Bosch Professional 601626000 Review

When you are building furniture, fitting kitchen cabinets, or crafting decorative edges on a piece of timber, an ordinary saw and some sandpaper simply will not cut it. Getting truly professional results in woodworking — the kind where joints fit flush, grooves are perfectly straight, and profiles have that crisp, factory-finished look — requires a tool that combines raw power with pinpoint control. A good plunge router gives you exactly that. It lets you lower a spinning cutting bit into the surface of your workpiece at any point, not just from the edge, opening up possibilities for dados, mortises, inlays, and template-guided shaping that a fixed-base tool cannot match. Whether you are a professional joiner routing hinge recesses on door frames day after day, a cabinet maker creating dovetail joints, or a serious hobbyist who wants furniture that looks like it came from a proper workshop rather than a flat pack, the right router transforms what you can achieve. The question is: which one gives you the power, precision, and accessories to make every cut count?

Wood routers sit at the heart of any serious workshop, but choosing one means weighing up several factors that will directly affect the quality of your work. Power output — measured in watts — determines how easily the tool cuts through hardwoods without bogging down. Variable speed control is equally important because large-diameter bits need slower rotation to avoid burning the wood or losing control, while smaller bits perform best at high RPM. The plunge mechanism itself deserves close attention: a smooth, well-damped stroke with a generous depth range makes the difference between a clean cut and a chattered mess. Collet size — typically 6 mm, 8 mm, or 12 mm — dictates which bits you can use. Bosch Professional has been making routers for decades, and their GOF series represents the workhorse end of their range: powerful, durable, and built for tradespeople who use their tools to earn a living.

In this review we take a close look at the Bosch GOF 1250 CE, a 1250-watt plunge router that ships as a bundle with a 15-piece mixed router bit set. We will cover the motor performance and speed range, the quality of the plunge action, the build and ergonomics, what comes in the box, and — most importantly — what kind of work this combination can actually handle. We will also break down the pros and cons honestly so you know exactly what you are getting before you part with your money.

At the core of the Bosch GOF 1250 CE sits a 1250-watt motor that delivers a no-load speed range of 10,000 to 24,000 RPM, giving you precise control for everything from large panel-raising bits at the lower end to fine detailing cutters at full speed. Bosch's Constant Electronic system maintains the selected RPM under load, so the motor does not slow down when the bit bites into hardwood — a feature that makes a real difference to finish quality and reduces burning. The plunge stroke measures a full 60 mm, which is generous enough for deep mortising and template work. The collet accepts bits with shank diameters from 6 mm up to 8 mm, covering the vast majority of common router cutters. The spindle lock allows single-wrench bit changes, which is a practical touch when you are switching between bits frequently during a project.

Design-wise, the GOF 1250 CE follows the familiar Bosch Professional blueprint: a sturdy metal base plate with a machined aluminium housing, a pair of soft-grip handles on either side, and a transparent chip deflector that helps keep the cut line visible while directing debris away from your face. The plunge mechanism operates on two solid columns and the spring action is well-damped — it does not slam down when released, which protects both the bit and your workpiece. The depth stop turret has three preset positions plus a fine-adjustment wheel, letting you step down in controlled increments for deep cuts rather than trying to hog out material in a single pass. A copy sleeve with a 17 mm diameter is included as standard, essential for template-guided routing.

In daily use, the tool feels balanced and manageable at 3.6 kg — heavy enough to stay planted during a cut but not so heavy that it becomes tiring when working on vertical surfaces like door frames. The variable speed dial is positioned on top where you can adjust it without letting go of the handles, and the on-off switch is large enough to operate by feel. The power cable exits from the top of the motor housing and stays out of the cutting path. Vibration levels are rated at 5.5 m/s², which is moderate for a router of this power class. The transparent base plate gives you good visibility of the bit relative to your pencil line, though as with any plunge router, you will want supplementary lighting for very precise work.

What sets this particular bundle apart is the included 15-piece mixed router bit set, designed for use with an 8 mm shank. The set covers the essential profiles you need for everyday joinery and decorative work: straight bits for grooves and dados, rounding-over bits for softening edges, chamfer bits for angled edges, and profile bits for more elaborate mouldings. The cutters are made from carbide-tipped steel and are manufactured to the DIN EN-847 safety standard, which means they have been tested for safe operation at high RPM. The bits come in a compact storage case that fits neatly alongside the router itself. Also in the box you get a parallel guide with fine adjustment for routing straight lines at a set distance from an edge, a guide bush adapter, and a collet spanner.

The router itself measures approximately 329 mm wide by 285 mm tall by 410 mm deep in its packaging, and the whole bundle ships in Bosch's robust L-BOXX-style case that keeps everything protected and organised between jobs. As a Bosch Professional tool, it is covered by the standard manufacturer's warranty with the option to extend to three years through registration. At the time of writing, it holds a 5.0 out of 5 stars rating from verified buyers — though the review count is small, so this should be taken as an indicator rather than definitive proof. For professional joiners, carpenters, and interior fitters who need a reliable plunge router backed by a useful starter set of bits, this bundle offers a complete out-of-the-box solution.

This plunge router and bit set combo is built for professional joiners, carpenters, and serious woodworking enthusiasts who need reliable power, precision depth control, and a comprehensive starter set of cutters for everyday joinery, cabinet making, and decorative profiling work.