First Festool purchase.. and in doubt;-) OF 1010 or 1400?

[Skipper]

Hi Festool experts,

I have been doing woodwork for several years with all kinds of different branded tools. Want to change my Bosch POF 1400 to a Festool, but to which one - the 1010 or 1400?
I use 8 mm, and never found the Bosch was not powerful enough. Mostly doing furniture (hardwood), tables, and kichens tops in both acrylic and hardwood.

Any insides would be very appreciated

All the best from an aspirrering FOG member,
Skipper

 

[charley1968]

Welcome to the crew!
I do recommend the OF1400 because you might some day decide to use the router in a routertable and neither are you limited to 8mm bits. The Festool-router handles better than my lighter Makita with 900w.
But either way , i guess you'll be happy with the router.
My 2 öre.
A.

 

[nclemmons]

Welcome the the FOG, Skipper...

I have both routers.

I like the 1010 because of it's smaller size and some of the accessories you can get for it like for horizontal routing, etc.  It's a very handy tool and I use it most of the time for edge routing, dados, rabbets, etc.  It also works great with the LR-32 jig, though the 1400 is also adaptable to that as well.  I do mostly furniture and it's perfect for 95% of my work.

The 1400 adds the advantage of 1/2" collet along with the 8mm and 1/4" collet.  The 1400 would also be the better choice if you were going to use it for handling larger bits like for panel doors, as an example.  If you are doing a lot of solid surface, the 1400 might be a better choice for the additional horsepower.

Try one with the 30 day trial and see what you think.  I assume that is an option in Denmark as it is here in the states.

neil

 

[sancho57]

For hand help routing I really like the 1010,

 

[Just F Me]

I don't have much woodworking exp, but I do own a OF1400 and I love it.  I mainly got it because I watched a ton of YouTube videos and it seems like the OF1400 was the best one because it was the most rounded.  It can do the small jobs, but also do a lot of the bigger jobs as well. 

I had a crap router before and it was loud, dusty, and wasn't smooth at all.  The Festool OF1400 is the shhh...  Plus it's only $100 more.  Why not pay $100 more for some versatility? 

 

[dltflt]

I would go for the 1400 because it allows the use of 1/2" bits.

 

[grbmds]

I have only owned the 1400 for about a year. In that period, whenever I've used it, I found it to be the best router I've ever used. I don't find it too big to do handheld routing and is much easier to manage for that than others I've used. It gives the flexibility of using 1/4" and 1/2" bits. One of its best features is the dust collection but I suspect all the Festool routers excel at that. Dust is one of the biggest problems with routing. I used the 1400 to do dadoes with guides stops on the guide rail and . . . no dust; none. I found that amazing. I found it much easier to use than other routers also; setup and actual use. It's a great router and probably offers the most flexibility of the Festool routers. Plus, as said, if you ever decide to mount it in a table it has more power than any router its size I've used. While I assume the 1010 would work OK in a table, you most likely would reach its limit with bigger jobs, while the 1400 would do most things except the heaviest routing jobs (maybe even those with a little bit of patience and care). Just my opinion. It's a great router.

 

[shed9]

I've got both and where possible always prefer to use the 1010. As pointed out already the included accessories are a huge bonus and it's a superb little router.

My only gripe is the fence on the 1010, it needs to be more than folded sheet steel IMO.

 

[Stone Message]

I do not have the 1010 but have it on my list. I can certainly recommend the OF1400 - it is a sweat router with pretty good dust collection (not as good as the OF 2200), the full range of collet sizes and plenty of power. You should start with this one as you will then be able to use some of the biggest cutters available whereas with the OF1010 you will be limited.

Aim to get both but start with the OF1400.

Peter

 

[waho6o9]

Welcome to the FOG Skipper!

I'd get the OF1400 if I were you because you probably have the 8mm

bits and the OF1400 is more versatile. You'll love it.

The  1010 is like the mini me of the OF1400. Good to have and use
as well.

My first router purchase was the OF1400 and there was zero buyers' remorse.

Good luck now and keep us posted.

 

[Jaybolishes]

1400 for sure.

 

[Rollin22Petes]

I have both routers and use my 1010 90% of the time because it's a great little router and I love it. Having said that my first festool router was the 1400 and I would suggest that be your first too as others have stated the added capability is definitely a plus there's always going to be that situation when you need a 1/2'' collet and added hp. Anyway at some point you will probably have both anyway there addictive can't just but one ;D 

 

[roblg3]

There's not much that the 1400 can't handle.  The 1010 has more limits.  Brian Sedgley is a Festool Trainer and recommends to get the 1400, it's hands down the most versatile router out there.  I have an OF2000 in a table for cutting raised panels with a back cut at the same time.... never a hiccup.  OF1400 for everything else. And the mfk 700 for detail/inlay work.  The 1010 isn't on my radar. I use the 1400 for lr 32 and anything that isn't table work.  I wouldn't even have bought the of 2000 except i wanted a bad ass dedicated table-router.  Do you need all that versatility?  It costs more, weighs more and really is probably more powerful than any router you've used before.  That to me is the question.  What do you NEED this router to do for you?  Does the 1010 accomplish %90 percent?  if yes get that.

 

[Thistleman]

Skipper,

I am fortunate to have an OF 2200 and an OF 1010. But I have 2 OF1400s as they are the most versatile. You can do most of what the bigger and smaller machines are capable of with the OF1400 but an OF1010 will limit you if you want to take on bigger projects and an OF2200 is just to big for some tasks. The OF1400 is the ideal compromise.

Having said all that I suspect the choice is largely irrelevant because you just know you will be acquiring a second router sooner rather than later!!!!

 

[Kev]

If you're going to be a 1 router shop the OF1400 is a certainty.

Unfortunately routers can be a bit like angle grinders ... it never seems to hurt to have another one ... [embarassed]

 

[Skipper]

Dear all,

Really happy with all you replies and great help on the matter!
As i hope to be able to only need one single router in my collection, i decided to go for the 1400 based on your replies and what I have found on the www. It seems that this will be the best compromise, even though it might be a little large for some of my furniture tasks.

Thanks for the warm wellcome, and i will let you know what i think when i get it - Cant wait

All the best, Skipper

 

[ear3]

I can certainly recommend the OF1400 - it is a sweat router with pretty good dust collection (not as good as the OF 2200),

My lord -- I can't wait to get the 2200 then.  I was just using my OF1400 in a back bedroom (now outfitted with an MFT/3) because my garage shop was too cold to work in, and I didn't even bother to remove the blankets from the bed because the dust collection was so good.  By that measure, I expect that the 2200 will actually remove ambient dust from the air and make my house cleaner!

 

[Stone Message]

I can certainly recommend the OF1400 - it is a sweat router with pretty good dust collection (not as good as the OF 2200),

My lord -- I can't wait to get the 2200 then.  I was just using my OF1400 in a back bedroom (now outfitted with an MFT/3) because my garage shop was too cold to work in, and I didn't even bother to remove the blankets from the bed because the dust collection was so good.  By that measure, I expect that the 2200 will actually remove ambient dust from the air and make my house cleaner!

I am sorry that you are unable to maintain the temperature in your workshop.

Now the OF2200 does generate more heat than the OF1400 so you could use it as part of your overall plan to make your workshop a place of joy. Another thing you might try is to invite friends to visit your workshop - people generate about 60w of heat and so can be a valuable source of heat on a cold day. If you do not have enough friends to do this then you should examine other strategies.

Of course most people already know that on average the OF2200 generates no dust at all* .

Peter

*  "On average the OF2200 generates no dust at all". The average is taken over time and is a reflection that the tool is idle more than 50% of the day and that most owners do not use the tool whilst asleep. An OF2200 kept in a workshop which is too cold to work in will be above the average pending the owner getting some more friends to help heat the workshop. This is a lonely time for an OF2200.

 

[rst]

I must agree with Kev regarding the gotta have more phenom, I have six PCs, three Bosch, and love the 1400 I bought so I could use the LS32 system.