Has the CMS-GE fallen out of favor?

[yetihunter]

With this kit you don’t “suck dust through the router”.

But it’s probably not handy if you take the router out of the table often.

YMMV, but I went through two of those types of kits and remember having issues.  They both got traded out for a box.  I ended up with an incra box at some point too, it worked.

My frankenstein woodpecker/incra/general/jessem/routerraizer/elu router tables worked just fine, but I’m going to always recommend at least an all-in one table instead of cobbling it together like I had done in the past.  I did save a lot of money (never spent more than $400 a table...with router table parts, nothing milled or sized by muah).  They have them set up now where you can get everything included that had to be bought separately mere years ago. 

OK, now you guys have me wondering again.
I always liked the sliding table on the FT router table; and I already have an OF 1400.
The full kit price of the Festool rig is not much different from the Jessem or Woodpeckers setups with a nice micro-adjust fence; and I have an old Bosch 1617 (I think) I would use for a motor.

I for one would appreciate more details on your experience with a Jessem or Woodpeckers router table, particularly in comparison with the Festool. Mobility is not an issue with me, but shop space is of course.

The Festool takes up more space than the Jessem/Woodpeckers/Jet/Sawstop/Kreg/etc tables when fitted with all of the extra tables.  But you don’t need to have those tables up all of the time.  I haven’t touched anyone’s CMS in a while, so hopefully someone can chime in with how stable it is.  That’s the only concern I have with my recommendation.  You can build or buy a coping sled or sliding miter attachment if you go the non-festool route.  I’d rather have the aluminum table over phenolic/melamine.  Likewise, I’m sure others will say they'd rather have cast iron over the aluminum.  An easy way to help your decision is to decide what router you will be using and what dust extractor.  CMS means you’ll be using a Festool router and a european portable dust extractor (Festool, Fein, Starmix, Nilfisk).  Unless any new developments have come about since I put woodworking on hiatus a couple of years ago, you will need the larger stationary machine dust extraction fittings the other router tables and you won’t be using a festool unless you drill out your own plate (it will be aluminum or phenolic, so not a big deal),

 

[FestitaMakool]

Yetihunter, you have a point when it comes to stability regarding the GE table.
That is with It’s legs folded out (Using it with its base it’s rock steady!)
I’ve had 3 GE tables, one sold, I kept and will keep two. I noticed on the oldest I sold that the legs where a bit wobbly - so I visited a friend of mine in order to use his hydraulic press. We did get the steel tubing firmly and snug to the pivoting knuckles again. But, this made it clear that I’m going to make an easy way to cross brace the legs when using the GE tables harder than light routing and sawing. A sheet of thin light plywood cut to a roughly “X” shape preferably neatly foldable together with the legs for transport. (That means cutting to shape of what tool is mounted, and most used, so the brace-plate will clear the tool when folded in - is the idea)  It would give the table extra support on the “working side” - just as the MFT/3 needs it when planing for example.

The VL table is much more sturdy.

 

[jarbroen]

I’m shopping for a router table and am seriously considering the FT offering. I have looked around for more information but it seems to be a bit old and sparse. And a lot of classified ads [eek] Are FOG’ers using something different these days?

My alternative might be an incra setup. But I am mostly going to want to do dovetails (a big feature with incra) by hand. I would mainly be using a router table for edge treats and cope and stick door construction. Just want to get a sense of the CMS still being viable.

TIA!

A lot of good replies from other members.  One thing I would add is that you can have the CMS AND Incra.
It adds to the cost overall, but I have the Incra LS Wonderfence setup with my CMS-VL set.
I still use the Festool fence and shroud for bearing bit routing occasionally, but most is done with the Incra.  I have the Precision plate which makes it like 20 seconds to install or remove the LS fence from my MFT.
So you could do your dovetails, box joints, etc. on the CMS - if you get the VL that attaches to an MFT.
It's also very stable attached to the MFT.  And, as others mentioned, you can add the MW1000 extension table for out/infeed.
I've been able to push large panels through the setup using another MFT for support.
The sliding table with mitre thingy is awesome for doing the ends of rails.  I've done a bunch shaker/chamfered style doors and it's really easy with this setup.

Yes, the whole setup is not cheap.  However, the way everything works together makes it all so versatile.  And even though I'm not mobile it's really handy that all this can store away in a corner.

 

[vkumar]

[member=65755]jarbroen[/member] will this setup  also work with the GE table.  Could you post pictures of your setup.
Thanks

 

[jarbroen]

The setup with the Incra fence can be made to work with the GE, but it's not as plug and play as it is with the VL.
There are a bunch of threads if you search the forum with pictures an instructions on how this is setup.
I don't have mine setup at the moment to take a picture for you.

 

[Cheese]

There are several forum members that have installed the Woodpecker Micro Adjust on the CMS. That's the direction I'll be taking, simple to add, simple to remove and simple to store.
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/festool-jigs-tool-enhancements/another-cms-micro-adjust-(-using-crown-stops)/msg343525/#msg343525

[attachimg=1]

 

[FestitaMakool]

This looks simple yet very efficient and fast to use. My CMS OF might see this solution soon.

 

[Coen]

There is no reason to complain. The law(s) is/are in effect. Time to move on to a different solution.

You lay down and take it ..... everytime somebody else makes a decision for you?

That is the idea behind 'Befehl ist Befehl'. Not much different from what you see in the country to our east; people will just stand still at a red light for 2 minutes at a completely deserted intersection...
You already know what would happen in NL in such a case  [big grin]

There is no reason to complain. The law(s) is/are in effect. Time to move on to a different solution. The VL and GE are not the best solutions for anything. At best they are a compromise in terms of the table and fence. The plus is the fit in the system and for some that is all they need, however if you have the floor space for dedicated router table then there a multitude of options available with awesome lifts and huge tables granted they do not work with Festool routers.

Not the best for anything? My garage has limited space. I have the OF and PS modules and it stores all rather compact. The table is the same height as my MFT, which is handy when working with larger pieces.

You already acknowledge that it's the best because the requirement for all the others is... "if you have the floor space". Things are different in the USA, but common newly build houses in NL are ~100 sq metres living space house on a ~100 sq metres plot of land. You can figure out for yourself what that leaves for garage space  :'(