Dedicated Festool Router Table

[wscs00]

I would say that my one big wish from Festool would be the creation of a dedicated Festool Router Table.

Festool makes so many wonderful items and has shown with the creation of the Kapex sliding miter saw that they are more than capable of creating high quality precision equipment. I can only imagine the unbelievable quality, unmatched precision, and the abundance of features Festool would include in their router table.

Please Festool think about and work towards the creation of a Festool Router Table.

Kreg was the commander of the router table for 8 min.  I know Festool can do better. I dare Festool to do better.    http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=91

Thanks.
From a Fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

 

[sw1211]

They have one, check out the Festool UK site and look at the CMS, it's just not available in NA.

 

[wscs00]

I have corrected my original post.

I should have started by saying a dedicated router table system.

While the CMS is an interesting concept of a modular design I would like to see a dedicated Festool router table design. You simply cannot include all of the features of a dedicated router table into a design which is intended for use with many different tools. For instance with the Kapex system Festool focused on the creation a singular tool and was able to incorporate many tool specific features because of their focus.

Your thoughts are helpful though and thanks for your reply.

Fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

 

[randyh]

Woodcraft has a very nice Pinnacle table top that fits into the MFT/3. I just need to afford an additional MFT/3. I would like to be able to use my OF 1400 as a table mounted router.

 

[AlexThePalex]

I have corrected my original post.

I should have started by saying a dedicated router table system.

Except for the table being a bit bigger, I can't see what the Kreg table you linked to can do that the CMS can't.

But as it is, Festool is simply not into stationary tools. Everything's got to be portable in their philosophy.

 

[festoller]

Here's the dedicated Festool router table in Germany:

http://www.festool.de/Produkte/Seiten/Produktdetailansicht.aspx?pid=570256&name=Tischfraese-TF-1400-Set

The set includes the CMS Base, the CMS Router Table insert and the OF 1400. The same set is also available with the OF 2200.

Although I have a router table similar to the Kreg, I plan on switching to the MFT extension and the CMS router module, as soon as possible. Takes much less space and without the router insert the MFT/3 has a nice extension and attaching and adjusting the router takes much less time in the CMS.

 

[wscs00]

This is going to be a little long so please bear with me.

In reply to Randyh,

I think you might just be on to something. I have taken a look at the Woodcraft site and you are correct a table top is available. http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2020443/25184/Pinnacle-Premium-Router-Table-Top-For-Festool-MFT3.aspx

I think you have a wonderful idea and I am going to pursue this as a viable option for a dedicated Festool router table.  I do like the Festool MFT3?s and this might be a way for Festool to use an existing product to create a new tool for the US woodworkers. Like I have stated in my previous posts I just do not believe the CMS product will work very well in the US market for a dedicated router table. When working with larger pieces your need a heavy, sturdy, and large work area on your router table.

Great idea Randyn thanks.

In reply to Alex, Festoller, and all

I agree the Kreg table is lacking in several areas. I posted the Kreg table because of two reasons. The first is Kreg has a outstanding T-Square fence design which provides a very accurate and repeatable route with the micro adjuster. This can be purchased separately. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=93
They also have a very unique Precision Beaded Face-Frame System that can be added to a router table. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=116
This requires a standard router table top. This piece of equipment is a huge time and cost saving innovation. The other thing I do not like about the Kreg router table is the lack of a router lift. Again one can be purchased from Kreg. http://www.kregtool.com/products/prs/product.php?PRODUCT_ID=118
This is a very accurate lift which Kreg has made for them by another well know company. http://www.woodpeck.com/prlv2.html
So I agree that Kreg is not the end all of the router table world but they do have some items which Festool could make use of for the US market. It would be nice to see Festool team up with someone here in the US to supply a dedicated router system.

One other item I think I will add to my Festool / Kreg / Woodpeckers Router table is a digital lift display from Wixey. http://www.incrementaltools.com/Wixey_Remote_Digital_Readout_w_Fractions_p/wxwr525.htm

So my dedicated Festool router table will be as follows. MFT3 from Festool, Router top from Pinnacle, T-Square fence from Kreg, Precision Beaded Face-Frame System from Kreg, Router lift from Woodpecker, DLD (digital lift display) from Wixey, and a 7518 from Porter-Cable. I will keep you all posted as how this progresses. Now if only I can figure out the dust collection.

Once again I really wish Festool would make these products or at least get with a few of these companies and come up with a complete Festool US dedicated router system.

Please let me know what all of you think.

Thanks from a fellow Festool enthusiast and owner.

 

[woodshopdemos]

So my dedicated Festool router table will be as follows. MFT3 from Festool, Router top from Pinnacle, T-Square fence from Kreg, Precision Beaded Face-Frame System from Kreg, Router lift from Woodpecker, DLD (digital lift display) from Wixey, and a 7518 from Porter-Cable. I will keep you all posted as how this progresses. Now if only I can figure out the dust collection.

You have listed everything that I have recently published on my website woodshopdemos.com. All good products. As for the Woodpecker table to fit the MFT, I have had  it installed for about a year and found it    just too large for most routing use. I did mount it on my CMT base where it is now but about to be removed to give me more floor space. As to the dust collection, I see that rocker has a "box" what mounts under the router table top and has two hose output. I will be reviewing that shortly.

 

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I like the fact that festool's stuff is all portable.
It takes up minimal space and I can do just as good of job set-up in my shop vs. set-up at someones house.

 

[wscs00]

Thank you woodshopdemos for your reply.

I took a look at your site and it's nice to see we are thinking along the same lines. I wonder if you have tried the Unilift with the OF2200 http://www.woodpeck.com/unilift.html

I was thinking about purchasing a second base for the OF 2200 and mounting it to the Unilift so I could snap and unsnap the OF 2200 from the Unilift. I think by using the OF 2200 I would have great dust collection at the router. By making use of the OF 2200 in the Unilift I would have no need to buy a dedicated router motor. What do you think?

Thanks.

 

[spikfot]

When I first called woodpeckers and asked about Festool compatibility, they had not yet heard of festool- That was 4+ years ago. As far as I know, the Unilift is still not compatible with festool base hole patterns and they would surely update their compatibility list if they had.  I could be wrong about this, best to give them a call as I will do again tomorrow. I will add that I have had great experience with them as a company and they back-up their products 100%.
In general it seems that many of the companies who produce lift and plates have left Festool out of the loop. 
I've had good luck with my OF2000 under my table, but some of the regulars here have voiced negative opinions about using Festool routers in a table-

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=18257

 

[wscs00]

I agree with you William Woodpeckers is a very good company to work with. It seems many manufacturers have forgotten all about Festool or simply there are not enough Festool router owners here in the U.S. market. My thinking is I will get a blank Unilift base from Woodpeckers and drill my own mounting holes for the Festool OF 2200 for use with the Unilift. http://www.woodpeck.com/unilift.html I will also need an extra OF 2200 base for mounting to the Unilift plate. This should make it rather quick and easy to install or remove the OF 2200. I don?t know if the OF 2200 will fit in the Unilift so I will need to get a blank Unilift plate and an OF 2200 base plate to try.

Thanks for your efforts and your reply.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I'm a bit puzzled.  I have met and spoken with the president of Woodpeckers a few times, and exchanged ideas for products with him.  If you are willing to spend as much as the features/components you want would cost, why do that to fit a Festool OF 1400 router which is not primarily designed for inverted use in a table when you can buy any of several other intermediate or large HD fixed based routers for less $$ for which there are many commercially available high quality lift mechanisms including several choices from Woodpecker among others?  When I wrestled with similar questions a few years ago after I splurged by buying my OF 1400 and several accessories, I asked Festool's applications experts how I might adapt that router for table use.  In their written responses they unequivocally recommended that I buy another (non Festool brand) router for table use.  I ended up buying two.  One is a 13A Freud, the other a 15A PC 7518 which is the USA industry standard (before the Festool 2200 was introduced).  For the Freud, I bought a JoinTech router plate and twist lock inserts, and for the PC 7518 a JoinTech lift.  After owning both for a couple of years, I realize that I use the smaller Freud setup most of the time with its built-in through the base height adjustment because I don't need the power of the PC 7518 and the Freud has a dust collector shroud that fits into its base which directly accepts a Festool or Fein vacuum hose.  That Freud router came with 1/4 and 1/2 collets, soft start, variable speed, and its shaft lock feature enables changing bits with the supplied single collet wrench without removing the router / mounting plate from the cutout in the table.  It has a quick release height adjustment feature that disengages the height adjustment screw so you can very quickly adjust the approximate height or raise the router (toward the mounting plate) to lock the shaft to change the bit.  All of this with a 5 year warranty for about $150.  The Freud stays mounted to its table insert plate, but can be lifted out and removed from the plate quickly if needed.  But I have my OF 1400 for those purposes.

If you are determined to remain "all Festool" then go for it, but if you want the most functionality for less money, consider buying another router specifically designed for inverted use in a table.

Dave R.

 

[spikfot]

I would not choose any of Festool's Routers for use under the table if I lived in the U.S. I use the OF2000 because it is a strong motor and has doubled bearings at the bottom. Plunge routers are not ideal for under table use- but the availability of fixed-base routers here in Sweden is almost nil, the models that are available underpowered for running large bits. I will soon be purchasing a transformer to run 110v motors so I can use a motor/ lift combo from the states.
I've read quite a few negative reviews on the newer through-the-base adjustable plungers, unreliable or difficult mechanisms etc. Glad to hear you've had good luck with yours, Dave. 

 

[GPowers]

wscs00:

Did you ever finish your MFT/3 dedicated router table?

I was envisioning the same thing with the Kreg Fence. My wood shop shares the same space as one of our cars. So every this need to be moved out of  the way to park the car. A MFT/3 router table fits the bill.

 

[ApgarConstruction]

I don't see why anyone would spend money on a MFT table just to use it as basically a stand for a router top when anyone who knows how to work with wood, can make a standard base for a purchased TOP to be installed on.    I'm researching now to make a router table using woodpecker lift and router top.  I do all my work in the field but have a large closed in trailer that I want to have the router table inside of.  I can move it around and mill all the trim i might need right in the trailer. 

I don't see festool making a fixed router table , because there are already such high quality lifts and tables out there now, what would they be doing differently that woodpeckers or kreg hasn't already done? 

I'm struggling if I need the lift or not. I know it's expensive and I don't do a lot of routing all year long like a cabinetmaker or other shop woodworker would do, but it would be  nice to adjust from up top, the lift just adds a lot of expense to my project.

I do like the woodpeckers premade tops though.  the rest of the table is rather easy to construction from 5/4 or 2x stock laying around.
i also plan on some collapsable extensions on both sides of the table.

 

[nickao]

Oh my gosh I know I have been out of the loop, but I had no idea John Lucas passed away, what a loss..  

The wind has just been sucked all out me.

 

[Bob Marino]

Oh my gosh I know I have been out of the loop, but I had no idea John Lucas passed away, what a loss..  

The wind has just been sucked all out me.

Nick,

You ain't alone - most of us felt the same way when we heard. He's missed and always will be.

Bob

 

[GreenGA]

I don't see why anyone would spend money on a MFT table just to use it as basically a stand for a router top when anyone who knows how to work with wood, can make a standard base for a purchased TOP to be installed on.    I'm researching now to make a router table using woodpecker lift and router top.  I do all my work in the field but have a large closed in trailer that I want to have the router table inside of.  I can move it around and mill all the trim i might need right in the trailer.  

I don't see festool making a fixed router table , because there are already such high quality lifts and tables out there now, what would they be doing differently that woodpeckers or kreg hasn't already done?  

I'm struggling if I need the lift or not. I know it's expensive and I don't do a lot of routing all year long like a cabinetmaker or other shop woodworker would do, but it would be  nice to adjust from up top, the lift just adds a lot of expense to my project.

I do like the woodpeckers premade tops though.   the rest of the table is rather easy to construction from 5/4 or 2x stock laying around.
i also plan on some collapsable extensions on both sides of the table.

You probably already have a router you wish to use in your new table.  If not, the newer version of the Triton 3 1/4hp model has above the table adjustment built-in.  This is a highly rated router and many people swear by them.

Going with this router allows you to use any router table, even one of those portables.  Heck, you could probably put a table together in no time out of scraps you have sitting around.  Not that any of us have scraps laying around.  [tongue]

JMTC

 

[NuggyBuggy]

As to the dust collection, I see that rocker has a "box" what mounts under the router table top and has two hose output. I will be reviewing that shortly.

I couldn't locate this item on the Rockler site.  Does anybody know where to find it, or something like it ?
Edit: Found it, here.