8mm shank bit source, and comment on dowels.

[Ned]

You might look at www.titman.co.uk. They make 8mm shank cutters. I
have no experience with their products--just found them while
searching the web.

I have not found inch-sized cutters with 8mm shanks.

If you'd like to drill dowel holes with your 1010, get the dowel
drills from Festool. You can buy small quantities of metric-sized
dowels from Lee Valley. I was unable to find inch-sized dowel drills
for the 1010, either collet.

If you've got other routers and you're concerned about buying
expensive bits that only fit the OF1010, consider getting 8mm collets
for your other routers. They aren't widely advertised, but I had no
trouble getting them as spare parts for both Bosch and P-C routers.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Whiteside (USA in North Carolina) makes a few bits with 8 mm shanks, particularly for the Incra jig.  They also make 1/4" shank bits for the Akeda jig.  They also make collet adapters (reducer bushings) in 1/4", 5/16", 8 mm, and 3/8" ID for use in 1/2" collets, and straight and spiral bits in shank sizes other than 1/4" and 1/2".  MAYBE IF THE OWNERS OF FESTOOL ROUTERS CONTACTED WHITESIDE AND LET THEM KNOW WHAT 8 mm BITS THEY ARE INTERESTED IN, they would consider adding some products to their line (recently rated No. 1 by FWW among 17 brands tested - Festool bits were not among the candidates).  I note Whitside's catalogue indicates they will make custom sizes of cutter widths and diameters of some of their bits.  ALTERNATIVELY, we should continue to encourage Festool to change its 1010 router to become a 1012 router that can accept 1/2" shank bits.  I have an older 1/2" industrial router that is about the same power (9 Amps) as Festool's 1010 which has served me well, and never really lacked for power.  Of course, I don't try to swing 3" bits in it.  For most of my use, I would have preferred the 1010 size router if it could accept 1/2" shank bits, or if additional sources of a wide variety of profiles were available in 8 mm.  I like my 1400 router very much, bit it is simply not as light and maneuverable for many operations (vertical surfaces, narrow edge surfaces) as is a smaller, lighter router.

 

[Corwin]

...concerned about buying expensive bits that only fit the OF1010, consider getting 8mm collets
for your other routers.

Hmmm, I have started with 1/2" shaft bits for the OF1400 since I could also use them in my monster PC.  Also have a 1/4" collet for the PC, but hadn't thought to look for an 8mm collet.  Now that would make me more inclined to purchase some of Festool's 8mm bits -- and with a bunch of 8mm bits I might want to add the OF1010 to the mix at a later date -- uh oh, maybe I had better not get that collet after all...  

You say Whiteside has them for the PC?  
Corwin

 

[Ned]

You say Whiteside has them for the PC? 
Corwin

Corwin,

Whiteside might have adapters, I don't know.  I got my Porter-Cable 8mm collet from Porter-Cable service.  I also got an 8mm collet for Bosch from their service department.  Even if they have repair branches near you, PC and Bosch will probably have to mail you the collets from their headquarters.

The PC collet I have fits my 7539 and a bunch of other PC models.  The Bosch collet fit the 1613 I used to have.

Ned