Golden let me borrow his Skil Router (I think it's the 1830) and been using it for the past few weeks now. Built my table saw stand and tool cabinet with it as well as a bunch of doodads here and there just to put it through the paces. I thought I may as well put it to some test as a favor for Golden.

My opinion: This is a to-die-for router. I've used other routers before. But this router really got me excited. If Bosch is not careful, it could eat into the Bosch 1617 market.

I know, I know, the Bosch tools are made of tougher stuff than Skil. But I find that for hobbyists' power tools, unlike hand tools, life expectancy is shorter; not because of durability, but because of evolution. We want better toys all the time!

I saw the Skil 1830 announced in finewoodworking.com so I posted the comment below:

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I have been using one for the past few weeks now. Robert Bosch Phil (I am in Manila, Phil) offered to let our handyman club test drive it and I got to be the lucky one.

Everything works as it should. I like the lightness/heft of it.

I find I always start right on the mark because the soft start doesn't jerk me off my target and the LED light really brightly shows me where I am, even in a flurry of wood dust. I tried routing a straight cut without a fence, just eyeballing it, and somehow did it right. I will always use a fence for straight cuts, though; too nerve-wracking without it, just trying to see how stable this router is.

The motor is not as noisy as my Maktec plunge router and runs very smooth. I have not done some caliper-measured accuracy tests but with how solid the router feels when it's working, the absence of any vibration gives me confidence it cuts true. The dual switch also provides flexibility when groping around on turning on/off.

The depth adjustment is just sweet. In my old router I would make several test cuts on a piece of scrap wood to adjust depth and was a chore since the knob was too tight. With the Skil , I test once, measure the test cut depth, adjust using the router's knob, then, usually, just one more test cut. I probably could eliminate test cuts and just stick to measuring (the 1830's gauge seemed accurate so far) but most woodworkers would probably tell you there's nothing more confidence building than a good test cut.

My only complaint is that the base, made of hard, clear plastic looks somewhat brittle. Never tried to test its breaking point but, probably, some care would make it last. Bosch Phil though tells me it's made of tough plastic.

I wish I had the fixed base. I tried mounting it on my Bosch RA1181 Router Table but the spring on the plunge base keeps springing back and haven't had the time and confidence enough to dismantle it and remove the spring. The depth lock works just fine with the router upright. But upside-down, the combination of gravity and spring force is just too much for the lock. But who am I to complain? I was using the plunge base not for its intended purpose.

Looking at the photo of the fixed base, the micro-fine adjustment knob seems to be in the same place as the plunge base. In my often-failed, attempt at using the plunge base on the router table, I waas pleased to find that the adjustment knob's position is well thought: the router is mounted on the table with the knob just right in front of you.

I wonder if the motor is the same dimension as the Bosch 1617/1618. If it is, this would also be a winner paired with the Bosch RA1165 Router Lift.

While I do a lot of woodworking (building a 22-foot strip-planked sailboat at the moment), I am still a weekend hobbyist. For my use, the Skil 1830 is the perfect value-for-money tool.