Festool mystery accessory

[Gary Nichols]

Well, I guess Festool recognizes a fanatic when they see one. Yesterday, the mailman brought not one, but two 2007 catalogues... But at the bottom of pages 57 and 67 are photos of a clear router sub-base with two adjustable fences along the bottom so it can be run along the edge of panels. The caption on page 57 calls it an "edge guide routing aide". Now, I haven't gone through the router section enough times to thumb-smudge the ink along the page edges yet, but I have looked long and hard and do not see this accessory listed or priced. Can anyone help me out here? Does anyone know what it is? Have one? Know how much it is? Part number? It says Festool on it, so it must be for sale, but where is it listed? Or is this a tactic to sell more Festool parts? If so, it's working... I think I gotta have it....

Gary

 

[John Langevin]

Gary, I believe what you are referring to is shown on page 51 item number 15 "Plexiglass Template" with two adjustable fences and integral rule for routing grooves and slots on edges. Festool seems to have a real problem showing their accessories especially when it costs $239 U.S.D. I have thought of making one , afterall how complex can it be?

 

[Bob Marino]

 Gary,

That is now called a Plexiglas Template - item 492-037. - price is $239.00.  It is mainly used for mortises and making weatherstripping slots on doors, but certainly not limited to those applications.

Bob

 

[Pete Pedisich]

 Gary,

That is now called a Plexiglas Template - item 492-037. - price is $239.00.  It is mainly used for mortises and making weatherstripping slots on doors, but certainly not limited to those applications.

Bob

Bob,

Hi, can it be used with the OF1400? or is it just for the 2000?

Looks like a great way to make mortises for loose tenon joinery.

Pete

 

[Dan Lyke]

It seems to me that on my OF1010 at least the solution is to just get another edge guide and clamp it on the other side. I haven't checked the calendar recently, but I think that saves somewhere on the order of $200, and only gives up the clear material (although the clear plexi guide may have something to help do centering, too).

 

[John Langevin]

Pete, it is shown both with the OF1010 and OF2000 so I surmise that it can be used with all three routers. Bob perhaps you can clarify this for us.

 

[Bob Marino]

Pete, it is shown both with the OF1010 and OF2000 so I surmise that it can be used with all three routers. Bob perhaps you can clarify this for us.

Yes, it can be used with and has holes bored for all three routers.

Bob

 

[Gary Nichols]

Thanks for the help, guys,

Maybe I should check the second catalogue just in case it's the age 60 & over version. I'd never recognize it from that tiny photo they used on page 51. Funny, I only see it listed under the OF 1010 section, but the large photo on page 57 shows it with an OF 2000 and the photo on page 67 shows it with an OF 1400..... But it's not shown in those sections as an accessory? What's up with that? Maybe Festool needs to hire a proofreader..... I'll volunteer; all they need to do is send me one of everything they make, and I'll do it for free, including taking bigger pictures...

I think at $239, I'll make my own... That's more than half the price of the OF 1400 I'm waiting to buy as soon as I've paid some on my Festool Visa.... Domino maxed it out...

Gary

 

[John Stevens]

It seems to me that on my OF1010 at least the solution is to just get another edge guide and clamp it on the other side.

I think that would work for most people.  However, I made my own setup for that (two "L" shaped guides to fit the rods) when I had a dozen Soss hinges to install in cabinet doors.  I made the jig as strong and precise as I could, but it was still a little unsteady in use, and required a lot of attention to keep the router from tipping slightly and enlarging the hole.  I'm sure Festool's version works much better and faster.  If I were going to do operations where such an accessory would help, I'd probably buy it instead of using the one I made.

Regards,

John

 

[Gary Nichols]

John,

It's funny you mentioned Soss hinges..... Earllier this week, I was lamenting that the only thing my Domino couldn't do that my Lamello could, was mortise for Duplex hinges. And then it struck me... how about Soss hinges? hold the fence in the same spot, do regular and widest oscillation, two depths, and..... only problem(s).... Soss is not metric, and Domino is not Imperial..... three possibilities: Pigs will fly, Festool will offer a 3/8" bit, or maybe Soss & Festool colaborate to make a Soss hinge that fits a 10 mm bit and domino's standard & widest widths..... Christian? listening?

Gary

 

[John Stevens]

three possibilities: Pigs will fly, Festool will offer a 3/8" bit, or maybe Soss & Festool colaborate to make a Soss hinge that fits a 10 mm bit and domino's standard & widest widths..... Christian? listening?

Sounds good to me  http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=43.msg1402#msg1402

 

[Tinker]

Gary, I believe what you are referring to is shown on page 51 item number 15 "Plexiglass Template" with two adjustable fences and integral rule for routing grooves and slots on edges. Festool seems to have a real problem showing their accessories especially when it costs $239 U.S.D. I have thought of making one , afterall how complex can it be?

Thanks for the ID, John,  Until I reread your post, I absolutely could not find that plate listed as an accessorie to the OF 1000, or either of the other routers.  When I discovered (from your direction) the item listed as #15 on page 51, I was finally able to locate the part.  I then looked at the pic from every angle and finally went for my magnifying glass to study.  In my wildest dreams, i cannot see that plate.  I was able to see it from the larger pic with it mounted to the OF 1400 on page 67.  Using that pic for a guideline, i went back to page 51 for another look.  I wonder, does anybody @ Festool look in the catalogue?  If it were not for this FOG, there are so many goodies that are otherwise undiscoverable in there.
Tinker

 

[John Langevin]

Tinker, I wonder if they ever look at it either. I think the 2006 catalog might have a larger picture. I can't understand how a company can conceive, design and manufacture such extraordinary tools yet have no clue to the written word or image when it comes to marketing or explaining their use. ???

 

[cgmojoco]

Does the plexiglass template work with the 2200?

 

[bodnar11]

The Lee Valley website says it works with all Festool routers, but I've recently heard suggestions that using 2 edge guides instead would be a cheaper solution, especially if you already own one of them.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Does the plexiglass template work with the 2200?

I'm fairly certain the newest version will work with the 2200.  But be aware that there are older model(s) that do not.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Does the plexiglass template work with the 2200?

Yes -- it works very well with the 2200 and and the other Festool routers.  As Brice stated, you need to make sure it is the current version that is being sold.  The old version does not work as it hits the dust port on the back of the template.  Depending on how wide your material is (if you are routing grooves on edge, for example), using two edge guides also works very well.  I like both set-ups depending on what it is that I am doing. The Plexiglas Template is easier to fine tune and center, but the edge guides are a lower cost alternative and pretty easy to adjust as well with the fine depth adjuster.  I think that the Plexiglas Template is one of those hidden gems in the line-up that can be used for much more than just routing slots in material -- mortising and male dovetail joints are two things that come to mind -- both Brice and Jerry Work have some good information on using it on their respective sites including the use of shims to vary spacing for making dovetail joints or tenons.

Scot