Festool Routers vs Milwaukee 3 1/2 HP Power Wise

[alltracman78]

Curious if anyone has experience with the Festool OF 2200 vs the Milwaukee 5625 (3 1/2 HP)?

Can the Festool hang with the Milwaukee power wise? Festool is fantastic finesse and dust collection wise but doesn't always have the pure power some other tools do. And since I'm specifically interested in putting large bits in one for a router table and flattening large pieces of wood that matters for this.
I know on paper the Festool is roughly 18 amps while the Milwaukee is 15.

I'm assuming the Festool has better dust collection off the table. Better ergonomics too?

Any other thoughts?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I've never used a 2200, but those who have them say that they are a beast. All the power you would ever need.

The guys in the solid surface department use the big Milwaukee and are quite happy with them.
I don't particularly like the ergonomics of the handles on them, but they work fine and that's very subjective. The smaller Body-grip units are fantastic for lesser tasks, but I wouldn't challenge one with a slab flattening bit.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I've never had a Milwaukee but over the years I've had the whole slew of other 1/2" routers, ELU MOF177E, M12E, TR12, etc, etc.

The OF2200 is the most powerful and yet smoothest 1/2" router I've ever used. It is an absolute joy to use in every way. The balance especially for such a large beast is astoundingly good. Couldn't recommend it high enough, and now couldn't do without it!

 

[Cheese]

I own both, the Milwaukee is in a router table while the Festool is in a router table... [big grin]

The Milwaukee is more like a shaper with it's power while the 2200 is really nice as a hand-held/guided router for very large projects.
If you need a simple high HP table mounted router the Milwaukee is the best of the best and for a very reasonable price. It's not a plunge router and was never designed to perform that function. so you need to consider that aspect.
The ergonomics of the Milwaukee when hand-held however, are terrible because that was not what it was designed for.

The Festool is smoother, has better dust collection and because it is a plunge router, is much more versatile.

Bottom line...the Milwaukee if it's used in a router table and you need all the power you can get.

The Festool 2200 if it needs to be used occasionally as a hand held router and you want superior dust collection.

There's also the price thing going on...$350 vs $1000.

 

[alltracman78]

So you do feel purely power wise the Milwaukee has the edge?

I should have said I already have the Milwaukee.
I've actually used it hand held with a 1/2 3" long straight bit to finish off some dados in 6x lumber. So I know what it feels like hand held.
But I originally got it for my router table.

I also have 2 Milwaukee 18V 1/4 routers (I love them) and a Makita corded trim router. I would never use a smaller router for any kind of a flattening bit.

I didn't intend to get the Festool right away (I prefer to ponder for a while on something that expensive). Partly because of price, mostly because I'm assuming the Milwaukee will have enough power. I was wondering if it would outcut the Milwaukee. And how the Milwaukee will be height adjustment wise in the sled of the slab mill.

 

[Cheese]

So you do feel purely power wise the Milwaukee has the edge?

Tough to gauge because I've had the 2200 for only 2 years vs 21 years for the Milwaukee. The Milwaukee has had everything thrown at it while the Festool not so much. They're both 15 amp routers but I just haven't leaned on the 2200 as much.

I do know that ergonomically, the 2200 is far superior to the Milwaukee, it's just more fun and easier to use. And the dust collection is a huge bonus round.

I've pretty much changed over from 3 Milwaukee routers to 4 Festool routers because of the superior ergonomics, plunge capability and dust collection.