Festool MFK 700 Modular vs. MFK 700 Basic Router
- Thread starter Scotty
- Start date
- Joined
- Jan 22, 2007
- Messages
- 8,426
Both include:
Dust Extraction Hood
Standard threaded base for U.S. guide bushing
Plug-it Power Cord
Vertical base
The set only includes:
1.5° Horizontal base
Feeler bearing set
Systainer SYS 2
Dust Extraction Hood
Standard threaded base for U.S. guide bushing
Plug-it Power Cord
Vertical base
The set only includes:
1.5° Horizontal base
Feeler bearing set
Systainer SYS 2
ccarrolladams
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,451
The thing about the entire MFK 700 system is that until you use it, you just have no clue all the productive things it will do for you.
Although I have taken all of the Festool USA End User Classes, and we used the MFK 700 in some of those, to me it seems to take forever to adjust one for a given task. The upside is that once adjusted, the MFK 700 stays adjusted forever.
Now the wonderful thing is you can buy the router part alone at a savings. The kit comes with more than one base, but another base is sold separately. When you remove the router from one base to use it on another, you need to start the adjustment process all over.
In the real world of production trimming, you need to go back and forth from trimming the top of self-edging to trimming the over-hang of the top. To me these are tasks best performed by the vertical base and the zero degree base, which is an optional extra. The one and a half degree base is very effective trimming typical thin hardwood self edging because the slight slope makes it far less likely you will mar the main surface.
So almost from the introduction in the USA of the MFK 700 system, I bought the kit and the optional zero degree base. As I gained experience I bought two of the basic routers, so I could leave each kind of base set up with the appropriate bits and of course with the router motors.
In my shop 3-10mm thick solid hardwood edge banding is being attached to something over 8 man hours a day. Primarily this is the chore of the one and a half degree base. In a rush two of us might be trimming and if we had to swap router elements, we would lose precious time. Therefore I own 4 of the 1.5 degree bases and motors for them. These days we do hardly any high pressure laminate work, so I only keep one each vertical and zero degree set up. But I do have one spare motor not set up on any base.
My calculation is I made back the cost of those routers the first year. Wasted labor is a cost I cannot recover. But if I have to do so, I can always sell well maintained Festools for a major percentage of their original cost. So in the case of my MFK 700 I cannot lose my investment.
Although I have taken all of the Festool USA End User Classes, and we used the MFK 700 in some of those, to me it seems to take forever to adjust one for a given task. The upside is that once adjusted, the MFK 700 stays adjusted forever.
Now the wonderful thing is you can buy the router part alone at a savings. The kit comes with more than one base, but another base is sold separately. When you remove the router from one base to use it on another, you need to start the adjustment process all over.
In the real world of production trimming, you need to go back and forth from trimming the top of self-edging to trimming the over-hang of the top. To me these are tasks best performed by the vertical base and the zero degree base, which is an optional extra. The one and a half degree base is very effective trimming typical thin hardwood self edging because the slight slope makes it far less likely you will mar the main surface.
So almost from the introduction in the USA of the MFK 700 system, I bought the kit and the optional zero degree base. As I gained experience I bought two of the basic routers, so I could leave each kind of base set up with the appropriate bits and of course with the router motors.
In my shop 3-10mm thick solid hardwood edge banding is being attached to something over 8 man hours a day. Primarily this is the chore of the one and a half degree base. In a rush two of us might be trimming and if we had to swap router elements, we would lose precious time. Therefore I own 4 of the 1.5 degree bases and motors for them. These days we do hardly any high pressure laminate work, so I only keep one each vertical and zero degree set up. But I do have one spare motor not set up on any base.
My calculation is I made back the cost of those routers the first year. Wasted labor is a cost I cannot recover. But if I have to do so, I can always sell well maintained Festools for a major percentage of their original cost. So in the case of my MFK 700 I cannot lose my investment.
I cannot argue with your point on the percentage of investment. I have looked at thse tools over the past couple of years and there is one thing I have noticed. Used Festool tools that are within 4 years of being manufactured that have been "slightly" used average about 75% of their list price (ranging between 60-85%). I have seen "new ones sell on eBay close to 90% of original which blows my mind because I would rather pay the extra 10% for the 30 day no risk and the manufacturer's warranty.
The set's always seem to be a better bargain because it seems you get a better bang for the buck. However, I am a General Contractor who randomly makes cabinets and I use my current Bosch laminate router ($100) quite often for doing roundovers, flush trim, and hinge mortising. The adjustments on it are not worth squat and since I tend to do these precise router applications up close, I am constanly blasted with dust which makes the Festool MFK 700 so tempting.
So I am pondering if I wish to spend the extra dough for the feeler bearing and the 1.5 degree base. I already have an extra SYS2 in my garage with pick-n-pluck foam insert.
The set's always seem to be a better bargain because it seems you get a better bang for the buck. However, I am a General Contractor who randomly makes cabinets and I use my current Bosch laminate router ($100) quite often for doing roundovers, flush trim, and hinge mortising. The adjustments on it are not worth squat and since I tend to do these precise router applications up close, I am constanly blasted with dust which makes the Festool MFK 700 so tempting.
So I am pondering if I wish to spend the extra dough for the feeler bearing and the 1.5 degree base. I already have an extra SYS2 in my garage with pick-n-pluck foam insert.
The mfk does not have a guide stop like the other routers, but Jerry Works has an article to make by our own to use the mfk with the guide rail. There is a link on the Festool website or search for The Dovetail Joint to take you to his website.
Scot
Scot
Julian Tracy
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2007
- Messages
- 529
First thing I thought upon getting the 700 with the bases is that it addresses every possible need for accurate edge trimming. I'd guess there's not a whole lot of reason to even buy this tool unless you buy it with the horizontal base. And the follow bearing seems to be a must-have as well.
But more importantly - Why on earth were the 0-degree and the 1 1/2degree horizontal bases not made as ONE base with interchangeable inserts??!
Darn shame that I need to spend another $165 just to get 0-degree horizontal capability when it could have been built-in to he single horizontal base by design.
As with a lot of Festool stuff (like a lot of Apple OE software), they're so close to hitting the perfection mark but fall short on some very simple fronts.
JT
But more importantly - Why on earth were the 0-degree and the 1 1/2degree horizontal bases not made as ONE base with interchangeable inserts??!
Darn shame that I need to spend another $165 just to get 0-degree horizontal capability when it could have been built-in to he single horizontal base by design.
As with a lot of Festool stuff (like a lot of Apple OE software), they're so close to hitting the perfection mark but fall short on some very simple fronts.
JT
- Joined
- Nov 18, 2010
- Messages
- 1,042
Shane Holland said:
Whoa. Do you mean to tell me that I can buy the MFK-700 without a Systainer?
ccarrolladams
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,451
Yes, the MFK 700 EQ Basic (cat 574 419) includes the Vertical Base n\and does not include a Systainer 2 TL.
The MFK 700 EQ Set (cat 574 369) also includeds the 1.5 degree Horizontal Base and the feeler bearing set, plus a Systainer 2 TL.
The Zero degree Horizontal Base Unit (cat 491 427) is sold separately.
Both the MFK 700 Basic and MFK 700 Set include one each 1/4" and 8mm collets.
The MFK 700 EQ Set (cat 574 369) also includeds the 1.5 degree Horizontal Base and the feeler bearing set, plus a Systainer 2 TL.
The Zero degree Horizontal Base Unit (cat 491 427) is sold separately.
Both the MFK 700 Basic and MFK 700 Set include one each 1/4" and 8mm collets.
Julian Tracy
Member
- Joined
- Oct 25, 2007
- Messages
- 529
I also found out the collets are identical to the OF1010 router. Which for me is great as I seem to have lost my 8mm collet for the 1010...
JT
JT
ccarrolladams
Member
- Joined
- Apr 14, 2010
- Messages
- 1,451
Scotty said:
You will find several of the Festools which only accept the 27mm hose have oval ports. Perhaps that is to decrease the size of the tool. In all cases the oval port grips the 27mm connector well and provides enough dust collection.
It can take a little practice to become comfortable fitting the hose connector over those oval ports.
festoolviking
Member
- Joined
- Jul 7, 2009
- Messages
- 361
Scotty said:
I think Paul Marcel made some change to his base-plate to fit longer bits in it. There should be a video-review on the MFK700 by him. Check it out unless you've already have.
Festoolviking
Peter Durand
Member
- Joined
- Jul 5, 2008
- Messages
- 208
I followed his instructions and it works very well indeed. I can now flush trim that is up to 1 inch wide and, using a down spiral bit, no possibility of tear out. Festool should pay him to copy this design.
Cheers,
Cheers,
Oh yeah, I looked at both his reviews on YouTube. But wasn't his concern more on the horizontal base because he likes to edge band thicker stock. My concern was more about the vertical base and having to use shorter bits because the depth adjustment is much more narrow than ,for example, my Bosch laminate router which can use my 2" flute bit and be able to route out a hinge butt which is about an 1/8" depth.
Similar threads
