Greetings, I recently tried to use the 1400 to route a plywood width slot on a 4 -2x4 (7 feet long) that I had securely clamped down and also used two pipe clamps to line them up "together." Well I now need to get another 4 2x4s because the parts totally drifted. I used the guide rail guide attachment, the same setup as I had use to successfully cut the 2x4s from 8 to 7 feet. From what I can tell the error is a combination of not having things clamped down enough and error in the rail attachment jig. I thought 4 clamps to the 1080 table would be enough, apparently not.
When I was trying to line up the cut the only way I could get the router to sit right (vertically) on the wood was to place it at the end of the rails. What the heck?! When I set the router 6" from the edge of the guide rail, the bottom of the router closest to the rail was a good 1/8"-1/4" above the distal end. (this is using the 2 metal rods and the 2 black knobber things that go on each rail). It was like the black rail riders wouldn't move down enough or something. I'm not quite sure what I'm missing here. I played around with it but I could only get it to come close to perpendicular vertically when I ran the router out on the far end of the metal rods.
As for the guide rail and clamping, any suggestions on how to better secure my work would be appreciated. I tested the rail to be perpendicular to the work when I started but I was about a 1/2" off when I got to the end of the 2x4s. How have other people been securing their work? Is it irrational to do all 4 boards at once? I'd prefer to do all 4 at once so they are equal distance from the end, just as I had done with the saw minutes earlier with no problems. My only other though is to run a clamp up the guide rail before I start.
If this were normal circumstances I'd say I'm asking advice because I don't want to destroy more boards. The real truth is that my new wife (she's still shinny!) of 3 weeks today, and I are moving her in and I was hoping to have this done for more storage space. I'd like to justify buying these festool toys so if I could get this to work today and get the shelves setup I'd feel a bit justified in spending the extra dollars it took to get festool items.
I was reading back posts and will now scribe my new lines in the middle of the router so I can use that guide. Amazing how having used a old router keeps you stuck in a rut in thinking while festool items make things so much easier (i.e. the middle of the router marker). Well, usually they are easier, it's just a matter of learning how to use them correctly.
Thanks for you help in advance!
Sincerely,
C. S. Mark
When I was trying to line up the cut the only way I could get the router to sit right (vertically) on the wood was to place it at the end of the rails. What the heck?! When I set the router 6" from the edge of the guide rail, the bottom of the router closest to the rail was a good 1/8"-1/4" above the distal end. (this is using the 2 metal rods and the 2 black knobber things that go on each rail). It was like the black rail riders wouldn't move down enough or something. I'm not quite sure what I'm missing here. I played around with it but I could only get it to come close to perpendicular vertically when I ran the router out on the far end of the metal rods.
As for the guide rail and clamping, any suggestions on how to better secure my work would be appreciated. I tested the rail to be perpendicular to the work when I started but I was about a 1/2" off when I got to the end of the 2x4s. How have other people been securing their work? Is it irrational to do all 4 boards at once? I'd prefer to do all 4 at once so they are equal distance from the end, just as I had done with the saw minutes earlier with no problems. My only other though is to run a clamp up the guide rail before I start.
If this were normal circumstances I'd say I'm asking advice because I don't want to destroy more boards. The real truth is that my new wife (she's still shinny!) of 3 weeks today, and I are moving her in and I was hoping to have this done for more storage space. I'd like to justify buying these festool toys so if I could get this to work today and get the shelves setup I'd feel a bit justified in spending the extra dollars it took to get festool items.
I was reading back posts and will now scribe my new lines in the middle of the router so I can use that guide. Amazing how having used a old router keeps you stuck in a rut in thinking while festool items make things so much easier (i.e. the middle of the router marker). Well, usually they are easier, it's just a matter of learning how to use them correctly.
Thanks for you help in advance!
Sincerely,
C. S. Mark
