How much better are the Festool Routers?

[onocoffee]

I've been working on a bench upgrade project and routing channels for Miter and T-track in plywood using a very basic (and old) Skil plunge router. for a 1.25hp 1/4" home user router, it's perfectly fine and does a decent enough job. But the dust is everywhere. It's not going to be tolerable for much longer. Someone told me that the difference between a non-FT and FT router is minimal. I'm interested in performance but I'm more interested in dust extraction. I would like for myself and everything around me not to be coated in fine dust after every cut.

Thanks!

 

[mino]

OF 1010 R.

Nough said.

 

[rst]

The Festool routers a magnificent at dust and chip collection.  I have and use all different models including two 2200s.  I actually rout plastics more than wood and it is amazing how much better than my PCs and Bosch.  If I could just have one out of the 16 I own it would be the 1400.

 

[outlawcarpenter]

being someone that has used the dewalt wired and battery router for years, the Festool Router was an outstanding upgraded is several aspects. Even the employee's noticed the improvement.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I've had almost every brand router there is apart from the Maffell's, and the Festool's are in a class of their own. They win hands down for performance, ergonomics, dust extraction, and power every time in my book.

Despite the intimidating size, the 2200 would be my choice if I lived in some horrific universe where I could only have one! It's surprisingly balanced and easy to handle.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

As an official router hoarder, I can tell you to not believe that "someone".
All of the Festool routers have superior dust extraction. They also have a great rail integration system, including the ability to drill 32mm system holes.
The MFK 700 have multiple interchangeable bases, operating vertically or horizontally.
The OF1010 is probably the most universal, for most people, unless they need to use 1/2" shank bits. At that point, OF1400 is the next step.

 

[Muttley000]

I have used and still use dewalt (corded and cordless), porter cable, Milwaukee, and even a couple craftsman models. I got my first Festool recently, once you try one you will understand immediately why they cost a bit more, and be looking at what other festools it makes sense to upgrade with!

 

[Kev]

There are people out there that prattle on about Festool being over priced. My opinion is that with Festool you get what you pay for. Typically over the life of a Festool tool (and the system accessories and the consumables) you get the benefits of your investment paid back to you many times over.

I have all of the Festool routers and trimmers and appreciate them all. I would say that if you want to do a bit of everything and want to get one router it should be the OF 1400.

I'll confess though that a do also have a love of the little cordless Makita trimmers

 

[luvmytoolz]

There are people out there that prattle on about Festool being over priced. My opinion is that with Festool you get what you pay for. Typically over the life of a Festool tool (and the system accessories and the consumables) you get the benefits of your investment paid back to you many times over.

I have all of the Festool routers and trimmers and appreciate them all. I would say that if you want to do a bit of everything and want to get one router it should be the OF 1400.

I'll confess though that a do also have a love of the little cordless Makita trimmers

I've never understood the proud and loud proclamations from people "that they'd never blow their money on anything Festool as they're over priced garbage"!

Wearing your ignorance like a badge of honour always seems strange to me. I read that as they'd prefer to use more difficult, time consuming, and less safe methods to produce an end result with a much higher labour cost. And with all the associated dust as well. Right!

The weird thing is that this comes from a lot of people running a full time business. I would think good value, high efficiency, reliable tools of the trade a necessity, not a luxury?

In OZ yes we do get reamed, but even so I have no qualms buying almost anything Festool, as I know from the tools I bought 40+ years ago that I will get many years of flawless service and performance, and most importantly health benefits from the dust control and the ergonomics. Along with the entire production experience being vastly improved and streamlined. I see the tools I've bought as an investment, and if it comes to the worst, I'll make a small fortune selling them!

And yes, the little trimmers are not only super cute, but stupendously useful! I'm thinking I might be growing my little Makita family a bit more!

 

[Kev]

And yes, the little trimmers are not only super cute, but stupendously useful! I'm thinking I might be growing my little Makita family a bit more!

I was sold on Makita as my "Festool companion brand" when I realised the guide rails were 100% compatible .. and the fact that the 3m Makita guide rail is a third the cost of a Festool rail.

 

[bobtskutter]

I'm a hobby woodworker.  I had a B&Q PowerPro router (stop laughing those who know what I'm talking about )  It's dust collection wasn't that bad if you were using it with the base fully on the work piece, had a decent vac and didn't go too fast.  The motor failed on that router.

I then bought an OF1400 (already had a TS75 at that point).  I would say the dust collection for using it fully on a flat surface is about the same.  If you're using spiral upcut bits the dust is ejected upwards into the vacuum stream, if you're using straight bits it's ejected backwards through the cut so you still get covered in dust.

The different thing about the OF1400 compared to my old router is the ability to use a small plastic cover underneath the base that covers flush trim bits and captures a lot of the dust.  There's also a dust "chute" that goes on the parallel edge guide, but I find it pointless and does nothing - theres a tiny gap where the chute clips into the parellel guide and the dust gets out through there.

The OF1400 has good dust collection IF you use it trying to collect the dust, i.e. use upcut bits and add use the dust shroud with flush trim bits.  You'll also need a vacuum / dust extractor.

Please be aware the OF1400 has handles that are "high up" they're not attached to the base. I find it very easy to tip the router when I'm using it, but I am a hobby woodworker and probably need to improve my skill at using the thing!

Regards
Bob

 

[Kev]

I'm a hobby woodworker.  I had a B&Q PowerPro router (stop laughing those who know what I'm talking about )  It's dust collection wasn't that bad if you were using it with the base fully on the work piece, had a decent vac and didn't go too fast.  The motor failed on that router.

I then bought an OF1400 (already had a TS75 at that point).  I would say the dust collection for using it fully on a flat surface is about the same.  If you're using spiral upcut bits the dust is ejected upwards into the vacuum stream, if you're using straight bits it's ejected backwards through the cut so you still get covered in dust.

The different thing about the OF1400 compared to my old router is the ability to use a small plastic cover underneath the base that covers flush trim bits and captures a lot of the dust.  There's also a dust "chute" that goes on the parallel edge guide, but I find it pointless and does nothing - theres a tiny gap where the chute clips into the parellel guide and the dust gets out through there.

The OF1400 has good dust collection IF you use it trying to collect the dust, i.e. use upcut bits and add use the dust shroud with flush trim bits.  You'll also need a vacuum / dust extractor.

Please be aware the OF1400 has handles that are "high up" they're not attached to the base. I find it very easy to tip the router when I'm using it, but I am a hobby woodworker and probably need to improve my skill at using the thing!

Regards
Bob

I wish I could remember exactly here I saw it but I remember seeing a custom made router base that had what looked like two screw on angle grinder handles screwed into the base pointing straight up. It wasn't a Festool router. The handles were from memory quite wide set too.

There's a bunch of after market stuff of this ilk, eghttps://levoite.com/products/levoite™-compact-router-sub-base-with-handles-for-electric-trimming-wood-milling-engraving

I'm not suggesting you go this way .. it just sparked a memory I thought was worth sharing.

 

[bobtskutter]

Thank you Kev.

I actually have the guide rail adapterhttps://www.festool.co.uk/accessory...ems/stops-and-attachments/492601---fs-of-1400

If you split it into two pieces and put one either side of the guide rods you get the same "low down handles" as on other router designs.  Another added benefit of this set up is the bottom of the guide rail adapter handles are flush with the router base, so you also increase the area in contact with the work piece.

Regards
Bob

 

[mino]

...
I've never understood the proud and loud proclamations from people "that they'd never blow their money on anything Festool as they're over priced garbage"!

Wearing your ignorance like a badge of honour always seems strange to me.
...

This is actually very normal and very expected. You can see the same dynamic with premium brand cars ..

Dumping on what someone else has/recommends is a natural defensive reaction corralling self-worth. An obvious "negative" property which FT kit has for an "outsider" is cost, so the target of the outburst becomes the price.

There is no point convincing someone who is emotionally involved. It only escalates the emotional conflict in that person, actually hurting them. A factual argument only entrenches the emotional response against any merit-based thoughts. At that point the "basher" goes all-in as it is personal for him/her, no facts matter. *)

Best is to pass over such quips. Allows revisiting the topic at a better time.

---
*) Someone self-aware just states that "something is not worth it" or "cannot justify this" "at their usage" but never bashes the price per se. Not even in a comparison context.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I agree completely mino. I can understand a hobby user saying that he simply can't afford (or justify, because of minimal usage) to use any of the top brands, but bashing? No, that doesn't make sense, and it's even worse when used in a commercial situation. Buying the tool only happens once, but the time savings continues every time you use it. A router can make quite a mess, keeping that to a minimum is a time saver.

The Makita compacts are very handy, for some things, but I would not consider them as an "only" router.
I have 3 of the cordless ones, all pretty much geared to laminate/flush trimming. They suffer a little in the bit height adjustment area, but that's not such a big thing with flush trimming. Not having to deal with the cord sure is great though. 
I also have a corded one, that I keep in the plunge base, most of the time. It has a 1/4 spiral bit and 7/16 bushing in it as my go-to setup for template routing. I make my templates to that offset, most of the time, though some are done to go with the OF1010 too.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I totally get hobby users being judicious with their funds, but most definitely, in the commercial settings I just don't get not investing in good tools.

My full time gig is in IT, and it baffles me the amount of certified techs we deal with that do patching for our customers, that don't have a simple VDSL tester that's around only $500 for a very decent model. So they can patch runs and buzz test physical continuity, but can't do any advanced TDR testing or simply determine the line quality to assist with trouble shooting issues. In the last 10 years or so I've dealt with maybe a handfull that had a tester.

 

[Kev]

The Makita compacts are very handy, for some things, but I would not consider them as an "only" router.
I have 3 of the cordless ones, all pretty much geared to laminate/flush trimming. They suffer a little in the bit height adjustment area, but that's not such a big thing with flush trimming. Not having to deal with the cord sure is great though. 
I also have a corded one, that I keep in the plunge base, most of the time. It has a 1/4 spiral bit and 7/16 bushing in it as my go-to setup for template routing. I make my templates to that offset, most of the time, though some are done to go with the OF1010 too.

I am tempted by the new Makita XGT plunge router. Because I'm now living rural the outdoor work with routers, planers, etc doesn't require me to bother with DC as I just protect my breathing. It also tends to be the "rough" work.

I remember giving my corded silver bullet to Rob at Northern Abrasives and told him to give it to someone that can't afford Festool ... only to miss it and jump at the cordless Makita trimmers when they came out.

 

[luvmytoolz]

[member=13058]Kev[/member] I'm pretty desperate for a cordless 1/2", but i'm holding out hope Festool release one, other wise if I had to choose a new battery platform just for that, I'd seriously consider the Hikoki cordless.

 

[Cheese]

If you have a large stash of 1/2" diameter router bits, pop for the 1400. If not...pop for the 1010 R...it's a no brainer. The older 1010 was my favorite go-to router but now the newer 1010 R is even better, especially with the LED lighting.

I've owned Porter Cable & Milwaukee routers (and still own 2 Milwaukee's) and nothing comes close to the Festool routers.

 

[onocoffee]

Thank you all for your thoughts on the router. It really helps to frame my thinking. I don't have a wide selection of bits (none of the 1/2") so I'm open to any of the lineup. The 1010 is more pocket-friendly, but I'm not adverse to the 1400 or even the 2200 (though that is more of a stretch).