I was informed today by a unreliable Festool supplier that router bits were no longer going to be manufactured by Festool. I was in a pinch and needed a metric cutter for some door hardware, so I called Rockler since its close to my site. Please tell me it isn't so...... I would be crushed if I couldn't use Fes bits anymore.

Hi Tom,

Do you know which bits will still be sold in NA?

That would really be sickening news if the 8mm bits are going away.    Say it ain't so, Shane! 

 
 The Festool  8 mm router bits (made by Lietz, IIRC) are superb bits, the carbide is high quality and the selection is huge.
 I have a bunch and will probably get a bunch more before they vaminos  muchachos.
 I wish it weren't so, but it is so and am hoping that Festool will revisit the router bits again. They were never properly promoted and featured and am betting the router promotion programs were passed around to whomever was unlucky enough to get that project "placed in their hands." Probably held up and handled like a dirty sweat sock, "puleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeze, give that job to someone else!"
 I could be exaggerating a tad, but it simply wasn't promoted. Anyhow, they are great bits at a good price.

Bob

We distributed a list of which router bits would be discontinued to dealers. The bits that are discontinued have been discounted by 25%.

I would like to mention, since the OP asked, that Festool will continue to manufacturer its router bits. We are just choosing not to offer some of them in the US market any more.

Here's a list of what we will no longer offer. As mentioned, we will continue to offer bits specific to the MFK, LR 32 and VS 600.

490645   Rev. stile & rail bit HW 46mm OF
490941   Groove/slot cutter HSS 3x8mm OF
490942   Groove/slot cutter HSS 4x15mm OF
490943   Groove/slot cutter HSS 5x12mm OF
490945   Spiral bit HSS 8x19mm OF
490947   Spiral bit HSS 12x20mm OF
490948   Spiral bit HSS 14x20mm OF
490949   Spiral bit HSS 16x20mm OF
490950   Spiral bit HSS 18x25mm OF
490951   Spiral bit HSS 20x25mm OF
490952   Straight/mortising bit HW3x6mm OF
490953   Straight/mortise bit HW 4x10mm OF
490954   Straight/mortise bit HW 5x12mm OF
490955   Straight/mortise bit HW 6x14mm OF
490956   Straight/mortise bit HW 7x17mm OF
490957   Straight/mortise bit HW 8x20mm OF
490958   Straight/mortise bit HW 9x23mm OF
490959   Straight/mortise bit HW10x20mm OF
490960   Straight/mortise bit HW10x25mm OF
490961   Straight/mortise bit HW11x20mm OF
490962   Straight/mortise bit HW12x20mm OF
490963   Straight/mortise bit HW13x20mm OF
490964   Straight/mortise bit HW14x20mm OF
490965   Straight/mortise bit HW15x20mm OF
490966   Straight/mortise bit HW16x20mm OF
490967   Straight/mortise bit HW16x30mm OF
490968   Straight/mortise bit HW18x20mm OF
490969   Straight/mortise bit HW18x30mm OF
490970   Straight/mortise bit HW19x20mm OF
490971   Straight/mortise bit HW20x20mm OF
490972   Straight/mortise bit HW20x30mm OF
490973   Straight/mortise bit HW22x20mm OF
490974   Straight/mortise bit HW24x20mm OF
490975   Straight/mortise bit HW25x20mm OF
490976   Straight/mortise bit HW30x20mm OF
490977   Spiral bit HW 4x10mm OF
490979   Spiral bit HW 8x25mm OF
490983   Core box bit HW R4 OF
490984   Core box bit HW R6.35 OF
490985   Core box bit HW R8 OF
490986   Core box bit HW R9.7 OF
490987   Core box bit HW R12.7 OF
490988   Dovetail bit HSS 14.3mm 15 FS/SZ14
491002   Script bit HSS 11mm 60 OF
491003   Script bit HW 11mm 60 OF
491004   Plunge ovolo bit HW 17mm R3 OF
491005   Plunge ovolo bit HW 19mm R4 OF
491006   Plunge ovolo bit HW 21mm R5 OF
491007   Plunge ovolo bit HW 23mm R6 OF
491008   Plunge ovolo bit HW 27mm R8 OF
491009   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 16.7mm OF
491010   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 18.7mm OF
491011   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 20.7mm OF
491012   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 22.7mm OF
491013   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 25.5mm OF
491014   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 28.7mm OF
491015   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 31.7mm OF
491016   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 38.1mm OF
491017   Roundover bit w/ 2b HW 47.2mm OF
491018   Cove bit w/ b. guide HW 25.5mm OF
491019   Cove bit w/ b. guide HW 28.7mm OF
491020   Cove bit w/ b. guide HW 31.7mm OF
491021   Cove bit w/ b. guide HW 38.1mm OF
491022   Rabbet bit HW 31.7mm OF
491024   Chamfer bit w/bear HW 24mm 30 OF
491025   Chamfer bit w/bear HW 24mm 45 OF
491027   Edge trim bit w/b HW 12.7mm OF
491028   Edge trim bit w/b HW 19mm OF
491029   Roman ogee bit w/b HW 31.7mm OF
491030   Roman ogee bit w/b HW 38.1mm OF
491031   Classical ogee bit HW 36.7mm OF
491032   Plunge ogee HW 19mm OF
491033   Hand hole bit HW 19mm OF
491034   Tongue & groove bit HW 34mm OF
491035   Keyhole bit HW 10.5x13mm OF
491036   Aluminum bit HSS 5mm OF
491037   Panel cutter bit HW 8mm OF
491038   Slot cutter HW 40x1.5mm OF
491039   Slot cutter HW 40x1.8mm OF
491040   Slot cutter HW 40x2mm OF
491056   Slot cutter HW 40x2.5mm OF
491057   Slot cutter HW 40x3mm OF
491058   Slot cutter HW 40x3.5mm OF
491059   Slot cutter HW 40x4mm OF
491060   Slot cutter HM 40x5mm OF
491061   Cutter spindle w/ bearing D16 OF1010/1400/2000
491062   Cutter spindle w/o bearing OF1010/1400/2000
491063   Laminate slot cutter HW 40mm OF
491129   Stile bit HW 43mm OF
491130   Rail bit HW 43mm OF
491131   Roundover bit HW 42mm R6 OF
491132   Chamfer bit w/b HW 25.7mm 15 OF
491133   Chamfer bit w/b HW 38.5mm 30 OF
491134   Roundover bit w/a b HW 17.5mm OF
491135   Roundover bit w/a b HW 23.1mm OF
491136   Roundover bit w/a b HW 31.4mm OF
491137   False raised panel bit HW 42mm OF
491138   Raised pnl bit w/o b HW 42.7mm
491139   Bullnose bit HW 27mm OF
491140   Finger pull bit HW 22mm OF
491403   Bearing angled repl. f. 491134
491404   Bearing angled repl. f. 491135
491405   Bearing angled repl. f. 491136
491406   Bearing set (repl.)for 491022
491557   Cutter spindle w/ bearing D28 OF1010/1400/2000

I agree with Bob assessment the biggest problem with the Festool bits was that the dealers never had a good selection in stock and would push other brands on me. Our three local dealers had little or no knowledge of what Festool bits where available or understanding of the quality of these bits. This equals poor marketing.

My suggestion to Festool would be to slowly re-introduce these great bits with kits of 3-4 bits  targeting each of their routers starting with the mfk 700.

Bruce

Ok - you need to translate for this dumb yank!!!
And I am half English.

I have about 8 Festool bits and they are extremely high quality.
I totally agree that bit packages should have been offered to expose people to them.
Christian alluded to this happening last year and sadly it is happening.
Festool has several very unique bit designs that I have not found elsewhere.

As Shane stated above, Festool USA will continue to stock the bits specific to LR32, MFK700 and the VS600.

The 2011/2012 NA catalog only mentions these bits.

Shane did confirm that the discontinued bits are on-sale at a discount.

Just found this thread after looking into 8mm router bits.

If the 8mm shank router bits are being discontinued, it seems that this is really going to affect sales of the OF 1010 EQ router.  Festool seemed to be the only place where you could find a variety of 8mm router bits in North America, and I don't see anyone laying out $385 for a router that could only use 1/4" router bits, for all practical purposes.

I was pretty close to getting a OF 1010 EQ, and learning about this has made me rethink things.

Peterk

I'm not entirely sure either but i will try to translate JMB speak.

I think he means there are "loads" of discontinued cutters.
Chaps, you all must be really disappointed.

I am from the same island as him but i do struggle also 

Hi everyone,

Just a heads-up that these router bits are becoming obsolete and it is hard to find the right sizes if you need something in particular -- there are still some sizes and profiles available and I would check with your dealer if you have any interest in acquiring any of the discontinued bits.  A lot of the bits outlined in this thread have been discontinued and are no longer available on this side of the pond -- a shame really.

Scot

I had been eying getting a 1010 for my LR32 stuff, with the knowledge that 8mm bits from Festool for other applications were available.  Sadly, I can't justify getting a 1010 any longer for just not using my bulier 1400 for LR32 use. 

And there are other sources in NA that can get 8mm shank bits if you need a specific profile not available from Festool.

Scot

Jamie, it looks like we still have 490960 in stock. So your preferred dealer should be able to get them from us if they don't currently have them in stock. The list I provided was router bits which are being discontinued.

Both of the other bits are also in stock. If they aren't on my list in this thread, they will continue to be offered.

Shane