Makita RF1101 vs Bosch 1617 Hands On Test

The makita rf1101 vs bosch 1617 choice is hard. I put both tools to work in my own shop. I cut real wood with them for a wide test. Let me share my true thoughts on these two tools.

Makita RF1101 Router

I got the Makita tool to shape custom oak wood. I need a quiet tool to work all day long. This tool makes very low noise when it runs fast. It spins very fast but stays super quiet.

I put this tool to the test on thick maple. I used a large round edge bit on the wood. The tool starts up soft and does not jerk hard. It glides on the wood with no shake at all.

The base plate is flat and very smooth. It slides well on nice wood tops. I did not scratch my pricey wood parts at all. It feels very safe and calm in my hands.

I check the cord on this tool first. The cord is long and moves well in the cold. I can walk far around my big wood desk. It does not get stuck on sharp wood edges.

After weeks of work, the ring got stuck tight. It uses a screw ring to change the bit height. Wood dust gets tight in the small screw grooves. I use air blasts to clean it out a lot.

Changing the bits takes two flat metal bars. It is hard to do fast in the busy shop. The metal bars can slip off the nut. I wish it had a fast push lock for bits.

The tool is still very tough after hard drops. I dropped it off my bench twice by pure mistake. It still cuts dead straight on the wood boards. It gives me great cuts day after day.

I hold the tool with one hand on small jobs. It has a round shape that fits my hand well. But the top feels a bit heavy in the air. You must hold it firm to keep it flat.

Bosch 1617 Router

I bought the Bosch to put in my wood table. I heard it makes deep cuts very well for joints. The real wood grips feel great in my big hands. It pulls big power from the wall plug.

I cut deep lines in hard nut wood to test. It chewed through the thick wood fast and clean. It did not slow down or burn the wood cuts. It beats my old reference tool by a clear mile.

I made big doors with it next on the bench. The motor stayed strong on big wood bits. The grip holds the bit tight all day long. It feels like a true beast for the shop.

The sound of the tool is quite loud in use. You must wear ear muffs when you turn it on. It sounds like a fast jet in a small room. But the raw speed makes the job go fast.

The best part is the micro depth dial on top. You can set your cut height dead on each time. It makes tight wood joints very fast to do. The results stay the same over many test cuts.

Taking the motor out is very quick and fast. You just flip the catch and pull it straight up. This saves time when you change bits on the table. You do not fight with tools under the wood.

The power switch gets stuck from fine dust. I saw this after I cut a lot of board. But the main build is built just like a rock. The metal case stays cool on long jobs.

The weight is heavy but it sits well on wood. The mass keeps the tool from jumping on hard knots. It stays flat and true on wide board cuts. I trust it for my best wood jobs.

Detailed Comparison for Makita RF1101 vs Bosch 1617

Let us look at how these tools match up now. I test them side by side on the same wood. I look at real use and not just the box. Here is what I found in my shop.

Depth Set Accuracy

Getting the right cut depth is key for good joints. The Bosch wins this test by a huge amount. The fine dial lets you move the bit tiny steps. The cuts fit tight every single time I check them.

The Makita uses a twist ring for depth. It works fine for basic edge cuts on boards. But it is hard to dial in for tight joints. It also slips a bit if dust gets in it.

I made ten test cuts with both tools today. The Bosch kept the exact same depth on all ten. The Makita lost a tiny bit of height on cut eight. You must check it more times to be safe.

Tool Shape and Feel

The shape of the tool changes how you work. The Bosch has big wood knobs on the sides. You grab them hard and steer the tool like a car. It feels very planted and safe on the wood.

The Makita is a tall round tube of metal. You grip the sides of the round tube base. It is nice for one hand when you trim edge tape. But your hands might slide on the smooth sides.

I get less tired hands when I use the Bosch. The wide grips let me push hard on big cuts. The Makita cord is nice and soft in cold air. But the Bosch just sits better on the work piece.

Sound and Shake

Loud tools make your head hurt after a long day. The Makita is the clear king of quiet work. It turns on soft and purrs like a small cat. You can talk to a friend while it runs.

The Bosch screams loud when you turn the power on. It shakes your hands a bit more than the Makita. I check the noise with a meter on my phone. The Bosch makes the meter jump way up high.

The smooth run of the Makita saves your tired arms. You do not feel the buzz in your bones. If you work in a small room, get the Makita. It is just a joy to run for hours.

Build and Parts

Both of these tools are built tough for hard jobs. The Bosch uses a thick metal frame that drops heat. It gets warm but not hot to the touch. The wood handles take hits and do not crack.

The Makita uses good metal parts for the base. It fell on my hard floor and did not bend. The plug cord is thick and does not pull out. I think both tools will last for ten years.

The bit holders on both tools grip very tight. They do not let the sharp bits fly out. I wish the Makita had a fast lock button. But the parts they use are top shelf stuff.

Raw Work Power

Both tools plug in the wall for big power. The Bosch pulls more juice from the wall plug. You feel the big torque when you hit a knot. It does not slow down at all in hard wood.

The Makita pulls a bit less juice from the wall. It cuts well but you must feed it more slow. If you push too fast, the spin gets slow. It needs a calm hand to cut deep lines.

The Bosch speeds back up fast if it bogs down. The Makita takes a long breath to spin fast again. For massive cuts, the Bosch is the right choice. It just powers through the worst wood you have.

The choice comes down to how you like to work. The Bosch is my top pick for the wood table. The Makita is the best for quiet hand work. You will make great things with either of these tools. Pick the one that fits your own shop needs.