Bosch has injected a lot of 18-volt power into its tools of late, delivering a major punch to all kinds of jobs. Routing is the latest application to get this treatment, thanks to the GKF 18V-8 Laminate Trimmer.
Edge routing is one of the more underrated tools in a chippy’s arsenal, unless you’re a cabinet maker.
SEE MORE: Tradie Tough Tests
There comes a time when all good tradies need to add a bit of finesse to their jobs, that’s where a router comes in.
Tradie Lachie Avery from Habitat Carpenters has seen a few edge routers in his time, but instantly noticed Bosch’s GKF 18V-8 had some unique designs that elevated it above the rest.
Lachie needed the Laminate Trimmer for some door entryways at a St Andrews Beach site on the Mornington Peninsula.
Test #1: Clean as
The last thing a chippy needs is woodchip debris flying everywhere when routing.
Not just because it makes a mess, but it’s also nasty for the lungs too.
That’s why this Laminate Trimmer is the first in the world to feature an in-built surface and edge-routing vacuum adaptor.
This adaptor reduces dust production by a best-in-class 95 per cent.
As well as being safe for the airways, Lachie loved that the Laminate Trimmer had Bosch’s unique drop control feature, which shuts off the tool if it’s dropped.
“It feels like you’re always in control, which is really great,” Lachie said.
For jobs in darker environments, the Laminate Trimmer has two LED lights so you’re not routing blind so to speak.
Test #2: Power and precision
Bosch’s 18V battery power can be felt in full force with this Laminate Trimmer to the tune of 1,000W of equivalent corded power.
“Bosch has done really well in bringing the power with its 18V batteries,” Lachie said.
“It’s second-to-none.”
Rough and fine adjustment is super easy thanks to an ergonomic dial, and the Laminate Trimmer’s constant speed function allowed Lachie to make quick changes without compromising the quality of the trims.
“With the changing of the depth … it’s done nice and easily,” Lachie said.
“I’ve never seen a fine adjust on a tool like this before, I really really like that.
“It saves you having to fiddle around and stop work, it’s really awesome.”
As well as being cordless, Lachie loved the size of the Laminate Trimmer.
“I love it – it feels so good in the hands,” Lachie said.
“Other routers can be quite bulky, but you can easily wrap a hand around this and get a good solid grip.”
“It felt easy on the hands when starting up and gave a really good finish on the product.”
Finishing touches
Lachie is a big Bosch fan, but even he admits the GKF 18V-8 Laminate Trimmer surpassed his expectations.
Something like edge routing can be hard to improve on, but all the design changes and additions to this Laminate Trimmer meant Lachie could make awesome cuts quickly, accurately and above all safely.
Check it out
Find out more by searching the Bosch Professional Power Tools online