Customer Reviews

Bosch PR010 Round Subbase for Threaded Temp Guides for Bosch Colt Palm Routers

5 star:		(4)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This base does make the Colt a much more versatile router. It is easy to install, but hard to center. I do not have the centering cone so I had to use a 3/8" round-over bit that just happens to fit the opening exactly. Even with the bit, the base wanted to creep over when the first screw was partially tightened. The only other thing to note is that after the base is installed, you can't put the router back into the case without removing it which means that you have to go back through the pain of re-centering it the next time you need it.

Ditto on the Buchholtz review. You can center this subbase using a bushing and snug fitting bit but the centering cone will make your life easier. It would also be nice if Bosch anticipated this and left more room in the router case for this base.

I used my Bosch PR20 Colt router with a P-C 59370 Door Hinge Template. The small base, while very nice for many jobs, does not span the opening in this template. You will want to have either this subbase or the PR009 for template work.

I chose the PR010 over the PR009 due to the ready availability of 1-3/16" bushings and the relatively poor reviews of Bosch's bayonet mount bushing. Milwaukee's bushing kit is fine quality and their service is great.

I wanted to use my Bosch Palm Router for a project and it required the use of a templete guide bushing. I ordered this subbase from Amazon. It arrived quickly from amazon. I noticed that the packaging appeared old and the date on the packaging was from 2005. The subbase appeared to be in good shape and it was flat. I went to mount the subbase using a centering cone and no matter what hole configeration I tried, it wouldn't line up.

This subbase has absolutely zero value now and will end up in the garbage since it's not worth the time and effort to return it. Sadly, I am not able to use my Colt Palm Router now for many important task in the shop.

Until Bosch fixes this issue (and it is an issue based on the other reviews), I would recommend staying away from this subbase. If you see yourself needing to use template guide bushings in the future, I would avoid buying the Bosch Colt Palm Router. There are other nice Palm Routers out there that don't have these problems with their accessories.

This base was seriously bowed (at least 1/16 of an inch) in the center; I had to sand it flat before using it.

The objective of the subbase is to be able to use template guides that are centered around the bit. The problem with this subbase is that Bosch, in saving a few sheckels, chose to have it cast out of high impact plastic. Unfortunately, the result is that there is 1/32" camber in the base. Consequently when you mount it, it's not flat, it doesn't hold the guide template in the proper relationshiip with the base, and even the most minor adjustments to the height of the bit result in a misalignment of the bit to the template guide. I purchased the centering cone, but it had no effect on the usefulness of this base. Since you have to remove the motor in order to get the centering cone out (there isn't enough clearance, as there would be with a normal router), everything gets misaligned and you're better off moving the base around until you get it aligned manually. I wish Bosch would have made the base out of phenolic and machined it rather than having it cast.

The flange of the guide bushing mounts into a shoulder concentric with the opening in the base. My guide bushings, which fit perfect in my Porter Cable routers, would NOT fit into the shoulder recess on this base. It appeared that the shoulder opening in the base was too small, or possibly not round, by maybe a couple thousandths of an inch. Just enough so the bushings would not go into their seat. Do I return it or try to correct it myself? Either way, I end up on the losing end. I chose to use a small chisel and manually scrape the receiving ring in the base until it was enlarged enough to accept the bushings. Much akin to reaming an undersized hole. I finally got it properly sized, and the bushings now fit and seat properly.
Judging from my experience, along with other reviews, it appears that Bosch has some manufacturing / QC issues with this item. In hindsight, it would have been easier to simply use one of my Porter Cable bases and drill 4 mounting holes to mount it onto the Bosch.
All the listed complaints are indicative of the base being deformed in one way or another. Did it ship from the factory in the deformed condition?... or did it deform over time like a box of chocolates? Either way, I would recommend looking at other options before choosing this one.

I just got mine via USPS. Mine is dead flat, my bushings fit it, and yes, I will need a centering cone to center it.

The only drawbacks to it are:

..it will not fit into the case when attached to the base
..The hole in the middle is smaller than the original hole.
..The fence will not fit the base with it in place without cutting a chunk out of it

None of these are a drawback, unless you plan to leave the base on full time to give the router a larger footprint.

In theory, this seems like a useful accessory for the Colt Palm Router. In application this subbase is pretty much a flop.
Other reviewers have helpfully addressed the need for a centering cone for centering the bit in this base. I think the centering issues go beyond this though. Fundamentally the Colt Router doesn't provide an adequate platform for this subbase to work effectively. Don't get me wrong, the Colt Router is a great tool for doing light edging and trimming. If you own one though, you know that the method for attaching and positioning the body in the base is not exactly a precision system.
The difficuly of centering the bit in this base relates to the need to rotate the body between operations. If you use a centering cone to center the bit, you will need to rotate the base off the body to change it out. I found that by the time I removed the cone and replaced it with a router bit I had lost my alignment. This may not affect everyone: my most pronouced difficulties came when I was trying to make a rabbet at two different depths. Rotating the body to lower the bit threw my second cut out of alignment. I eventually gave up and did my work with a plunge router.
In the future I plan to use pattern bearing bits with this router rather than the template guides.

If you own a Bosch Colt Hand held router, or are considering purchasing one, this accessory is required if you want to be able to use the threaded template guide Bushings (PC-style). Here is a link to one of the models of this router:

Bosch PR20EVSK Colt Palm Grip 5.7 Amp 1-Horsepower Fixed-Base Variable-Speed Router with Edge Guide

The PR010 base is made of quality material and is accurately machined. It is 1/4 inch thick. It does exactly what you should expect and comes with mounting screws.

I do recommend that you also purchase the Bosch centering cone, as it is required to quickly get the template and base centered on the router collet. This is a critical step. Without centering you cannot get acceptable results. It must be perfectly aligned for dovetails, mortises, stringing, inlays, etc. The provided instructions tell how to use the cone to align everything. Here is link to the centering cone:

Bosch RA1150 Centering Cone

If you have the Bosch Colt Installer's kit, the only place this base will fit in the case is under the offset base, but it will store there nicely.

This base is very similar to the PR009 base, which is for use with the Bosch RA-style twist-click template guides. (Note that the PR009 base is 7/16 inches thick, and will not store in the installer's kit case.) Although I own both subbases, most folks will only need one or the other. I have them both because I use a Bosch hinge template system for doors (with a Bosch RA-style template guide) and a Porter Cable dovetail template system (with a PC-style threaded template guide.)

BOSCH PR009 Round Subbase Template Guide For Colt Palm Router

In addition to the PR010 and PR009 bases, Bosch offers all of the special bases in the installer's kit, and one other, the PR007, which is a vacuum attachment base with an offset handle. The offset handle is very helpful around corners to prevent the router from tipping and the dust extraction helps.

Bosch PR007 Side-Handle Subbase and Dust Hood

And one other note: In my review of the PR009 subbase I discuss how to mark the subases and speed the mounting on the Colt Router.

Purchased this from Amazon to allow me to use my set of standard template guide bushings. However, the recess around the center hole is too small and the outer flange of the guide bushings will not fit. I measured the recess diameter and it same out 1.370. The outer flange on my guide bushings all measure 1.376. The guide bushings are a good snug fit in the sub-base of my full sized router, so I don't believe they are the issue. The center hole measures 1.250, so the bushings will rattle around unless the outer flange is a close fit in the recess. Opening the diameter of the recess a few thousandths appears to be the only way to try to get the base to work correctly.