The Bosch Colt PR20EVS is known as the best palm router, because it is easily held and maneuvered. In this guide, we will review the Bosch Colt PR20EVS palm router, its features, pros and cons.
Bosch Colt Review
Ergonomically-Designed Grip
The fact that the Bosch Colt PR20EVS’s grip is molded makes it fit nicely into your hand and therefore gives you the ability to work with single-handedly.
On top of that, there are finger guards on the front of the fixed base to provide safety and reduce the vibration’s effect on your arm during extended periods of work.
Horse Power Motor with Soft Start
The 1.0 peak HP motor produces 5.6 amp of speed.
Of course, this is pretty low compared to a lot of other options on the market, but then again, it’s good enough for a palm router.
Moreover, the motor has a lot of power and torque that suit small woodworking projects such as cutting trim around a house or a tool shop.
The Bosch Colt PR20EVS is equipped with a soft start feature that minimizes the torque on the motor to extend its lifetime.
It’s also equipped with Bosch’s patent constant response circuit that helps maintain the speed under different loads to give you a constant performance which can mess up with your cut as well as protection from overload.
Variable Speeds
This small router comes with a variable speed dial on its top to enable the user to set the suitable speed for the routing task.
The rotations per minute range from 16,000 RPM to 35,000 RPM and twisting during startup is minimized thanks to the electronic speed control that maintains speed under load.
If you’re looking to work with large diameter bits and cutters ranging between 2.50 to 3 inches, you can set the dial from 1 to 3 to give you an RPM range between 16,000 and 20,000.
Check this 1-minute video to see more features regarding the motor and the variable speed system.
These bits include rabbits and round overs and the lower speeds give you better command over the router, reduce friction and keep the router from overheating.
On the other hand, if you want to work with smaller diameter bits and cutters that range from 1 to 2.25 inches, you can go for 4 to 6 on the speed dial to get an RPM range between 22,500 and 35,000 RPM.
These larger bits can be used for projects like chamfering wood, unique decorative cuts, and cutting edges on cabinets.
They include dovetail, rabitting, and flush trim bits which are perfect for working with softwoods to make signs, plastics, and laminates on a countertop.
Bosch Colt Router Base –Plunge and Fixed
Fixed bases help you keep a constant and consistent depth during operation, whereas plunge bases give you the ability to plunge the router bit down into the workpiece and then lift it back out after making the desired cut.
The Bosch Colt PR20EVS comes with both types of bases.
The fixed one has a more compact size and better visibility when it comes to the cuts that the user is making.
As for the plunge base, the action lock lever is ergonomically located near the left handle on the back and springs to a locked position when you release it.
This makes the plunge action very smooth to produce the cleanest cuts possible.
However, the plunge base’s adjustment wheel might sometimes not lock in its position which means that the user has to readjust the settings.
For this reason, the Bosch Colt PR20EVS would be more suitable for routing edges on large pieces or cutting opening for a kitchen sink but not for fine furniture projects.
Collet
The 1/4-inch collet is conveniently-sized for a compact palm router that’s designed for trimming and lightweight woodworking as opposed to heavy-duty routing projects.
It’s not compatible with ½-inch bit shanks.
Moreover, the collet is drop-forged which means it’s quite strong and durable. It also has a front push button spindle lock to facilitate bit changes with only one wrench.
Cutting Depth
The Bosch Colt PR20EVS comes with a 7-step adjustable depth stop turret system to maximize its speed and precision.
This system allows you to make macro as well as micro-adjustments by using the wheel dial on the left-hand side in the back.
With each turn of the dial, you get a cutting depth that is around 3/64 of an inch or 1.25 mm deep.
Durability
The Bosch Colt PR20EVS’s housing is made from aluminum and has a palm-shaped, rubber-molded grip.
You get stable one-handed operation and two-finger support pocket on both sides of the front part of the base.
On top of that, it comes with a hard case to contain all the parts in the kit as well as any accessories you might buy such as bits or guides.
Finally, the Bosch Colt PR20EVS comes with a year’s limited warranty.
Dimensions
The Bosch Colt PR20EVS measures 9.41 x 7.43 x 4.7 inches and it weighs 11.8 pounds with the fixed base and 14 pounds with the plunge base.
Bosch Colt Router Parts
A PR001 fixed base, a 1/4-inch self-releasing collet chuck, a shaft wrench, a collet wrench.
Bosch Colt Router Accessories
You can enhance your Bosch Colt PR20EVS’s performance with many accessories.
These include the Bosch PR005 Offset base that enables you to route almost vertical surfaces such as laminate applied to the top of a counter or back-splash.
You can also get the PR005 tile base with a 70-degree tool-less tilt adjustment range that can be set to 30 degrees to 45 degrees with detents every 7.5 degrees to reach the common angles easily.
Bosch Colt vs DeWalt DW611PK
Both these routers are good but for different purposes.
If you’re looking for the more budget-friendly choice and you’re going to do light-duty jobs, you can make use of this affordable 1 HP model.
However, if you want more accurate depth adjustments and a quieter work environment, go for the DeWalt DWP611PK.
Moreover, if you’re looking to work with a plunge base, the Bosch Colt might disappoint you compared to the DWP611PK.
Pros
- The air vents on top keep the router cool
- The quick clamp lever system facilitates base changes
- Speed dial is positioned on top
- Ergonomically-designed grip
- 7-step adjustable depth stop turret
- Angled cord design keeps it out of your work area
Cons
- The power switch doesn’t have a dust cover
- No side handles except on the plunge base
- ¼-inch collet only
Final Words
If you’re a woodworker with some experience and you would like to do some projects around the house or want a router to perform your trimming, the Bosch Colt PR20EVS would be a very suitable choice for you.
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