Festool OF1400 - No LED work light?

[orm8426]

Am I missing something? I can't seem to find reference to the Festool OF1400 having an LED light to illuminate the cutter.

Surely a router of this price and a company with a reputation for thinking of ways to solve problems before we even knew we had them, wouldn't omit something as basic as an LED light from this tool?

 

[jonny round boy]

Am I missing something? I can't seem to find reference to the Festool OF1400 having an LED light to illuminate the cutter.

It doesn't have one.

Surely a router of this price and a company with a reputation for thinking of ways to solve problems before we even knew we had them, wouldn't omit something as basic as an LED light from this tool?

I've had one for years, and never thought it needed an LED. If your work area is well lit (as it should be) then it's not a problem. I've only ever seen one router with LEDs in (can't even remember what brand it was!) and I thought it was a little gimmicky tbh.

Besides which, this tool was designed a long time ago, maybe 10 years or more, before LEDs were as advanced/cheap/common as they are now.

 

[orm8426]

I've seen quite a few with LED's, including Bosch, Makita and Dewalt. They are maybe a little gimmicky and not entirely essential but a bit more light can never be a bad thing... I also thought it would fit Festool's ethos of many little (sometimes gimmicky) improvements adding up to make one fantastic tool.

I appreciate it's an older design but I'm sure it wouldn't take a huge amount of trouble for Festool's engineers to make an OF 1400 v1.1 with a couple of LED's.

 

[jonny round boy]

I'm sure it wouldn't take a huge amount of trouble for Festool's engineers to make an OF 1400 v1.1 with a couple of LED's.

You're right, it wouldn't be a huge amount of trouble for the engineers. It would however be a massive pain in the arse for the production, tooling, assembly, sales, and virtually every other department for very little benefit. It's simply not worthwhile.

It wouldn't be a huge amount of trouble for you to wire an LED to a battery & attach it to your router if you want it that badly. [big grin]

 

[orm8426]

I'm sure it wouldn't take a huge amount of trouble for Festool's engineers to make an OF 1400 v1.1 with a couple of LED's.

You're right, it wouldn't be a huge amount of trouble for the engineers. It would however be a massive pain in the arse for the production, tooling, assembly, sales, and virtually every other department for very little benefit. It's simply not worthwhile.

Fair comment. But, considering the price point I do think it's a justifiable thing to do. Especially considering the amount of time they spend on building some pretty niche tools, you'd think a mild update to one of their more "core" products once every ten years would be reasonable.

 

[teocaf]

I don't generally like the led lights on tools.  I agree that it's gimmicky.  It would certainly add to the cost, especially if you add a switch to turn it off.  And it would be a pain to replace/repair if it goes out, gets hit and breaks etc.  But the biggest problem is having to design it so it shines where it's useful and have it still be mounted on the tool.  Otherwise it just gets in your eyes or just shines where it's not needed and is a distraction.  For example my festool impact driver--that light on it never points to where the light is needed.  Completely useless in my opinion.  That's why G.., er I mean festool created the syslite with a tripod mount.
Having said that, I think they did a good job with the strobe light on the carvex.  But since I use my cordless upside down a lot of the time, I don't see that feature in use all that often.

 

[grbmds]

I'm sure it wouldn't take a huge amount of trouble for Festool's engineers to make an OF 1400 v1.1 with a couple of LED's.

You're right, it wouldn't be a huge amount of trouble for the engineers. It would however be a massive pain in the arse for the production, tooling, assembly, sales, and virtually every other department for very little benefit. It's simply not worthwhile.

Fair comment. But, considering the price point I do think it's a justifiable thing to do. Especially considering the amount of time they spend on building some pretty niche tools, you'd think a mild update to one of their more "core" products once every ten years would be reasonable.

I think the LED would be a great addition to an already great router. However, I don't there is any router on the market that has everything everyone feels make it the perfect tool. The OF1400 is accurate, easy to use, powerful, and, maybe the most important for me (since there are other great routers on the market), essentially dustfree connected to a Festool CT.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Tape a flashlight to the side of it.

 

[rst]

Streamlight makes tiny led flashlights for on key rings...they are the size of a end joint of a little finger and are amazing bright.  I have used them stuck into Loc Line 1/4" Modular hose fittings.

 

[Ajax]

Gimmicky?

Oh the lengths people will go to in order to defend Festool. 

Anyhow, doesn't the new Carvex have some "gimmicky" LED lighting?

Extra light means more safety IMO.  Nothing gimmicky about that.

 

[jonny round boy]

Gimmicky?

Oh the lengths people will go to in order to defend Festool.

No, not at all. It's just that I don't agree that it needs one. Like you, I'm entitled to my opinion, that's all.

Anyhow, doesn't the new Carvex have some "gimmicky" LED lighting?

Extra light means more safety IMO.  Nothing gimmicky about that.

You're not comparing apples with apples, a jigsaw is totally different. With a jigsaw, it's completely guided by hand, and you need to see where the cutting edge is. Also a jigsaw is often used in a situation where the ambient light isn't great. Having said that, I usually cut from underneath anyway, so I have the lights turned off on mine.

With a router, you're working with a collar, or a bearing, against a template, or a straightedge, or something that's guiding exactly where the cutting edge is going. Usually somewhere with decent lighting. If you can't see where you're going with a router, then you shouldn't really be using it. When I'm using a router it's very rare that I'm actually looking at the bit itself, I'm usually looking ahead of the router to see where I'm going, or at the rail/fence/straightedge or whatever to make sure the router is tight up against it. The only time I look directly at the cutting bit is when I'm setting it up.

Besides, complaining that the OF1400 doesn't have an LED light is like complaining that your 10 year old car doesn't have Bluetooth. Sure, it might have been possible at the time it was designed, but it would have been extremely expensive to incorporate into the design.

 

[orm8426]

Gimmicky?

Oh the lengths people will go to in order to defend Festool.

No, not at all. It's just that I don't agree that it needs one. Like you, I'm entitled to my opinion, that's all.

Anyhow, doesn't the new Carvex have some "gimmicky" LED lighting?

Extra light means more safety IMO.  Nothing gimmicky about that.

You're not comparing apples with apples, a jigsaw is totally different. With a jigsaw, it's completely guided by hand, and you need to see where the cutting edge is. Also a jigsaw is often used in a situation where the ambient light isn't great. Having said that, I usually cut from underneath anyway, so I have the lights turned off on mine.

With a router, you're working with a collar, or a bearing, against a template, or a straightedge, or something that's guiding exactly where the cutting edge is going. Usually somewhere with decent lighting. If you can't see where you're going with a router, then you shouldn't really be using it. When I'm using a router it's very rare that I'm actually looking at the bit itself, I'm usually looking ahead of the router to see where I'm going, or at the rail/fence/straightedge or whatever to make sure the router is tight up against it. The only time I look directly at the cutting bit is when I'm setting it up.

Besides, complaining that the OF1400 doesn't have an LED light is like complaining that your 10 year old car doesn't have Bluetooth. Sure, it might have been possible at the time it was designed, but it would have been extremely expensive to incorporate into the design.

I do look at the bit, then the path of the router, then back to the bit... Looking at the bit enables you to assess the cut, whether it is tearing out, burning/burnishing the cut, etc. So a light right at the cutter would be useful.

As for you analogy about bluetooth, that's not comparing apple with apples as you can actually go to and buy their latest model with bluetooth; Festool however are still selling their brand new routers without the LED's.

But anyway, my question was answered. Let's not get the fanboy's all hot and bothered, it's just my opinion that a LED would be useful and for a router at this price point it's ridiculous that a mild refresh to include LED's like other manufacturers hasn't happened. If you think otherwise then you're entitled to that opinion.

 

[jonny round boy]

As for you analogy about bluetooth, that's not comparing apple with apples as you can actually go to and buy their latest model with bluetooth; Festool however are still selling their brand new routers without the LED's.

My point is that the current OF1400 is the latest model. Car manufacturers refresh their models a lot more regularly than tool manufacturers, and at no stage did any car manufacturer ever release a new model just to put Bluetooth in it. It came in amongst an array of changes/revisions.

 

[festivus]

I think a BRIGHT led light would be very useful. I use the OF1010 for all sorts and always struggle seeing the cutter.

I think it would be quite easy to implement in a router - a bit like a LED ring flash.

But I do feel the lights need to be brighter than they are. On the PDC and CXS it's ok if it's completely dark - but otherwise no so good. I often have my head torch on still.

 

[orm8426]

As for you analogy about bluetooth, that's not comparing apple with apples as you can actually go to and buy their latest model with bluetooth; Festool however are still selling their brand new routers without the LED's.

My point is that the current OF1400 is the latest model. Car manufacturers refresh their models a lot more regularly than tool manufacturers, and at no stage did any car manufacturer ever release a new model just to put Bluetooth in it. It came in amongst an array of changes/revisions.

Makita, Bosch and Dewalt have refreshed existing designs of router to accommodate LED's in the same time frame, maybe Festool being a lower volume manufacturer can't afford to do it like the bigger, more mass volume players.  Possibly one of the over-looked downsides to Festool.

 

[Wuffles]

As for you analogy about bluetooth, that's not comparing apple with apples as you can actually go to and buy their latest model with bluetooth; Festool however are still selling their brand new routers without the LED's.

My point is that the current OF1400 is the latest model. Car manufacturers refresh their models a lot more regularly than tool manufacturers, and at no stage did any car manufacturer ever release a new model just to put Bluetooth in it. It came in amongst an array of changes/revisions.

Makita, Bosch and Dewalt have refreshed existing designs of router to accommodate LED's in the same time frame, maybe Festool being a lower volume manufacturer can't afford to do it like the bigger, more mass volume players.  Possibly one of the over-looked downsides to Festool.

It might be more to do with Festool guaranteeing parts availability for years to come that the refreshes take longer.

 

[teocaf]

I think a BRIGHT led light would be very useful. I use the OF1010 for all sorts and always struggle seeing the cutter.

I think it would be quite easy to implement in a router - a bit like a LED ring flash.

But I do feel the lights need to be brighter than they are. On the PDC and CXS it's ok if it's completely dark - but otherwise no so good. I often have my head torch on still.

i always use these tools sideways or upside down just as much as in "normal" mode and i'm always looking at the cutting bit from different angles depending on the space, conditions etc.  so my experience is that a light on the unit will be bothersome to my eyes either directly or from glare off the reflective surfaces such as the dust catchers etc.  so many times it would negate the benefit or actually make it worse, not to mention the possible added cost to the unit.  so a headlamp or syslite is much better not only for positioning but for light brightness.

on a somewhat related topic, i have a bench mounted grinder with a built-in light.  i thought what a cool idea, you always need a good light right there.  trouble was that the bulbs did not last long as the filament always got busted by the vibration.  i had to take it apart, install rubber shims, resolder it and now it works as it should.  so theory and practice differ in many ways.  i realize the led lights are different but how many would you need to put on a tool to get a decent amount of light?

 

[orm8426]

I think a BRIGHT led light would be very useful. I use the OF1010 for all sorts and always struggle seeing the cutter.

I think it would be quite easy to implement in a router - a bit like a LED ring flash.

But I do feel the lights need to be brighter than they are. On the PDC and CXS it's ok if it's completely dark - but otherwise no so good. I often have my head torch on still.

i always use these tools sideways or upside down just as much as in "normal" mode and i'm always looking at the cutting bit from different angles depending on the space, conditions etc.  so my experience is that a light on the unit will be bothersome to my eyes either directly or from glare off the reflective surfaces such as the dust catchers etc.  so many times it would negate the benefit or actually make it worse, not to mention the possible added cost to the unit.  so a headlamp or syslite is much better not only for positioning but for light brightness.

on a somewhat related topic, i have a bench mounted grinder with a built-in light.  i thought what a cool idea, you always need a good light right there.  trouble was that the bulbs did not last long as the filament always got busted by the vibration.  i had to take it apart, install rubber shims, resolder it and now it works as it should.  so theory and practice differ in many ways.  i realize the led lights are different but how many would you need to put on a tool to get a decent amount of light?

As for your first point an ON/OFF switch would be a simple solution. I'm sure Festool could design an incredibly novel and clever way of switching the LED on and off.

As for the second point a single LED would be more than sufficient. Modern Cree LED's are crazily bright.

 

[charley1968]

I don't do much freehand work with a router. Therefore sight of the bit is not something i priorise. No LED needed,missed.

 

[grbmds]

No perfect tools as far as I know; at least none that suit 100% of everyone's wants and needs. We all pick tools for various reasons. No LED light, but you get an OF1400 router which is dustfree, very powerful, more versatile than most, usable on the guide rail, and very easy to set up and use. I can forego the LED light regardless. My understanding is that Festool's policy is to update a tool when there are 7 features to change. I don't know if that is still true, but maybe there aren't 7 things wrong with the OF1400 or any of their routers. I know I can't find 7 things wrong; even 2 or 3. It's the best, most balanced router I've owned.