Hope I made the right choice

[GaryB]

I bought the OF 1010 a couple of weeks ago and it's a great little router, however, all the time it was here there was a gnawing doubt that I'd picked the right machine. The OF 1400 kept calling me.. The half inch collet, the snap in base inserts, the extra power, the plunge depth, the ratchet, better accessories, all colluding against me. So this morning I went back to the shop and swapped the 1010 for the 1400. It's a weighty and solid machine that will hopefully quiet the voices in my head  [blink]

I think I made the right decision but only time and use will tell. I know lots of people prefer the 1010 for everyday use but I really wanted the extra flexibility of the 1400 despite the added 4lb and bulk. I think it'll also make for a better small table mount, I already have a big table router and this will make a nice in-betweeny router for hand and small table use.

Fingers crossed I don't start pining for  the 2200  [crying]

 

[b_m_hart]

I got the 1010 first as well, and having since added a router table with a beefy router, still found myself in the same boat.  I picked up a 2200 at 20% off last month - now I just need to save up my allowance for the base kit.  Fortunately there's no beef over buying tools around here, as they all pay for themselves.

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Gary, we have a 30-day money back guarantee. If you change your mind in the coming days, return it and get the 1400. We want you to be 100% happy with your purchase.

 

[GaryB]

I did swap it for the 1400 and I feel happy about it. I just noticed some *very* cool things about it, one of the plate inserts is an exact fit to the bushing guide of my router plate.. and the router base has two screw holes at the outer edges for mounting the small hole fiber base. I'm going to drill the router plate to use these two holes with the base insert to exactly center the router base to the plate before clamping in place. This is easier than with the 1010!






I don't know if this is accident or design but it'll make table mounting a whole lot easier  [cool]

 

[billybokay]

It is just a matter of time, until you buy the 1010 again.
you miss it already, and your 1400 is not going anywhere,
so hang on as long as you can
but just know....

 

[GaryB]

PAH!

this isn't going anywhere  ;D I was just downstairs giving it a test drive and I'll have to politely disagree with everyone who says the 1010 is as good as the 1400 even for small stuff. I've been routing a whole bunch of cups with a circle template guide and a 1/4" shaft, 1/2" bowl-tray bit. The 1400 is a whole lot better behaved and better cutting, I can hollow out in less steps, get smoother results and far less chatter/pull when hollowing the wood out. With the 1010 the bit chatters and buzzes while cutting and when it hits a chunk to be removed it makes a rather unpleasant whine and tries to climb its way around the back. None of this happens with the 1400. It's smooth, steady and just plows its way through like nobody's business. I think Dovetail was saying that it's not 1/4" shaft bits that chatter, it's the router and I believe he's correct. These were both using the same bit with very different results.

I don't know if the 1010 I had was a little slack in the bearings but this 1400 slays it in feel and sound. I imagine the mass and extra power helps, but to me, this is what a good router should feel like. To say I'm pleased would be a gross understatement.

I know I made the right decision and it's a keeper!

 

[semenza]

Plus it has a larger dust port and can take the D36 hose for better collection !

 

[GaryB]

Hmm, dunno if the bigger pipe would help in my case as I only have the CT mini  [sad]

*edit*
so I just went down to investigate the hose situation and discovered the inlet is a standard shop-vac sized 2" port. I plopped my 2" hose in it, turned it to 11, switched it on and...  [eek]

this thing could suck the paint off my car! I had no idea the hose was such a limiting factor. I should be able to fill this puny little bag in seconds, or less  ;D Gotta go find an appropriate adapter tomorrow. I think I can safely forget the table widener, my router will stay in place with sheer suction.

Toys are such fun, and I thought I'd picked a lemon with the Mini.

 

[blanning]

Hmm, dunno if the bigger pipe would help in my case as I only have the CT mini  [sad]

*edit*
so I just went down to investigate the hose situation and discovered the inlet is a standard shop-vac sized 2" port. I plopped my 2" hose in it, turned it to 11, switched it on and...  [eek]

this thing could suck the paint off my car! I had no idea the hose was such a limiting factor. I should be able to fill this puny little bag in seconds, or less  ;D Gotta go find an appropriate adapter tomorrow. I think I can safely forget the table widener, my router will stay in place with sheer suction.

Toys are such fun, and I thought I'd picked a lemon with the Mini.

I just ordered a CT36 and a dust deputy.  Now you got me thinking I should have saved my money and gotten a smaller vac.  [blink]

brian

 

[Brice Burrell]

I just ordered a CT36 and a dust deputy.  Now you got me thinking I should have saved my money and gotten a smaller vac.   [blink]

brian

Brian, I don't see the advantage of having the CT36 if you intend to use it with the DD.  Can you cancel your order and get the 26 or Midi? 

 

[GaryB]

I might have to get a DD myself, this little bag fills up really fast. Trouble is I also need the guide stop, the edge guide, blah, blah...

Too many things on the list.

 

[blanning]

I might have to get a DD myself, this little bag fills up really fast. Trouble is I also need the guide stop, the edge guide, blah, blah...

Too many things on the list.

As part of a kit, the 26 is only $45 less than the 36 so I'll stay with the bigger one.

I received the DD (the one for festool) yesterday, but I don't have the 36 yet.  I was impressed with the quality.  The container is very rigid to keep it from collapsing.  I think the only way they could improve it is by providing the steel cyclone instead of the plastic one.  The plastic one looks plenty strong though so it should be ok. 

brain

 

[semenza]

I might have to get a DD myself, this little bag fills up really fast. Trouble is I also need the guide stop, the edge guide, blah, blah...

Too many things on the list.

As part of a kit, the 26 is only $45 less than the 36 so I'll stay with the bigger one.
I received the DD (the one for festool) yesterday, but I don't have the 36 yet.   I was impressed with the quality.  The container is very rigid to keep it from collapsing.  I think the only way they could improve it is by providing the steel cyclone instead of the plastic one.  The plastic one looks plenty strong though so it should be ok. 

brain

If I have done my math right- the break even point with bags is around 33 bags. In other words when you have used 33 bags in the CT36, the cost of the CT26 with bags, and the cost of the CT36 with bags for the same total liters of removal will be about the same.

Maybe that will help with some folks decisions.  I did not figure it for the Mini  in comparison, but the cost will break even at some point.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Hmm, dunno if the bigger pipe would help in my case as I only have the CT mini  [sad]

*edit*
so I just went down to investigate the hose situation and discovered the inlet is a standard shop-vac sized 2" port. I plopped my 2" hose in it, turned it to 11, switched it on and...  [eek]

this thing could suck the paint off my car! I had no idea the hose was such a limiting factor. I should be able to fill this puny little bag in seconds, or less  ;D Gotta go find an appropriate adapter tomorrow. I think I can safely forget the table widener, my router will stay in place with sheer suction.

Toys are such fun, and I thought I'd picked a lemon with the Mini.

Another factor is that the hose goes over the port instead of into it. This reduces the chance of a larger chip hanging up on the hose end.

Seth

 

[GaryB]

just got back with a MrNozzle hose and Fein adapter to fit the festools. The hose is substantially bigger than the stock hose so should do nicely. I was thinking of getting the DD but remembered I also have a mini 5 gallon bucket mount shop-vac ($20 at Lowes) which should work pretty much as well as a DD. The inlet and outlet are on the top and it has a cloth filter sheet which should capture all but the smallest stuff before it ever reaches the Mini. I still need to test all this but see no reason why it wouldn't work. I'm trying to keep my costs down as much as possible, the Festool and DD stuff is costly and I need to get more cash in before splashing out on the expensive stuff.

 

[builderbob]

I originally purchased the 1010 and used it with the LR32 system along with all of it's other routing uses. All was well until I delivered a pantry project that had a bunch of pin holes for a lot of adjustable shelves. When I finished the install, my shelves weren't lining up at all. Come to find out, my 1010 went out of alignment on the LR 32 plate. I did a bit of research on the 1400 and found that it attaches to the LR 32 plate in a foolproof way...went and bought the 1400 that day!  I still use the 1010 just not on the LR 32.

The other thing is that I use the DD with my CT 22 and I wouldn't do it any other way!  Barely any dust in the CT bag after a few months of use!  The 33/36 is just too big for my needs, but I wanted the suction of the higher vacs...plus I wanted the boom arm. Hence my decision to go with the 22 at the time!

Bob

 

[GaryB]

I never thought the 1400 was well suited for table mounting. Quite honestly, I wouldn't want to hide it away!

I don't see why the 1400 wouldn't do a good job in a small table, it's 2.5hp and mounting/removing is really fast. It's just two track clamps with screw knobs. With that base plate insert, getting it centered in an instant is easy. Plop it in place and clamp. Takes all of about 2 minutes and even less to remove. The wodpecker plate I have isn't screwed in place on the table, it has 2 spring clamps so you just pull it out with the router attached to adjust. No beneath table adjustments necessary, you can do it all as you would with the stand alone router. Adjust, drop it in the table and rout.  [smile]