About the Of1010

[Adobo]

I imagine that in the future, I will have both a smaller handheld router and a router table that has a router permanently mounted.  For the router table, the relative size, weight and perhaps brand of router seemingly would not matter that much. 

I am ready to get my first router.  My immediate planned use would be to put grooves into drawer bottoms, some small edge work (chamfers maybe), and the occasional dados and rabbets on 3/4 plywood.

I was ready to buy an OF1400 as my first router as it seemed like it could be used both as a handheld and a mounted router.  However, I came across some "opinions" where some users expressed that the OF1400 can be awkward to use (in comparison to other festools) freehand.  And the OF1400 doesn't seem to be an ideal permanent table mounted router as it is not super powerful and it cost a ton of money.

So now, I am considering getting an OF1010 as my first router.  Most opinions regarding this model seemed to be pretty good in terms of ease of use in handheld mode.  When it is time for a table mounted router, I could evaluate what router would be the best value for that type of use and purchase accordingly.

So on to the questions.

1.  Can the OF1010 handle cutting dados that are ~3/4" wide?  I know that this router only accommodates 1/4" and 8mm shank bits.  I assume you can get bits that can cut 3/4" grooves, right?

2.  Is my idea of getting the smaller/more manageable (in handheld mode) OF1010 now and then later getting a larger dewalt/bosch/makita or whatever a decent idea or would you recommend that I go with an OF1400 and table mount it when needed?

Assume for the moment that budget is not driving the decision.  One other thing, I am a hobbyist and a newbie at that.

Thanks in advance. 

 

[tbellemare]

To answer your first question, you can buy a 1/4" shaft Plywood Set of router bits.

The second question is totally subjective...

Tom

 

[mike_aa]

In answer to your second question, my personal preference would be to dedicate a larger router to the table and have other routers for hand held tasks.  But, you have to ask yourself if you really want to go through the trouble of mounting and setting up a router in the table and then have to unmount it every time you need a handheld.  Seems like a lot of extra work and time involved.

Good luck!

Mike A.

 

[mrboult]

I think, you are fairly spot on!  The of1010 is a wonderful hand router, and a big powerful and cheaper router is the one to stick in your table. When it comes to having router tables, having two routers is better than one.

Of course, there will still be times when you want to use the larger router free hand. And on those moments you might wish you bought festool. [big grin]

 

[JimB1]

I think, you are fairly spot on!  The of1010 is a wonderful hand router, and a big powerful and cheaper router is the one to stick in your table. When it comes to having router tables, having two routers is better than one.

Of course, there will still be times when you want to use the larger router free hand. And on those moments you might wish you bought festool. [big grin]

This is what I do. I keep my Freud in the table and use the OF-1010 for everything else.

I love my OF1010. It was my first Festool and I have done a ton of 3/4" dados in ply. 1/4" shaft bits work fine, remember you are only doing a shallow dado so it's not like you are hogging out a 3/4" deep line in cherry or something. We are talking about 1/4" deep dados. I will say try and find a ply bit though since ply is a nominal width or make sure the ply you are using is true 3/4" (they do make it, just tough to find sometimes). Otherwise you will end up with slightly oversized dados.

I actually made a jig that I can adjust the width of the jig to the width of the ply I am using then I can just run a smaller bit with a roller guide back and forth and have a perfect fit every time.

The OF1010 works perfect for that.
-Jim

 

[Green Mojo]

I've got a Bosch in the router table and use the 1010 for hand routing. Works great for me. I also have a Bosch Colt that I got a long time ago for smaller hand routing jobs, but the 1010 is so ergonomic that I don't use the Colt anymore. I think the 1010 is one of those unique innovative tools like the domino.

 

[grbmds]

I know there will be disagreement, but I have an OF1400 and not the 1010 specifically because I am not a fan of using 1/4" diameter shank router bits. It limits the depth of cut and I've broken 1/4" shaft bits on the shank. With a 1/2" shank the only limitation is safety and the power of the router and the 1400 has more power than most routers that size (maybe all). I'm sure the 1010 is more manageable and will handle many tasks, but I doubt you'd find many jobs that you'd use a handheld router for that the 1400 wouldn't handle. I have a router table and have a dedicated larger router for that, but I found the 1400 the best handheld router I've have owned. (Unfortunately I've owned a few over the last 30 years.).

 

[Birdhunter]

I have a Porter Cable motor unit mounted in my router table. I just don't like the idea of swapping out routers between the table and hand held tasks.

I have all the Festool routers. The 1010 is fun to use. The 2200 is a powerful big beast. The 1400 is an all around router.

I happen to really like the ergonomics of the 1400. It's got the power to do almost every task, handles 1/4" and 1/2" bits, has good dust collection, and isn't heavy.

If there is any way you could handle each of the routers, you could better decide on the ergonomics.

 

[Red Devil]

The 1400 is really ergonomical in my option.
I've used all three festool router. I'd go with 1400 if I had to choose one.
2200 is a beast! It is also very easy to use though considering its weight and power.

 

[Cheese]

I would just purchase the 1400 now and use it as it's needed. Swapping routers is a pain in the butt, but sometimes a necessity when you're a hobbyist.
In the future, I would consider a larger router to use in a router table if that's the direction you need to go.

I have a 1400 for hand held tasks and a Milwaukee 5625-20 mounted to a router table for the big stuff. Interestingly enough, the 1400 is $535 while the 3 1/4 HP Milwaukee is $390. The downside is, the Milwaukee will litter a room with shavings within 10 minutes.

 

[grbmds]

The 1400 is a great all-around router, powerful, versatile, and dust-free. However, as far as I know, it doesn't mount under any except the Festool table. I suppose you could make a table and mount it however it requires, but I would also guess that it would be cumbersome to remove and reinstall as needed then. I have a Porter Cable 7518 mounted under my Incra table and love it. But I would use the 1400 any day for handheld tasks even though I do have other routers that I still like. Just realized I've accumulated too many routers over the years and now only mainly use 2 of them. Not a good way to spend money.

 

[BigCountry73]

Another option for you is to look at other companies other than Festool. For example, Bosch makes a kit with their 1617 model that includes a fixed base and plunge base. The fixed base can be mounted under a table AND includes  above the table adjustment. It CAN use the 1/2" shank bits which means you can use the large profile bits. You just need to make multiple passes with it. The cost is about $200.00.

On the downside it doesn't offer the dust extraction like the Festool.

I personally have 8 routers including the Festool OF1400 and the Bosch 1617 combo.

I use my Festool for handheld work and my Triton which is under the table. Occasionally, I will use a small Porter Cable when I route my signs. All the other routers just sit there and I am in the process of selling them off.

I have considered buying the OF1010 to use strictly for the LR32 system, but that is for convenience on not a necessity at the moment.

Keith 

 

[Birdhunter]

I just looked at Rockler's web page and they have Porter Cable 7518 motor only for about $300 and various sets including bases and mounting kits for a little more.

I built a router table just before the CMS arrived on the scene. I got the table, fence, lift, and Porter Cable 7518 motor at a very reasonable price in a package deal. The lift accommodated the motor nicely.

If I could talk myself into the CMS, I'd buy a 1400 for it. Otherwise, I think the 1400 is an expensive overkill for a table mounted router.

 

[ElCabong]

I don't currently have any Festool routers... Yet [embarassed] but my eye is on the OF1010 for the same reason - free hand and simple dados (larger dadoes are done on my table saw). I also strongly agree that having a dedicated router for the router table is a must. I wouldn't even consider any other way. There are plenty of powerful, dare I say non-Festool routers on the market that are way less expensive to use in a router table. IMO I'd rather invest on a good, accurate router table and router lift.

 

[BigCountry73]

You are in an ideal situation of wanting to purchase your first router. This is a benefit because whichever router you purchase (OF1010 or OF1400) you will be learning the ergonomics of that particular router.

Either router will do what you are wanting to do which is dadoes and edge forming tasks.

The OF1400 will offer an additional collet size, but that isn't really important because for what you immediate tasks are calling for , a 1/4" shank bit will suffice.

If it were me just starting out, I would buy the OF1010 and use the difference in money and put towards a large router for table mounting when the time calls for it.

BUT, whether you decide on the OF1400 or the OF1010  YOU CAN'T GO WRONG!

Keith

 

[mlfaber]

I have had both in the past.  I found that 98% of the time I grabbed the 1010 for the size, weight and dust collection.  I like the 8mm collet size.  It is a bit beefier than a 1/4" which helps to reduce vibration and chatter.  For the tasks that you are speaking of the 1010 is perfect! 

 

[sancho57]

I use the ten ten for almost all my hand held routing. The only time imuse my twenty two hundred is when it's a bit that I only have in 1/2 " shaft or the size of the bit cant be found in 1/4"'shaft.

 

[Adobo]

Thank you all for your replies.

 

[Adobo]

I want to thank everyone again for their input. 

For what its worth, I decided to go with an OF1400.  I've been using the OF1400 to cut grooves and dados for some cabinets I've been building for my garage.  So far, so good.  All of the work had been done in "hand held" mode.  I have been using an edge guide and also a track to keep my lines straight. 

I imagine this work would have been slightly easier with a 1010 but so far I am finding that even for a newb like me, using the 1400 to do handheld work is easy enough.

Thanks again.