1010 as an everyday router

[HowardH]

I have a OF1400 mounted in my CMS router table and it pretty much stays there. I need another router option for handheld work as I don't want to have to de-mount the 1400 every time I need to use it handheld. Was thinking the 1010 would be an acceptable option. The only drawback is I don't currently have much of an extensive selection of 1/4" or 8mm bits. Most of mine are 1/2".  That's ok, I don't mind getting more as I need them but would this router serve me well as my go to handheld router for most edging or grooving operations? 

 

[Crazyraceguy]

It absolutely will. The OF1010 is a great router, plenty powerful and very smooth, plus all the versatility. There are accessories to do darn near anything with it.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Absolutely! It's also more easily manoeuvrable than the OF1400 one handed.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I bought an OF1010 and absolutely hated it. And why? Because some lunatic thought it would be a great idea to have the parallel fence at 90 degrees to the handle - so when doing basic joinery jobs like routing hinge recesses on an in-situ door frame, you can’t get the machine anywhere near the head of the frame before the handle, cord and vac hose all hit it. So how about routing from the other side of the frame instead? Works great - apart from the bottom hinge, where all the above-mentioned stuff all hits the floor instead. I sold it after 6 weeks and bought a Makita RP1100. Beautiful little machine.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

The OF1010 is a great smaller router for "daily" use provided one can do that work with .25" or 8mm tooling. The OF1010 does not support .5" or 12mm collets.

 

[deepcreek]

The 1010 is a great little router but the 1400 is a daily driver.

I'd recommend a second 1400.  It will take 1/4", 8mm and your existing 1/2" shank bits.

It's the workhorse of our shop getting 80% of the action.  We use the 1010 the rest of the time and only occasionally unleash the 2200 beast.

 

[mino]

The 1010 is a great little router but the 1400 is a daily driver.

I'd recommend a second 1400.  It will take 1/4", 8mm and your existing 1/2" shank bits.

It's the workhorse of our shop getting 80% of the action.  We use the 1010 the rest of the time and only occasionally unleash the 2200 beast.

I would concur if having an MFK700 around and/or the third OF1010 around. I.e. for Pro use in a proper shop.

For a small one-man shop and even more so a hobby use, the sheer scale of accessories for the OF1010 makes it one above OF1400 to me. It can do 90% of what OF1400 can, plus more. Including funky edging stuff for which it is "just about" as big as is acceptable and very precise work with centered template rings which are also not supported on the bigger routers.

Bits availability aside, an OF1010 as primary and OF1400 in CMS as "available" sounds only a tiny bit worse than OF1010 + OF2200 in the CMS table and "on tap". Heh. Kinda the optimal scenario.

So, being in Europe, the OF1010 is the "go-to" as almost everything here is 8mm for the casual work.

Being in US, It would really depend on my willingness/ability to get an adequate 8mm bits collection.

 

[Stan Tillinghast]

I am really a dilettante more than a woodworker; but I can say that I find the 1010 vastly more pleasant to use than larger routers such as the 1400. I also have a Makita cordless mini-router but prefer the 1010, partly because dust collection is so much better.

 

[Cheese]

1. For a small one-man shop and even more so a hobby use, the sheer scale of accessories for the OF1010 makes it one above OF1400 to me.

2. It can do 90% of what OF1400 can, plus more.

3. ...and very precise work with centered template rings which are also not supported on the bigger routers.

4. ...sounds only a tiny bit worse than OF1010 + OF2200 in the CMS table and "on tap". Heh. Kinda the optimal scenario.

5. So, being in Europe, the OF1010 is the "go-to" as almost everything here is 8mm for the casual work.

1. Yes...

2. Yes...I only use the 1400 when I'm forced to, and that is only 10% of the time. Heck, I use the MFK 700 more often than the 1400.

3. Centered template rings are imperative for fine marquetry and round holes.

4. The 1010 + 2200 in the CMS is the optimal situation.

5. So, being in the US, the OF 1010 is my "go-to" router...

 

[Coen]

I have a 1010 and a 1400, but each time I do edge routing it makes me want to buy an MFK 700 / OFK 500.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I have a 1010 and a 1400, but each time I do edge routing it makes me want to buy an MFK 700 / OFK 500.

I would agree completely. The MFK700 is one of my favorites.
I'm interested in the OFK, but they are not available here.

 

[luvmytoolz]

For me the MFK is a little too limiting with dialling in depth of cut and the size requirement of cutters, the OFK would be great, except for the fact it uses odd ball cutters.

If the MFK had a bit more range or adjustability it would be incredibly useful.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

For me the MFK is a little too limiting with dialling in depth of cut and the size requirement of cutters, the OFK would be great, except for the fact it uses odd ball cutters.

If the MFK had a bit more range or adjustability it would be incredibly useful.

Those limitations are what makes it more of a specialty tool. It is certainly not an everyday router, but in the right operation, it is fantastic. I use mine a lot. It is great for flush trimming where things do not meet at a 90 degree angle. The large reference face of the zero-degree base makes that easy. You don't have to fiddle with matching the angle. In reality, you don't even need to know the actual angle.

Part of the appeal of the OFK is the cutters, but availability is a problem. The proprietary nature also limits that. If there isn't enough demand, no one will make cutters to fit them.

After all of these years, there are alternate brands of Domino cutters. Amana and CMT both make them now, but that is a far more popular tool.

 

[Coen]

I have a 1010 and a 1400, but each time I do edge routing it makes me want to buy an MFK 700 / OFK 500.

I would agree completely. The MFK700 is one of my favorites.
I'm interested in the OFK, but they are not available here.

What holds me back from buying the OFK 500 is the vendor lock-in with the proprietary router bits that don't fit in any other router. Buying the complete radius set for the OFK 500 would mean I am looking at a pricetag that makes the higher price of the 700 look like nothing. For small radius routing, the Bosch 12V looks good too, but no dust collection ... meh.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I am not totally familiar with the OFK500, since we can't get them anyway.
From what I understand the bits don't fit inside a collet, like normal ones would. They screw-on somehow and always register to the same point when installed?
This, of course is what makes them proprietary, and likely to stay that way from lack of sales volume. Since others would not manufacture bits that would sell at such low numbers.
Still looks interesting. I would like to get my hands on one, even if just for a little test-drive.

 

[Coen]

I am not totally familiar with the OFK500, since we can't get them anyway.
From what I understand the bits don't fit inside a collet, like normal ones would. They screw-on somehow and always register to the same point when installed?

I guess so. But I can't invoice the saved time so the added cost of another set of radius bits is just too high. Although I'm not entirely sure if the MFK/OFK 700 will work with the radius bits I already have.

Festool sells a nice sets of bits for the MFK/OFK 700 including 1 and 1.5mm radius with exchangeable cutting blades with four cutting sides. But also rather expensive (€150 for the bit, the replacement part being a bit more than half that).

 

[Coen]

I bought an OF1010 and absolutely hated it. And why? Because some lunatic thought it would be a great idea to have the parallel fence at 90 degrees to the handle - so when doing basic joinery jobs like routing hinge recesses on an in-situ door frame, you can’t get the machine anywhere near the head of the frame before the handle, cord and vac hose all hit it. So how about routing from the other side of the frame instead? Works great - apart from the bottom hinge, where all the above-mentioned stuff all hits the floor instead. I sold it after 6 weeks and bought a Makita RP1100. Beautiful little machine.

Hmm, never thought about that. The 1400 would have the same problem. But when using a template... it's not a problem anymore. Could also clamp up the MFS.

 

[Coen]

For me the MFK is a little too limiting with dialling in depth of cut and the size requirement of cutters, the OFK would be great, except for the fact it uses odd ball cutters.

If the MFK had a bit more range or adjustability it would be incredibly useful.

I wouldn't recommend the MFK as first router. But already owning a 1010 and 1400... it would be awesome for radius edge routing. My 1010 tends to 'dive' into the corners.  [sad]

 

[Michael Kellough]

For me the MFK is a little too limiting with dialling in depth of cut and the size requirement of cutters, the OFK would be great, except for the fact it uses odd ball cutters.

If the MFK had a bit more range or adjustability it would be incredibly useful.

I wouldn't recommend the MFK as first router. But already owning a 1010 and 1400... it would be awesome for radius edge routing. My 1010 tends to 'dive' into the corners.  [sad]

Not sure it’s still available but I bought a replacement shoe (the thin phenolic base) that has a reduced diameter hole (about 20mm?) for the bit. That prevents the router from tipping at the corners.

Of course the better faster option is to use the MFK 700 which has no such problem.