Bosch RA1181 Benchtop Router Table

the router table itself is mostly ok, not great (leveling was a pain) but the really frustrating thing is that the mounting plate that came with the router is *not* the routing plate in the manual
the holes are in totally different spots. with a bunch of rotating I could almost make 3 holes match my dewalk 618 fixed base, but not quite, and not being able to get three holes meant that there was a lot of vibration when using the table.
the vibration sheared the head off one of the screws and bent the other, which left me with a broken fixed base for my router that I'm going to have to replace, and meanwhile, even when I do replace the base (which is like, 50% of the cost of the table) I still won't have a mounting plate that fits, so I'm kinda screwed unless I replace the entire table.

and to add insult to injury, when I tried to upload photos with this review to show the mounting plate I have vs the one in the manual the site broke and wouldn't let me upload photos.

I bought this over a year ago,the more I use it the more disappointed I am.
Table top is not level nor perpendicular to the back stop.the slot where you would normally use a miter gauge is sloppy .790 width at the top .750 at the bottom there is a warp right where stock would start engaging the router bit,really useless.
I ran into the same problems others have mentioned with the mounting screws and leveling issues
I love my Bosch routers 2-1617’s and 1-movs 23.
you get what you pay for I should have spent the money for a better table.

The RA1181 router table has left me very unhappy with Bosch. This is sad since I used to praise most of their products and services. I chose this particular table to go with my MR23VS router and that is where the first problem happened.

There are three screws in the kit used to mount the MR23VS router to the RA1181 table. Two of the screws worked perfectly, but since the third mounting hole is not open ended, the screw bottomed out and the head twisted off. I managed to get the screw out, but I ended up cross threading the screw hole in the router with a replacement screw. I thought I found the correct replacement screw at the hardware store, but it appears it must have been one or two threads off from the original threads. At this point, I am leery of removing the screw since it could create more damage. That also means I will always need to use it with the table.

The second problem has to do with the slot for the miter gauge. It is beyond my comprehension that Bosch still sells the RA1181 router table when it is not possible to purchase either a Bosch (part # 2610997204) or a third party miter gauge for this model.

This table is probably a good solution for those that can mount their route without issues and do not desire a miter gauge, but for me... I am very unhappy. I contacted Home Depot about returning it, but I had it sitting in the box for too long before I found out about not being able to find a suitable miter gauge. Besides that, if I remove the router, I will most likely need to tap the cross threaded mounting hole for a new screw.

As one of the few metal table tops, and available for a reasonable price, this table should have been a tremendous value and a five star review. My unit's aluminum table is not 100% flat, and getting the aluminum insert plate to sit flush is tedious, but I'm OK with this considering the price and the MDF alternatives. However, the 4" red plastic insert rings do not sit flush to the table, they are recessed by 0.02". This may not seem like much, but when making precise cuts (i.e. sliding dovetails) this introduces unacceptable slop as the leading and trailing edges of the piece pass over the ring. This is a frequently cited problem in other reviews.

When asked, Bosch technical support's email response was "The inserts are designed to sit 1/8" inch below the table top" and "The reason why the insert ring set is not flush is because it was a product safety requirement."

Since this is by design, I don't know of a simple solution to this. The ability to perform precision work with this otherwise capable table is basically compromised just because of these cheap plastic parts. Disappointing.

I've had my Bosh Router and Router table for a few years and have made cabinets for a bar, a bookshelf, and some picture frame wall brackets. Using a router is such a cool experience and it is a great tool to own. The table adds so much versitiliy as well as some of the other accessories like the plunge bracket.

There are two issues that keep me giving this five stars. One is the way you mount the router into the table and switch it out to use with other accessories. It is very hard to slide it in and out of the table clamp. So much so I've thought of buying a second router so I can leave one in the table and never have to remove it. The bracket is a tight fit and it takes some rocking it back and forth and brute force to get it to slide into place. For me it is a frustrating experience.

Second is the storage for the parts. there are a lot of nuts and bolts that you use sometimes with a fence and other times you have to store them. It would be great if this storage was part of the table. There is a slot on one side that can hold the fences but there is no lid to it so small parts can fall out. Better stroage management for the complete list of parts and accessories would be helpful and for Bosch, a nice way to sell another item.

Last, since I've lost some of theses small parts, I am looking for replacements online and it is hard to find them. Please improve your website so all the little nuts, bolts, and other accessories are better categorized and easier to find.

Overall I love the tool and the table. But these little things make for an experience that is less than ideal.

I wanted strong router and I got it. But I cant find router table or at least aluminum plate for table which can accept gof2000ce. Even Bosh tables do not support Bosh 2000ce

Wife got me the router table , and a new router, it came with a edged base and a plunge base separately, table looked good went together well , I got ready to install the router ridged base it wouldn’t go in table so I took a handle off couldn’t get the other off so tight and what kind of tool would you use on this cheap screww(?) t
Got answer to email said table not compatible with table(?) so now I’ve got a 180 router I can’t use the way I wanted to! Although it is in with ridged base

Wife got me the router table , and a new router, it came with a edged base and a plunge base separately, table looked good went together well , I got ready to install the router ridged base it wouldn’t go in table so I took a handle off couldn’t get the other off so tight and what kind of tool would you use on this cheap screww(?) t
Got answer to email said table not compatible with table(?) so now I’ve got a 180 router I can’t use the way I wanted to! Although it is in with ridged base

Purchased this a little over a year ago, and am reasonably satisfied with the product. I definitely like the cast aluminum top which gives you good solid support.
However there are a few things I would change that would make this a great router table. 1. I would increase the size of the table surface from 18 by 23.5” to 24 by 28”,
2. I would machine properly sized T-slots in table surface, this would allow for the use of
precision miter gauges and other accessories.
3. I would use conventional sized aluminum T-slots in fence, this would allow for use of
various accessories available.
4. I would include provision for extension bars with roller supports that could be pulled out
from both sides of table and locked into place the extra width and length provided by
item 1 would allow for this without interfering with the routers being used. The actual
extension bars could be sold as an optional accessory, for supporting longer work
pieces.
As is I do like this table I’d rate at 3.75 out of 5. I it had the above listed improvements I
would definitely give it 5 out of 5.

Recently I bought a Bosch MRC23EVSK, but I need a Roter table, is compatible this router whith the RA1181 benchtop router table??