Festool router and equipment for basic tasks with birch ply?

[Peter M.]

Hello all,

I'm planning to purchase a Festool router and would greatly appreciate some help deciding on a router and a minimal set of bits and accessories.

I'm hobbyist building simple things out of plywood. I do NOT have a router table and intend to do most things with tracks (have TS55+MFT+CT Mini and love them), templates, or freehand.

Specifically, I want to:

- Right-angle join 18mm birch ply to 18mm birch ply using dados and rabbets
- Cut grooves for 9mm birch ply drawer bottoms
- Template-cut handle openings in drawer faces (like Paulk mobile workshop drawer handles)
- Put a small but comfortable to touch roundover on solid wood faces

I *think* I can use the following:
OF 1010
#490980 HW Spi S8 D10/30 Spiral cutter (double pass 18mm dados and rabbets to fit, single pass 10mm grooves for 9mm bottoms)
#484176 KR-D 13,8/OF 900 Copying ring (for template cutting with the D10/30 spiral cutter)
#491010 HW S8 D19,1/R3 KL Roundover

Some questions:
(1) Is the OF1010 powerful enough to do what I want comfortably?
(2) Is an 18mm spiral cutter a more efficient way to cut dados etc. for 18mm ply?
(3) Is 10mm groove for 9mm drawer bottoms about right -- not too loose?
(4) Can you use a 10mm spiral cutter with a copying ring that has a 10mm internal diameter (or do I need a larger ring)?
(5) Any other bits or accessories that better match my goals?

Thanks very much for any guidance! 

Cheers,

Peter

 

[polarsea1]

I had a 1010, while I think it's a great little router 18mm wide rabbets and dados might be stretching it. I use a larger router(DeWalt) with a 1/2" shank for that kind of work.

 

[hemlock]

OF 1010 is a great router.  I have used it for what you want to do but in pine.  It worked fine.  Built a number of bockcases.  Dados and rabbets.  3/4 inch. 

Having said this I just bought an OF 1400 for another need.  The of1010 is really light and a real pleasure to be so manuverable.  But if I was doing more dadoes on tracks I'd probably use the of1400. 

Upshot is I think the 1010 will do what you want; but the 1400 May be worth it if you have the extra $ and don't mind the weight. 

I love having both.  Probably not the answer you wanted.

 

[SoonerFan]

Like you, I do not have a router table.  When I need dados I use the OF1400 and a track.  I have gotten excellent results.  I went with the OF1400 because of larger shanks and a little more power.  I really WANTED the OF1010 & the OF2200 but decided I only NEEDED one router.  I thought the OF1400 was closest to my needs and have been happy so far.

 

[charley1968]

I think you'll be fine with the 1010. You may need more passes, but as i understand ,you are not on a schedule.

 

[Just F Me]

I have very similar Festool tools as you.  I have a OF1400 router but I'm in need of the Festool CMS because I want to route narrow pieces.  If you want to do the same thing, it's gonna be tough.  The OF1400 just plows though birch ply like nothing.