CMS vs Regular Router Table?

[Nigel]

Hello Bonjour Nigel,

I did not realise that the sliding table would be so good when used with the saw - it is interesting that having been to quite a few shows/demos that I have never seen the sliding table used in saw mode. I will now look carefully at my Festool priority list (and perhaps make sure that I always make the early morning tea for my budget controller!).

Thanks.

Peter

Well I think it's good but then I don't have a Kapex  [crying]. One of the best uses is fast repeat cutting of pieces to the exact same length using the the stop and for longer stuff even the fence from the MFT.

 

[Nigel]

When you are on the road, the sliding table is a pretty irritating part to take with you, because of the big size and awkward sliding part that keeps moving around by itself, and I'd guess a lot of folks who have it leave it at home, unless they're really sure they're gonna need it.

 

Not for me it's not. It's light enough to carry easily in one hand and screws to the base unit in 2 seconds flat.I always take it with me which means I can get away without a miter saw most of the time. Incidentally the sliding bit does not move about as there is a thumb screw to lock it.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Not sure I compared it to a normal router table, but the OP asked how it compared to one. I offered some of the features and benefits of the CMS. Anyway... like all of our tools, you need to decide if it's the right solution for you. For some people, it won't be and that's fine.

FYI: The fence can be adjusted in 1/10mm increments, 1/256". For me, that's plenty accurate. For you, it may or may not be.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Not sure I compared it to a normal router table, but the OP asked how it compared to one. I offered some of the features and benefits of the CMS. Anyway... like all of our tools, you need to decide if it's the right solution for you. For some people, it won't be and that's fine.

FYI: The fence can be adjusted in 1/10mm increments, 1/256". For me, that's plenty accurate. For you, it may or may not be.

That's a BIG advantage over most other fences.  I'm not sure even the Incra fences have that granularity.

And Yes, this entire thread questions the comparison however a statement "- Like all Festools, exceptional dust extraction, arguably better than any other router table on the market" don't ring true...

The incra fence I have moves in 1/64th increments, but where the increments start can be adjusted at a precision of 3/1000.  So its very easy to consistently move in increments of 1/64th, but smaller increments are possible, but a little extra work.

 

[DKurzweil]

Not sure I compared it to a normal router table, but the OP asked how it compared to one. I offered some of the features and benefits of the CMS. Anyway... like all of our tools, you need to decide if it's the right solution for you. For some people, it won't be and that's fine.

FYI: The fence can be adjusted in 1/10mm increments, 1/256". For me, that's plenty accurate. For you, it may or may not be.

That's a BIG advantage over most other fences.  I'm not sure even the Incra fences have that granularity.

And Yes, this entire thread questions the comparison however a statement "- Like all Festools, exceptional dust extraction, arguably better than any other router table on the market" don't ring true...

The incra fence I have moves in 1/64th increments, but where the increments start can be adjusted at a precision of 3/1000.  So its very easy to consistently move in increments of 1/64th, but smaller increments are possible, but a little extra work.

The incra positioner I use has a coarse adjustment of 1/32", and a fine adjustment of 1/32 of that, which is in the end a 1/1024" increment. 

Not sure if this is on all of them or just the better ones.

In the end, 1/256" and 1/1024" are both very precise, seasonal expansion and contraction of the wood will have more of an effect than the difference here.

Best,
Daniel

 

[sgryd]

Actually, the Incra LS Positioner is adjustable to 1/20 mm. Big ting with Incra is repeatability. It lets you position the fence at exact the same distance again and again even after moving it around.

I looked at the Festool table and thought it felt flimsy and inaccurate. Went with the Incra instead and never looked back. I'm in a shop and don't need portability. It's a really small shop though, so I have put the fence on an MFT and it's easily removed when I need to work on the table.

Edit: oh, that's why the warning "2 other replies are being written as you type" came up. Beaten by two others on the Incra..

 

[Brice Burrell]

Not sure I compared it to a normal router table, but the OP asked how it compared to one. I offered some of the features and benefits of the CMS. Anyway... like all of our tools, you need to decide if it's the right solution for you. For some people, it won't be and that's fine.

FYI: The fence can be adjusted in 1/10mm increments, 1/256". For me, that's plenty accurate. For you, it may or may not be.

Just so everyone is on the same page, only half of the CMS fence can be micro adjusted, say if you wanted to use it as a jointer.  For the fence as a whole there is no micro adjustment, you just move it by hand.  Also, there is no track, slot to guide the fence to keep it parallel to the sliding table.  In my opinion this is the weakest point of the CMS.   

 

[mouppe]

I bought the CMS router module a year ago and I love it. Sold my freud router table and PC893 combo router soon after.

One router- the OF1400- does it all now. One router table, nicely stores away when I don't want to use it. Portable if I need it to be. Fits in with my existing dust extractor. Festool quality. Two fences, integrated featherboards. Accurate, solid, strong. Maybe other modules will be available in time- that's a potential bonus.

Worth every penny and several more.

 

[fritter63]

I think that I will just keep my Kreg Precision Router Table with the Kreg lift and PC7518 which was $1100 total. Especially since there will not be anymore modules available. Without the other modules the CMS is way over priced and almost silly to even sell. The CMS is designed for how many tools?... 3 routers, jigsaws, track saws, belt sander,... and they are only offering it to use with 2 of the routers, one of which (OF1010) is almost pointless in a table and the one which would be most beneficial (OF2200) isn't even offered. Come on!
I'll probably regret posting this but it's how I feel. I thought a $1250 mitre saw was crazy, but I bought it anyway. $425 for the 98 piece installers kit, you got to be kidding me, bought it. I'm not buying the CMS! If anyone does buy it please let me know how it is working out for ya.

Our dog, "Bear", is what I call a 50 pound lap dog.

He's really too big to be a lap dog, and so I tell him he can't get up on my lap.

So then he comes over and just lays his head on my leg, and gives me the puppy dog eyes... and I say, "well, that's not so bad".

Then after little while, he puts one paw up on my leg, and stays that way.

A little later, he adds the second paw. It doesn't seem much worse than before.

Next thing I know, he's got his hind quarters up on the couch, inching towards my lap. I don't even notice.

How do you say "lap dog" in German?

[big grin]

 

[Mahogany Man]

So....
If I undestand correctly,
I can't use the OF 2200 I purchased before the price increase, in this CMS?
That's why I purchased it, hoping the CMS would be available late this year!!
I have an OF 1400 I use for freehand work.
I haven't even used the OF 2200!
John

 

[Mahogany Man]

Whoops sorry,
I just found the faq on the cms.

 

[ericbuggeln]

I heard through the grapevine that the switch on the table only passed for the 1010 and 1400 and that the 2200 had different electronics that did not pass for that switch? Just a rumor, but sounds plausible. I just dont see how you would want this set up without the 2200. With it, it sounds great. For someone like the King, who brings everything to your driveway it would be ideal. How many HP is the 2200? and the 1400 for that matter? Probably wont be able to see one in action until Woodfest? Eric

 

[builderbob]

You'll see one in action at my house bro!

B

 

[RONWEN]

I heard through the grapevine that the switch on the table only passed for the 1010 and 1400 and that the 2200 had different electronics that did not pass for that switch? Just a rumor, but sounds plausible. I just dont see how you would want this set up without the 2200. With it, it sounds great. For someone like the King, who brings everything to your driveway it would be ideal. How many HP is the 2200? and the 1400 for that matter? Probably wont be able to see one in action until Woodfest? Eric

The 2,200 watt 2200 would be just under 3hp.  The 1,400 watt 1400 would be ~1.9hp.

 

[andvari]

Seems to me the table is the hard part. Smuggling in the rest from Europe or getting aftermarket solutions to expand the functionality shouldn't be too bad.

 

[ericbuggeln]

Bob, as your close friend, im telling you now that if you do this I am contacting your wife and parents and we are having an intervention. You already have way too many router tables, two of which are probably just as nice as the CMS. In the five years ive known you, you have probably had five different router tables set ups. At least promise me you will wait for the 2200? Admitting you have a problem is the first step. Eric

 

[nehardwoodfloors]

I think that I will just keep my Kreg Precision Router Table with the Kreg lift and PC7518 which was $1100 total. Especially since there will not be anymore modules available. Without the other modules the CMS is way over priced and almost silly to even sell. The CMS is designed for how many tools?... 3 routers, jigsaws, track saws, belt sander,... and they are only offering it to use with 2 of the routers, one of which (OF1010) is almost pointless in a table and the one which would be most beneficial (OF2200) isn't even offered. Come on!
I'll probably regret posting this but it's how I feel. I thought a $1250 mitre saw was crazy, but I bought it anyway. $425 for the 98 piece installers kit, you got to be kidding me, bought it. I'm not buying the CMS! If anyone does buy it please let me know how it is working out for ya.

I'm jogging along beside you. Once the ts module is released , we will see.
It does look awesome, just not that awesome as a router table.  [huh]

 

[ericbuggeln]

Runhard, i feel exactly the way you do and its unfortunate that you have to feel the way you do. This forum to my understanding is about open discussion. Festool is not perfect, just like i am not perfect and no one on this forum is perfect. You shouldnt agree with every tool Festool comes out with and the best way to show them is by not buying it. You should be able to come on here and express your opinion that you think it is overpriced compared to other models on the market. Just bc this site is run by Festool doesnt mean you always have to be pro Festool. I am 90% pro Festool and about 10% not. There are just a few products that I cant get behind, most of them recent. It also worries me that while Festool wants to move into different industries now, they will forget about the woodworkers that helped make them great. If the FOG turns into discussions about the automotive industry i probably wouldnt check in anymore, Eric

 

[bruegf]

I heard through the grapevine that the switch on the table only passed for the 1010 and 1400 and that the 2200 had different electronics that did not pass for that switch? Just a rumor, but sounds plausible. I just dont see how you would want this set up without the 2200. With it, it sounds great. For someone like the King, who brings everything to your driveway it would be ideal. How many HP is the 2200? and the 1400 for that matter? Probably wont be able to see one in action until Woodfest? Eric

Eric

We used the CMS w/ the 2200 router in the advance router class that I went to earlier this year.

Fred

 

[AlexThePalex]

The TS is what I really would like to see as well. I understand the safety concerns, but to only offer the router module, and that without being able to use the OF2200, is almost insulting.

Insulting? Hm..... maybe you should think twice about where that 'insulting' part comes from before you utter the words.

Because it sure ain't Festool who's doing the insulting here, I mean, over here in Europe we can have their stuff. In Australia they can have their stuff. In Africa they can have their stuff. And the rest of the world. They would happily sell it to you Americans too. It is not Festool who are keeping you from getting these goodies.

Sure, it's Festool who decide whether or not to sell them to you, but apparently some other factors, and one might say, NORTH AMERICAN factors, to be specific, influence their decisions heavily in this case.   

I mean, if the rest of the world can have Festool's products without limitations, but not North America, then, instead of blaming Festool, shouldn't you better point your finger at North America?  [scratch chin]