I would say that my one big wish from Festool would be the creation of a dedicated Festool Router Table.

Festool makes so many wonderful items and has shown with the creation of the Kapex sliding miter saw that they are more than capable of creating high quality precision equipment. I can only imagine the unbelievable quality, unmatched precision, and the abundance of features Festool would include in their router table.

Please Festool think about and work towards the creation of a Festool Router Table.

Kreg was the commander of the router table for 8 min.  I know Festool can do better. I dare Festool to do better.    http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=91

Thanks.
From a Fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

I have corrected my original post.

I should have started by saying a dedicated router table system.

While the CMS is an interesting concept of a modular design I would like to see a dedicated Festool router table design. You simply cannot include all of the features of a dedicated router table into a design which is intended for use with many different tools. For instance with the Kapex system Festool focused on the creation a singular tool and was able to incorporate many tool specific features because of their focus.

Your thoughts are helpful though and thanks for your reply.

Fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

Except for the table being a bit bigger, I can't see what the Kreg table you linked to can do that the CMS can't.

But as it is, Festool is simply not into stationary tools. Everything's got to be portable in their philosophy.

This is going to be a little long so please bear with me.

In reply to Randyh,

 I think you might just be on to something. I have taken a look at the Woodcraft site and you are correct a table top is available. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020443/25184/Pinnacle-Premium-Router-Table-Top-For-Festool-MFT3.aspx

I think you have a wonderful idea and I am going to pursue this as a viable option for a dedicated Festool router table.  I do like the Festool MFT3?s and this might be a way for Festool to use an existing product to create a new tool for the US woodworkers. Like I have stated in my previous posts I just do not believe the CMS product will work very well in the US market for a dedicated router table. When working with larger pieces your need a heavy, sturdy, and large work area on your router table.

Great idea Randyn thanks.

In reply to Alex, Festoller, and all

I agree the Kreg table is lacking in several areas. I posted the Kreg table because of two reasons. The first is Kreg has a outstanding T-Square fence design which provides a very accurate and repeatable route with the micro adjuster. This can be purchased separately. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=93
They also have a very unique Precision Beaded Face-Frame System that can be added to a router table. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=116
This requires a standard router table top. This piece of equipment is a huge time and cost saving innovation. The other thing I do not like about the Kreg router table is the lack of a router lift. Again one can be purchased from Kreg. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=118
This is a very accurate lift which Kreg has made for them by another well know company. http://www.woodpeck.com/prlv2.html
So I agree that Kreg is not the end all of the router table world but they do have some items which Festool could make use of for the US market. It would be nice to see Festool team up with someone here in the US to supply a dedicated router system.

One other item I think I will add to my Festool / Kreg / Woodpeckers Router table is a digital lift display from Wixey. http://www.incrementaltools.com/Wixey_Remote_Digital_Readout_w_Fractions_p/wxwr525.htm

So my dedicated Festool router table will be as follows. MFT3 from Festool, Router top from Pinnacle, T-Square fence from Kreg, Precision Beaded Face-Frame System from Kreg, Router lift from Woodpecker, DLD (digital lift display) from Wixey, and a 7518 from Porter-Cable. I will keep you all posted as how this progresses. Now if only I can figure out the dust collection.

Once again I really wish Festool would make these products or at least get with a few of these companies and come up with a complete Festool US dedicated router system.

Please let me know what all of you think.

Thanks from a fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

I like the fact that festool's stuff is all portable.
It takes up minimal space and I can do just as good of job set-up in my shop vs. set-up at someones house.

When I first called woodpeckers and asked about Festool compatibility, they had not yet heard of festool- That was 4+ years ago. As far as I know, the Unilift is still not compatible with festool base hole patterns and they would surely update their compatibility list if they had.  I could be wrong about this, best to give them a call as I will do again tomorrow. I will add that I have had great experience with them as a company and they back-up their products 100%.
In general it seems that many of the companies who produce lift and plates have left Festool out of the loop. 
I've had good luck with my OF2000 under my table, but some of the regulars here have voiced negative opinions about using Festool routers in a table-

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=18257

I'm a bit puzzled.  I have met and spoken with the president of Woodpeckers a few times, and exchanged ideas for products with him.  If you are willing to spend as much as the features/components you want would cost, why do that to fit a Festool OF 1400 router which is not primarily designed for inverted use in a table when you can buy any of several other intermediate or large HD fixed based routers for less $$ for which there are many commercially available high quality lift mechanisms including several choices from Woodpecker among others?  When I wrestled with similar questions a few years ago after I splurged by buying my OF 1400 and several accessories, I asked Festool's applications experts how I might adapt that router for table use.  In their written responses they unequivocally recommended that I buy another (non Festool brand) router for table use.  I ended up buying two.  One is a 13A Freud, the other a 15A PC 7518 which is the USA industry standard (before the Festool 2200 was introduced).  For the Freud, I bought a JoinTech router plate and twist lock inserts, and for the PC 7518 a JoinTech lift.  After owning both for a couple of years, I realize that I use the smaller Freud setup most of the time with its built-in through the base height adjustment because I don't need the power of the PC 7518 and the Freud has a dust collector shroud that fits into its base which directly accepts a Festool or Fein vacuum hose.  That Freud router came with 1/4 and 1/2 collets, soft start, variable speed, and its shaft lock feature enables changing bits with the supplied single collet wrench without removing the router / mounting plate from the cutout in the table.  It has a quick release height adjustment feature that disengages the height adjustment screw so you can very quickly adjust the approximate height or raise the router (toward the mounting plate) to lock the shaft to change the bit.  All of this with a 5 year warranty for about $150.  The Freud stays mounted to its table insert plate, but can be lifted out and removed from the plate quickly if needed.  But I have my OF 1400 for those purposes.

If you are determined to remain "all Festool" then go for it, but if you want the most functionality for less money, consider buying another router specifically designed for inverted use in a table.

Dave R.

wscs00:

Did you ever finish your MFT/3 dedicated router table?

I was envisioning the same thing with the Kreg Fence. My wood shop shares the same space as one of our cars. So every this need to be moved out of  the way to park the car. A MFT/3 router table fits the bill.

Oh my gosh I know I have been out of the loop, but I had no idea John Lucas passed away, what a loss..  

The wind has just been sucked all out me.

You probably already have a router you wish to use in your new table.  If not, the newer version of the Triton 3 1/4hp model has above the table adjustment built-in.  This is a highly rated router and many people swear by them.

Going with this router allows you to use any router table, even one of those portables.  Heck, you could probably put a table together in no time out of scraps you have sitting around.  Not that any of us have scraps laying around. 

JMTC

I'll check out that triton router.  I have two routers,  one  large plunge router from PC,  that is about 8 years old but works fine.   and I have a new colt from bosch that i just got a few weeks ago.   I want to have a dedicated router in a table, in my trailer that can be used whenever I need it with easy to use height adjustment.  I don't want to have to go underneath and unclamp the motor to do this.   if there is anyway to do this without spending 300 on a lift system, then I'm all ears.   I will buy a top and fence only, the rest will be a 3/4 plywood/framed box underneath with one cabinet door.   I will not get into lots of drawers and other time consuming items for the base.   I will figure out a way to store the bits underneath where they won't be getting dust from above.

Thanks
Dan

lol

i just came from the amazon site and saw the router, looks like it's the new version. 
So how do you do the height adjustments on that from the top of the table without a lift?  I couldn't tell from the pics.    I'd much rather spend  60 bucks on a woodpecker phenolic insert than spend 300 or more on a lift.   If i used it every single day,  i can see spending that kind of money on a top notch table.

thanks

I finally gave up, after hoping for Festool CMs solution, or something similar.  I purchased the Kreg router table, fence, lift, wheels, switch, assorted accessories  and a Porter Cable 7518 router motor.  It was expensive but I have been happy with the results.

If i may offer a suggestion for your router table top.

In a recent edition of Shopnotes, there was an article on, in my words, expanding out a cabinet style table saw with a router table and clamping station as add-on wings to the saw; along with some storage below.  On the left side, the author built a router table insert, on the right side, the author built a clamping station along the lines of a MFT top with Kreg clamping tracks along the front and right edges (standing at the table saw).  I was considering something similar with my new toy but add another clamping track on the back (again, standing at the table saw).

I was thinking perhaps in your situation, you could combine those ideas into a single add-on and reconfigure the clamping station to include the router table.  With some thinking through the obstacles and such, it would work.

JMTC.

Shane...

Would it be possible to add the word "Kreg" to the spell checker?