment feature. It is useful for edge-forming bits that do not have a bearing guide. All of the bits I have use have bearing guides, so I have not used this guide. I don't think it will be very useful for me, but in a pinch a core-box bit could be used for a cove bit, a straight mortising bit for a trimming bit, etc. I suspect that when I find myself in a predicament I'll be very happy to have this attachment, but it will gather much dust meanwhile.
The included PR005 tilt base is intriguing. Depth adjustments are made similar to the standard base, with the added feature that the sub-base assembly tilts 30 degrees one way and 45 degrees the other. Although the degree gauge is deeply stamped, the gloss black color makes reading it difficult. A little white crayon or correction fluid placed in markings improves things considerably. There are mild detents at each mark, 7 1/2 degrees between marks. A bevel gauge can be used to accurately set a straight bit at an angle, so set the angle first then change bits if you want to use some other profile. The intended use for this base is to be able to edge-trim laminates in odd places like the area at the junction of a back-splash and counter. But it will also permit chamfers or v-grooves with straight bits and unusual variations in edge treatment. However, an external guide must be employed to keep cuts straight.
The included PR004 Offset Base permits trimming in otherwise inaccessible areas. Places where a lot of hand-filing would otherwise be necessary. It is possible to cut within 1/2 inch of a vertical surface when a 3/4-inch bit is employed, and this can be reduced to 3/8 inch by removing the spindle cover. To use this base, a drive gear is installed instead of the motor collet, the motor is inserted into the base, and a screwdriver is used to slip the cogged-belt over the drive gear. This arrangement works well--and easier than I thought, but you can only use this setup for 10 minutes at a time, letting the device cool between uses. The offset base includes its own roller/bushing guide which seems to be of more use in this situation, as it helps stabilize the router and prevent gouging. To stabilize the router when routing a back-splash, mount a wood block to the base to run against the back splash. Just drill mounting holes in the base. Installing bits in the offset base is done by pressing a shaft lock (large red button) at the top of the offset shaft and using a wrench on the collet nut. There is no other method of holding the shaft, but the lock is very positive. To remove the offset spindle cover (provided to keep your hand away from the hot offset spindle), alternately tap the small projections on each side of the cover at the collet end with the collet wrench. The cover will slide up and off.
One of the great items in this kit is the PR006 Underscribe Attachment. This permits cutting very accurate joints between two laminate panels, both small and large, as the panels are being installed. I had big doubts about this working well, but it does. I highly recommend at least one practice run before you use it seriously. You need a Bosch 85213M 1/8" diameter bit to make it work (not included). Follow the instruction carefully and you will be rewarded with an amazingly tight joint. Have an assistant vacuuming the dust while you do this to prevent dust getting under the laminate, and keep the overlapping piece against the underlying piece. Practice is important, if only to get the hang of the fine adjustment.
The case fits all of the items in the kit well, including the manual, but it is easy to turn the angle base the wrong direction which prevents the top closing--even though everything looks straight. Just turn the angle base 180 degrees. Although there is room for some other accessories, most that I recommend below won't fit without some imagination and modification. I wish they had figured this out.
If this description has you convinced that this collection of attachments is complete, think again. There are several important accessories (besides 1/4-inch shaft bits) that I highly recommend. Why these aren't included in this otherwise complete kit really does not make much sense. You need them, so go ahead and spend the extra bucks. These include:
PR009 - Larger round base that accepts Bosch RA-series template guides (twist-click variety).
BOSCH PR009 Round Subbase Template Guide For Colt Palm Router
PR010 - Larger round base that accepts Porter-Cable style threaded template guides.
Bosch PR010 Round Subbase for Threaded Temp Guides for Bosch Colt Palm Routers
PR007 - Side handle subbase with vacuum attachment. This is great for edge treatments, as the router is stable and chips are collected.
BOSCH Side-Handle Subbase and Dust Hood Part No. PR007
PR008 - Insulating base cover. If you use the router a lot, the aluminum base gets hot. This keeps your hand cool when holding the router--a great idea. You don't want the router getting away from you because you aren't holding it tightly.
Bosch PR008 Base Cover for Bosch Colt Palm Routers
RA1150 - Centering cone. This is very useful for accurately mounting sub-bases, and I seem to do this a lot with this router.
Bosch RA1150 Centering Cone
RA1125 - 7-Piece Templet Guide Set (RA Series twist-click, use base PR009)
Bosch RA1125 7-Piece Router Template Guide Set
Porter-Cable 42000 9-Piece Template Guide Kit. (Screw in type, use base PR010) There are a lot of different sets of these available, including a solid brass set, which I actually like better.
Porter-Cable 42000 9-Piece Template Guide Kit
So why do I recommend both the PC-style and the Bosch RA-style template guides? Because I find I need them both. To use this router with a Porter Cable dovetail jig, the PC style template guides make life easier (the dovetail jig comes with the correct guide). To use this router with a Bosch door hinge template, the Bosch RA-style works better. And I like using this router with jigs. It is lighter and easier to manipulate than my larger routers. It isn't a plunge router, which is a problem sometimes, so I don't use it when I need to plunge.
So what about bits? This kit should have come with the following set:
Bosch RBS020XW 3 Piece 1/4-Inch Shank Laminate Trim Router Bit Set
Bosch RBS020XW 3 Piece 1/4-Inch Shank Laminate Trim Router Bit Set
And if you want to make template cuts:
Bosch RBS021XW 3 Piece 1/4-Inch Shank Template Cutting Router Bit Set
Bosch RBS021XW 3 Piece 1/4-Inch Shank Template Cutting Router Bit Set
And one very useful bit to cut holes in panels:
BOSCH Pilot Panel Bit 1/4", 1/4" Shank, 1 Flute, Carbide Tipped 85244 (
BOSCH Pilot Panel Bit 1/4", 1/4" Shank, 1 Flute, Carbide Tipped 85244
(Amazon only permits 10 product links in a review, so you will have to find the following yourselves.)
And the bit required to do the very accurate panel joints using the underscribe attachment:
Bosch 85213M 1/8" diameter (ASIN:B000CNMHCO)
Robt Bosch Tool Corp Accy 85213M 2-Flute Straight Bit
So, should someone buy this kit if they aren't installing laminate? No, buy the base router and add a few other items:
Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Palm Grip 5.7 Amp 1-Horsepower Fixed Base Variable Speed Router with Edge Guide
(ASIN:B000ANQHTA)
Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Palm Grip 5.7 Amp 1-Horsepower Fixed Base Variable Speed Router with Edge Guide
Add the template base of your choice (above) and the centering cone (also above) and the side-handle sub base with vacuum attachment, and the related items I mention above. You won't have the angle or offset base, the underscribe attachment, or the bearing guides, but you won't miss them. If you later install laminate (I mean a lot of it), buy the other accessories or a whole new kit. Having more than one of these routers is a great idea, as you will make fewer setups.
Very nice trim and edge router.February 17, 2010 G. Robinson(CO) I haven't done much with this yet but so far it is very impressive. Easy to handle and the various bases are good. Easy to switch bases and adjust depth. The only bad thing is the max bit diameter is about 1 1/2" and I am not sure that it will swing this large a bit in hardwood although it is fine with pine book case mock up. I bought the 50pc Carbide Tipped 1/4" Shank Router Bit Set and a couple of the bits are marginal in size for this router.
Rockler has these on a blow out sale for $150 as of 2/17/2010, I have no idea how long that will last.
When I get a chance to try it on Balic Burch plywood and hardwood I will update this.
AmazonApril 12, 2009 Larks 0 out of 3 found this review helpful
Excellent merchandise at a reasonable price! As with all Bosch tools, is there a ranking higher than five stars?
Nice setMarch 19, 2009 M. Krystlik 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
I don't use it very often but did a few hours of work with it and I like it. Easy set up and enough power. I just both it so i don't have to unmount my big router from the table. Also smaller is very often better for some jobs.
Good little routerFebruary 9, 2009 C. Her(Maplewood, MN USA) 0 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is a nice little router. I use it for smaller projects around the house and haven't had any problems with it. It appears to be made of good quality.
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