Robert Bosch Power Tools, Inc.

Router Bit 85227MC sold as one half inch but is actually 13 mm in diameter.On 11/02/2013, I purchased Bosch Router bit 85227MC at Lowe's number 1799 in Athens, Al. The bit was sold as one half inch diameter with a one inch cutting length and was made in Mexico. My purpose for buying the bit was to create one half inch box joints in four inch wide stock using a Porter Cable OmniJig. I set up the OmniJig and then spent the next six hours plus making test cuts on scrap wood to get a precise fit on the box joints. No matter how I adjusted the jig, the edges would not line up and joints were too loose. I checked the diameter of the router bit using precision calipers and found out that the bit was not one half inch (0.5") in diameter but was actually 0.5118 inches in diameter or 13 millimeters. I did a sanity check by drilling a one half inch hole and a 13 mm hole in a piece of scrap wood. The bit was too big to fit in the one half inch hole but fit the 13 mm hole precisely. Straight cut bits are normally used to create mortises, dados, rabbets and in this case box joints. The accuracy of the bit diameter is critical to achieving a precise fit in these types of joints. I knew that I would never be able to get a precise fit using the bit, so I returned it to the store and the purchase price was refunded. I reported the discrepancy to the on duty Lowe's manager. I suspect that all Bosch straight cut router bits are manufactured to metric units instead of the advertised English units. Desired SettlementBosch clearly state on the packaging for all applicable power tool accessories that the item was manufactured using metric units and may not precisely be the English System size. An example label would say: Router Bit 85227MC 0.51 inch or 13mm. Another choice would be to require its suppliers to manufacture the accessories to the English measurement system and then verify that supplier compliance with frequent quality audits. Business Response Contact Name and Title: [redacted], Product MgrContact Phone: [redacted]Contact Email: [redacted]Per your request, we have investigated Case # 40091688, and confirmed that the manufacturing drawing for Bosch router bit 85227MC specifies a ½" cutting diameter and not 13mm. All Bosch router bits are manufactured to very close tolerances that meet or exceed industry standards and are guaranteed to be free of defects in material or workmanship. If any product does not meet the stated specifications, it will be replaced at no charge. Please advise if we can be of any further assistance in this matter. Thank you.Final Consumer Response (The consumer indicated he/she DID NOT accept the response from the business.)My measurements, which are accurate to 1/10,000th and the fact that the physical bit cut openings are greater than 1/2" disproves the Bosch statement. Just checking drawings without physically measuring a representative sample of the bits is a short cut that does not correct the problem. Bosch has a problem with their quality control for their 1/2" bits made outside the US and are making no effort to correct the discrepancy. Final Business Response After speaking to the customer, we again called the Lowe's store in Athens GA to retrieve the returned 85227MC router bit for examination but it had been discarded. All Bosch router bits are manufactured in an ISO 9001-certified plant in Taiwan which continuously monitors dimensional accuracy, and we have notified our Quality Control and technical service departments of Mr. [redacted]'s complaint so they are aware of it. The ultimate judge of our quality is the customer, and we record and investigate all concerns to help ensure that our products perform to our customers' expectations. We appreciate Mr. [redacted]'s choice of a Bosch product, and hope that he may consider Bosch once again for his needs in the future.