Convince me to keep the OF 1400.

[BDB]

I just bought my first Festool tools.  RAS 115, RO 90 and CT 26.  Wow... I am hooked.  I plan to buy the Domino XL and HL 850 planer this week.

I am doing a lot of custom work on a personal house I am building (trim, cabinets, furniture, flooring) and bought the OF 1400 to do custom trim.  I am new to routers and was not aware I would need a table router to run rabbet bits which I'll be able to do with the planer.  The Domino will handle my joining needs.

I have not used the router yet and debating to just buying a cheap router to go edge routing some day. So what else could I use this router for?  What can this router do that others can't?  Keep in mind, I know nothing about routers and trying to convince myself to keep it.  Thanks!

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I use rabbeting bits all the time in mine.  I am not much of a router guy either, but I wouldn't get rid of it. 

 

[Throwback7r]

I rabbeted some stuff with my of1400 just get the guide rail adaptor and glide it on the rail !

 

[semenza]

I just bought my first Festool tools.  RAS 115, RO 90 and CT 26.  Wow... I am hooked.  I plan to buy the Domino XL and HL 850 planer this week.

I am doing a lot of custom work on a personal house I am building (trim, cabinets, furniture, flooring) and bought the OF 1400 to do custom trim.  I am new to routers and was not aware I would need a table router to run rabbet bits which I'll be able to do with the planer.  The Domino will handle my joining needs.

I have not used the router yet and debating to just buying a cheap router to go edge routing some day. So what else could I use this router for?  What can this router do that others can't?  Keep in mind, I know nothing about routers and trying to convince myself to keep it.  Thanks!

Hi,

Welcome to the forum and the world of Festool!  [smile]

    Based on what you are going to be building I would keep the router. You will end up wanting it for things as you go along. And if you are not familiar with routers, you will find that they are practically designed to shoot dust and chips everywhere !  [eek]  However the 1400 with the D36 hose has excellent dust collection.

    Even though you should probably keep the router you are most likely going to want a router table as well. Some operations are better done hand held and some are better on a router table.

Seth

 

[Stephen B]

[size=14pt]

I would not sell it, you will regret it given the projects you outlined.

As for rebates, I use mine on the rail also. If the wood is prone to splintering, and in any case, I make a depth cut on the rail with a TS55 first. This has a secondary benefit of providing protection to the rail from the router bit if you miscalculate your adjustments.

NB. Down here we say rebate when you mean rabbet.

 

[waho6o9]

Dado 4 feet of a sheet of ply wood for as many
shelves as you want, rip in half or at 16 inch widths
and you'll have partitions ready for shelves
or pull outs.

When you use your 1400 with the rails you can be quite
versatile as mentioned above.

IMHO I'd say it's a keeper, no doubt.

 

[wow]

Just buy the LR-32 Set (Hey, you know you want it and you're gonna buy it anyway) and you'll not want to give up that router.

IF you *do* happen to decide that you don't want it after your 30 day return period is up, just let me know and I'll give it a good home!

[wink]

 

[jamanjeval]

Keep it. I have a Bosch Colt. Whilst it is a very nice router: soft start, adjustable speed, electronic constant speed... it, like any router, throws dust everywhere. Dust collection was an afterthought and a poorly thought out afterthought at that. So far, every Festool purchase has exceeded my expectations and I've received enough tangible benefits while using them that I will eventually be replacing that router.

I lie. Get rid of the Festool. Then, you will able to appreciate it and wish that you had it even if you only use it occasionally. 

 

[David Rips]

I own the OF 1400. Great router, but no router does it all. I use it for inlay, circle cutting, dados on large pieces, template routing and much more. I use my table router (Bosch 1617) for rabbets, box and dove tail joints, dados on smaller pieces, edge forming, etc. you will eventually want more than one.

 

[Stone Message]

BDB will probably need a router table for custom trim, depending on the design. But for rebate work you do not always need a router table, it depends on your stock and on the cutters available. I have several bearing guided rebate bits. Like one of the other contributors above, you can get chip out but there are plenty of ways of avoiding it being an issue.

Anyone just starting out needs to build up their skill levels, maybe take a class and certainly use the FOG for advice.

Peter

 

[teocaf]

The last part of Peter's response is where you should start.  Get educated on this router before you even turn it on.  Read the forums, get a book on woodworking with the router, watch some good videos on its use on youtube, take a class, read the manuals that include the supplementals.  Learn how to put in a bit securely, what direction to move the router in, how much wood to take off, eye and ear protection, etc, and just as important, learn what NOT to do.  Wonderful tool that is right up there with the table saw in its potential usefulness, but I think it is one of the tools that is least forgiving of mistakes when just starting out, simply because of the obvious physics involved.  You've got a killer tool in your hands, all meanings intended.  Be safe and enjoy.

 

[Wonderwino]

Keep it.  The OF1400 is probably the most versatile of the Festool routers.  It can accept bits in 1/4", 8mm and 1/2".  It is the largest router certified for use in the CMS router table in North America.  It works with the LR32 system.  You will probably want the latter two items when you understand what they will do and how much time they will save you.

When you get really hooked, the OF 1010 is smaller & lighter and is my go-to for the LR32.  It is also a great hand-held plunge router for less demanding, smaller bits.

Then there are the OF 700 and OF 2200....  One can never have too many routers, can you?  [big grin]

 

[fshanno]

If you are into the Festool system there simply isn't any other choice in the midsize category. 

 

[rst]

I already owned 9 routers (Bosch and PC) when I purchased the 1400 in order to use the LR32 system.  It is my favorite.

 

[BDB]

Thanks guys!  I'm keeping it.  Never even thought about using the track accessory!

I'll research some more before I use it.  Been around construction for awhile and comfortable with other tools... just never really used routers other than cheap ones to route an edge occasionally.  so I am not familiar with it.

 

[Wonderwino]

Check out some youtube videos.  My friend Half-Inch Shy has been quite prolific:





[big grin]

 

[wow]

Thanks guys!  I'm keeping it. 

See - that wasn't so hard, was it?

If nothing else, there are several of us that can serve as bad examples!

[tongue]

 

[woodwreck]

Consider this similar thread: http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/review-of-of-1400/msg313620/#msg313620 on same subject

 

[DanielOB]

Never sell oF1400. use it just a couple of times and it will pay off itself. Why not cheaper one.
E.g. DeWalt motor speed controll collapse while you use big diameter bit. You will be lucky that parts of a bit miss your stomack, ...

Only one reason : keep it to prevent an exsident (or you like to learn on your own experience - you will if you get made in china)