Custom Router Base Plates

[festoolviking]

Hi!

This is handy for copy rings.

http://www.festool.co.uk/Products/Accessories/Pages/Detail.aspx?pid=492187&name=Copying-rings-OF-1010-ZD-OF-D-6-35+8

Festoolviking

 

[Sparktrician]

Hi!

This is handy for copy rings.

http://www.festool.co.uk/Products/Accessories/Pages/Detail.aspx?pid=492187&name=Copying-rings-OF-1010-ZD-OF-D-6-35+8

Festoolviking

So long as there's some room for adjustment on the baseplate.  If there's no room for adjustment, it's nothing but a paperweight. 

 

[Tinker]

Pat Warner makes his bases for the OF1400 if you don't want to make your own.  http://patwarner.com/precision_subbase_kit.html

Too bad he doesn't offer one for the OF 1010.  I'd love to get this router concentric enough to do dovetails consistently. 

[sad]

Quote from Pat's site at just below his list of routers he has already made the plates for Yours not listed? Requests considered.

I understand that he is very steadfast in his opinions about how to work.  And well he should be with the precision he expects and produces.  He is also quite willing, on occasion to adjust to his customers requirements. Scattered around in his site discussions he seems to hint that he would be willing to work with anybody requiring special setups.  I would suggest you try him for your 1010.
Tinker

 

[Stone Message]

I've got a 1400 and have a Leigh jig but haven't used it yet. If your bases work, I'd be interested in purchasing one. Do you just center the bit by eye and tighten the base? Thanks for bringing this issue up. It is true that Festool should look into this. Everything else is so precise with Festools, the bit should be centered.

I have just bought the OF1400 to (mainly) use with my Leigh D4. I too have not had time to check it out yet - I am now a bit concerned!

Peter

 

[Tinker]

I have the same problem with my OF1400. I called Festool service about it and was told that it was not necessary for the bit to be centered in the sub-base opening. I found that there are two small pins that fix the position of the sub-base with respect to the base. I pulled these out with a needlenose, and that provided sufficient play so that I could install a centering mandrel and fasten the sub-base with the opening centered. A quick and dirty fix, to be sure. The new sub-base looks real nice.

Where are the pins?  My 1400 is slightly off center as well.  I have solved the problem by turning it upside down in my CMS. My go-to router has usually been my OF 1000, but once in a while, i will probably find the need to bring the 1400 up for air and would like to center the bit when using guide bushings.
Tinker

 

[Sparktrician]

Pat Warner makes his bases for the OF1400 if you don't want to make your own.  http://patwarner.com/precision_subbase_kit.html

Too bad he doesn't offer one for the OF 1010.  I'd love to get this router concentric enough to do dovetails consistently. 

[sad]

Quote from Pat's site at just below his list of routers he has already made the plates for Yours not listed? Requests considered.

I understand that he is very steadfast in his opinions about how to work.  And well he should be with the precision he expects and produces.  He is also quite willing, on occasion to adjust to his customers requirements. Scattered around in his site discussions he seems to hint that he would be willing to work with anybody requiring special setups.  I would suggest you try him for your 1010.
Tinker

I saw that note and pinged him about making a baseplate to fit the OF 1010.  He's not interested in making one-offs, despite claims to the contrary on his website. 

[sad]

 

[Sparktrician]

I have the same problem with my OF1400. I called Festool service about it and was told that it was not necessary for the bit to be centered in the sub-base opening. I found that there are two small pins that fix the position of the sub-base with respect to the base. I pulled these out with a needlenose, and that provided sufficient play so that I could install a centering mandrel and fasten the sub-base with the opening centered. A quick and dirty fix, to be sure. The new sub-base looks real nice.

Where are the pins?  My 1400 is slightly off center as well.  I have solved the problem by turning it upside down in my CMS. My go-to router has usually been my OF 1000, but once in a while, i will probably find the need to bring the 1400 up for air and would like to center the bit when using guide bushings.
Tinker

Remove any guide bushings that are mounted.  Look for two torx-head screws on the ring that the guide bushings snap into.  Remove the screws and lift out the snap-in ring.  You'll see the two pins.  Actually, you can see the tops of the pins right next to the screw heads without removing the snap-in ring. 

 

[bwiele]

Funny, I sent Pat an e-mail yesterday too about making a base plate for the 1010.  His initial response was a bit obnoxious and off-putting (candidly speaking) but I kept after it.  Where we ended up, I think, is: (1) if we could get a group of 20ish people to "pre-order" the plate and (2) if there's anyone on the west coast that could loan him a 1010 so he can develop the tooling, etc. then there may be something to do.  I would consider organizing the pre-order process if there's interest.  Is there anyone on the left coast that could lend out their 1010?  I haven't asked Pat how long he would need it...

[Moderators: I don't know if this sort of activity is permissible - If not, let me know and we can just delete this post]

 

[Tinker]

I have never had a problem with centering my OF 1000.  I do have big problems with getting PC bushings to hold together and just work with the Festool plates.  I use the flat head screws and mount in the flat bottom mounting holes of the base.  The larger base is tempting, but i have a few other toys to look at first.  I am more inclined to keep his base for the 1400 on my wish list. Some day, i will bring it up for air (from the deep recesses of the CMS) and the Pat Warner base will be appealing.
Tinker

 

[Corwin]

Funny, I sent Pat an e-mail yesterday too about making a base plate for the 1010.  His initial response was a bit obnoxious and off-putting (candidly speaking) but I kept after it.  Where we ended up, I think, is: (1) if we could get a group of 20ish people to "pre-order" the plate and (2) if there's anyone on the west coast that could loan him a 1010 so he can develop the tooling, etc. then there may be something to do.  I would consider organizing the pre-order process if there's interest.  Is there anyone on the left coast that could lend out their 1010?  I haven't asked Pat how long he would need it...

[Moderators: I don't know if this sort of activity is permissible - If not, let me know and we can just delete this post]

I live on the west coast and have an OF1010 I could loan out for this purpose...

 

[Sparktrician]

Funny, I sent Pat an e-mail yesterday too about making a base plate for the 1010.  His initial response was a bit obnoxious and off-putting (candidly speaking) but I kept after it.  Where we ended up, I think, is: (1) if we could get a group of 20ish people to "pre-order" the plate and (2) if there's anyone on the west coast that could loan him a 1010 so he can develop the tooling, etc. then there may be something to do.  I would consider organizing the pre-order process if there's interest.  Is there anyone on the left coast that could lend out their 1010?  I haven't asked Pat how long he would need it...

[Moderators: I don't know if this sort of activity is permissible - If not, let me know and we can just delete this post]

Sounds like you got pretty much the response that I got.  If he's willing to produce a custom plate that will allow centering on a mandrel, I'll take a chance on him, even after the "I don't want to be bothered" response I got earlier. 

 

[Tinker]

Pat's replies sound a lot like an old friend of mine.  He is very good at what he does.  He knows he is very good and he is very proud and independent as well he should be.  If one is sincere, Pat eventually arrives at a compromise.

I learned a little bit about such attitudes years ago when i had poured a concrete floor for my friends garage.  The concrete had been screeded and floated off with the wood float.  While we were waiting for the concrete to cure to the next step of troweling (that was in the days of doing the entire job with hand tools), the two of us retreated to the kitchen where my friend opened up a couple of Buds and we sat and chatted for awhile.  As we were finishing off our suds, the phone rang.  My friend picked it up and after recognizing the person on the other end, he sat there listening.

"Yeah, I see." ....      "Sure, i can do that"  ....  "Uh huh" ....  And so on the seemingly one sided conversation went.

Suddenly, my friend said very ubruptly, "Well, Obviously you don't need me." And with that he hung up the phone and opened up another couple of cold ones.  "He wanted me right away." 

We continued for another couple of minutes with our own conversation and the phone rang again.  It turned out to be the same person who had called before.  He explained to my friend what his predicament was and he knew that Joe was probably the only person around who could really do the job he needed.  My friend listened and eventually told the caller that he was really very busy over the next several weeks, but he would gladly stop over to have a look later that day if the caller could be patient about the actual work.  Joe (not his real name) eventually, I am sure, did do the work requested of him.  He is still around and, at age of 94, still doing his best to keep Budweiser in business.  He is still driving, but no longer working at his trade.  His reputation for perfection will long outlast his abilities even tho most of the recipients of his skills are, for the most part, long gone. But he was one independent and, to some, a tad on the ,shall we say, sometimes a little too independent side.  Once one got to know him one would find a very pleasant, and most willingly helpful man who could seemingly work wonders while plying his trade. 

I think I will open up a cold one myself, just sitting here remembering some of our good times together.  OOPs!  It's a bit early in the morning for that.  Guess I'll heat up the coffee pot instead.  I think Pat Warner is a good deal like my friend.
Tinker 

 

[rmwarren]

Pat's replies sound a lot like an old friend of mine.  He is very good at what he does.  He knows he is very good and he is very proud and independent as well he should be.  If one is sincere, Pat eventually arrives at a compromise.

Tinker, I think you are spot on. I previously ordered a few of his PDF's articles and just received the router base for the 1400 I ordered as a result of seeing this thread. Pat is not shy nor does he lack bluntness, I would stereotype him as an "old fashioned curmudgeon" and an enjoyable character to deal with.

I ordered the plate via email, he responded with a couple pointed questions, I answered them and agreed to mail a check. He mailed me the plate the same day I put the payment in the mail to him, confident that I would hold up my end of the deal.

I think that he enjoys doing things his way and if that does not suit me, well then that is just okay with him. It is okay with me too.

RMW

 

[Tom R]

I have been following this thread - and would be interested in a sub base if enough people were interested.

Tom R

 

[Tinker]

Pat's replies sound a lot like an old friend of mine.  He is very good at what he does.  He knows he is very good and he is very proud and independent as well he should be.  If one is sincere, Pat eventually arrives at a compromise.

Tinker, I think you are spot on. I previously ordered a few of his PDF's articles and just received the router base for the 1400 I ordered as a result of seeing this thread. Pat is not shy nor does he lack bluntness, I would stereotype him as an "old fashioned curmudgeon" and an enjoyable character to deal with.

I ordered the plate via email, he responded with a couple pointed questions, I answered them and agreed to mail a check. He mailed me the plate the same day I put the payment in the mail to him, confident that I would hold up my end of the deal.

I think that he enjoys doing things his way and if that does not suit me, well then that is just okay with him. It is okay with me too.

RMW

I grew up living next door to an old Scottish cabinetmaker with the type attitude you speak of.  I think i was the only kid in the neighborhood who was NOT afraid of him.  he and i would get into some real verbal battles.  nothing abusive from either side, but the old guy just enjoyed a good battle, he didn't care from who it came.  Even tho we battled, i really liked the old f---.  when he had finally decided to go into the carpenters home, wherever that was, he asked me over to his house and took me into his garage where he had a collection of molding planes he had owned (and used) since his apprentice days in Scotland.  He opened the door to his garage and started to cry.  He had had somebody clean out his garage earlier in the day and had given orders to leave the set of planes (there were a couple of dozen >>> or had been)  The planes were gone.  A day or two later, he asked me to help him bring something down the stairs of his house.  The item was a beautiful hand made table that he had built, using his set of planes, as his journeyman project, also in Scotland.  I still have that table, but there is no room in our very small house.  It resides in the attic and does need some attention.  the wood (Tight ring Walnut, so it had to have come from a pretty large tree) is still in great shape, but I need to do a refinishing job on it.  Next summer, i will be cutting back a little more on my LS biz ad hope to bring it down and to refinish.  I will give it to our daughter.
Tinker

 

[Sparktrician]

Just a follow-up note - I was in contact with the good folks at Leigh Jigs about the challenge in centering the bushing under the OF 1010's collet, and was told that their adapter plate #704R was designed specifically to have some flexibility in its positioning.  I ordered one from Highland Woodworking.  It arrived today with two pan-head screws which do permit some lateral movement.  I tried it on my OF 1010 using the Whiteside 7/16" brass guide bushing and associated mandrel, and to my delight, it worked perfectly.  I am now able to center the bushing on the mandrel.  WOO-HOO!!!  This is the $29.99 fix (plus shipping and handling, of course). 

Regarding Pat Warner, I have a ton of respect for curmudgeons that flat know their stuff.  OK, sometimes they seem hard to get along with, but their knowledge gives weight to their insistence on high standards.  Blessings on curmudgeons!!! 

[smile]

 

[Stone Message]

Just a follow-up note - I was in contact with the good folks at Leigh Jigs about the challenge in centering the bushing under the OF 1010's collet, and was told that their adapter plate #704R was designed specifically to have some flexibility in its positioning.  I ordered one from Highland Woodworking.  It arrived today with two pan-head screws which do permit some lateral movement.  I tried it on my OF 1010 using the Whiteside 7/16" brass guide bushing and associated mandrel, and to my delight, it worked perfectly.  I am now able to center the bushing on the mandrel.  WOO-HOO!!!  This is the $29.99 fix (plus shipping and handling, of course). 

Regarding Pat Warner, I have a ton of respect for curmudgeons that flat know their stuff.  OK, sometimes they seem hard to get along with, but their knowledge gives weight to their insistence on high standards.  Blessings on curmudgeons!!! 

[smile]

Has anyone spoken to Leigh about the OF1400?

Peter

 

[Sparktrician]

Just a follow-up note - I was in contact with the good folks at Leigh Jigs about the challenge in centering the bushing under the OF 1010's collet, and was told that their adapter plate #704R was designed specifically to have some flexibility in its positioning.  I ordered one from Highland Woodworking.  It arrived today with two pan-head screws which do permit some lateral movement.  I tried it on my OF 1010 using the Whiteside 7/16" brass guide bushing and associated mandrel, and to my delight, it worked perfectly.  I am now able to center the bushing on the mandrel.  WOO-HOO!!!  This is the $29.99 fix (plus shipping and handling, of course). 

Regarding Pat Warner, I have a ton of respect for curmudgeons that flat know their stuff.  OK, sometimes they seem hard to get along with, but their knowledge gives weight to their insistence on high standards.  Blessings on curmudgeons!!! 

[smile]

Has anyone spoken to Leigh about the OF1400?

Peter

The Leigh site identifies the following part number for the OF1400 Outside North America - 493566 - here.  Pull the page down and look for "How To Select the Correct Guidebush and Adapter for Your Router".  Click the green block for Guidebush & Adapter Selection Chart.  You'll get a PDF file. 

 

[Stone Message]

Hi Sparktrician

Thank you very much for laying that out for me - brilliant.

Peter

 

[skinee]

peter the of1400 adaptor is on axminsters site
http://www.axminster.co.uk/festool-festool-of-1400-guide-bush-adaptor-for-leigh-jigs-prod804410/?searchfor=493566