How to get a metric OF1400 in the US?

[oakhilltop]

Ok, I know most people were complaining that they couldn't get imperial, and I just have to be a PIA. But, I'm too old to keep doing the math for 1/16, 1/8, 1/32 and decided to join the rest of the world and make life easier  [big grin]

I'm considering the OF1400 router, but it seems that I can only get imperial in the US now. I want the metric version. It looks like I can go through amazon and order from outside the US, ie Canada. But I'm not a fan of using amazon and would prefer to go to my LOCAL festool store(s).

The local Woodcraft says that they can't get the metric any longer.

Is there a way to get the metric in the US?

 

[bnaboatbuilder]

It will require work on your part, but start calling Toolnut, Bob Marino, CPO, Lee Valley, and any other well known Festool retailers. Have them look through their stock to find a metric version, if any are still around.

I have a metric OF1400. The small green fine adjustment knob is mainly the only thing that is visually metric or imperial for the new versions, but do understand that ALL the routers are still metric under the hood. There is no such thing as imperial detents on any Festool tool, they made that known a year or two ago. Just a rebadging, restickering, whatever you want to call it.

So worst case is maybe buy an imperial tool and then buy the metric plastic knobs.

 

[Cheese]

Don't forget Woodcraft, it's probably the path less traveled and they just might have some metric NOS sitting in the warehouse. I scored the last metric 1400 from my local Woodcraft about a year ago. [smile]

If your local Woodcraft doesn't have one, ask them to do a national search. The number you want to ask for is 574342.

 

[TinyShop]

None of the above is necessary. Festool USA will send along free of charge a small aluminum replacement scale which you affix to the router. Give them a call. I received mine last summer.

 

[oakhilltop]

None of the above is necessary. Festool USA will send along free of charge a small aluminum replacement scale which you affix to the router. Give them a call. I received mine last summer.

Hmmm, I called my local Woodcraft and the sales man was nice enough to go look at his demo router. He turned the depth micro adjust 10 clicks and said that the height adjusted 1/16" instead of 1mm. I know that it is minor, but this thing costs a lot of money and I would prefer that it changed 1mm.

I wouldn't mind changing the scale, but would like everything else to be metric

 

[Mario Turcot]

[member=49497]oakhilltop[/member] , I would call Festool USA directly and ask them if the fine adjustment screw threads are different between the imperial and metric router. They will be able to tell you if the conversion is possible from their services as well.

Mario

 

[RKA]

None of the above is necessary. Festool USA will send along free of charge a small aluminum replacement scale which you affix to the router. Give them a call. I received mine last summer.

Hmmm, I called my local Woodcraft and the sales man was nice enough to go look at his demo router. He turned the depth micro adjust 10 clicks and said that the height adjusted 1/16" instead of 1mm. I know that it is minor, but this thing costs a lot of money and I would prefer that it changed 1mm.

I wouldn't mind changing the scale, but would like everything else to be metric

Unless another change was made (I doubt it), that contradicts what Festool has already said on these forums when the imperial rollout was made.  And they received a fair bit of criticism for updating their scales to imperial, but leaving the fine adjustment bits in metric on all the tools. 

 

[TinyShop]

Thanks [member=21249]RKA[/member], that is my understanding as well. The scales changed but the magical gizmo stayed the same. Window dressing, in other words.

 

[McNally Family]

Don't forget Woodcraft, it's probably the path less traveled and they just might have some metric NOS sitting in the warehouse. I scored the last metric 1400 from my local Woodcraft about a year ago. [smile]

If your local Woodcraft doesn't have one, ask them to do a national search. The number you want to ask for is 574342.

Be careful when ordering using the metric part number, as several venders list the old part number but when shipped, it turns out to be the imperial version.  Best to ask a salesman to actually check and verify the metric aspect. 

 

[Cheese]

Well here's the original thread relating to keeping metric tool depth adjustments but reading those metric adjustments on an imperial scale.  [eek]

Try starting at post 165...that's where Festool weighs in.

Then try 166...168...184...
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/festool-is-(partially)-moving-to-imperial-in-north-america/240/

 

[Michael Kellough]

None of the above is necessary. Festool USA will send along free of charge a small aluminum replacement scale which you affix to the router. Give them a call. I received mine last summer.

Hmmm, I called my local Woodcraft and the sales man was nice enough to go look at his demo router. He turned the depth micro adjust 10 clicks and said that the height adjusted 1/16" instead of 1mm. I know that it is minor, but this thing costs a lot of money and I would prefer that it changed 1mm.

I wouldn't mind changing the scale, but would like everything else to be metric

I think TinyShop is right and what the Woodcraft guy said simply reflects the difficulty of measuring small movements. That's why it's important to have a known reliable physical adjustment scale which the threaded post and subdivided green cylinder provide.

Luckily (ridiculously) the 1 mm pitch threaded post remains on the "Imperial" model and the green cylinder is still divided into 10 increments so all you need to do is replace the aluminum stick-on imperial scale as TinyShop says.

The OF 1010 includes the black T shaped outrigger scaled in metric. I don't think the OF 1400 includes or makes use of  that part but if it does I'd want to get one in metric if available. It's handy for locating the router to the center of a layout line and helps balance the router when it is cantilevered.

 

[Corwin]

I think TinyShop is right and what the Woodcraft guy said simply reflects the difficulty of measuring small movements. That's why it's important to have a known reliable physical adjustment scale which the threaded post and subdivided green cylinder provide.

Luckily (ridiculously) the 1 mm pitch threaded post remains on the "Imperial" model and the green cylinder is still divided into 10 increments so all you need to do is replace the aluminum stick-on imperial scale as TinyShop says.

This is correct. I've just verified this on my Imperial scaled OF1400.

The OF 1010 includes the black T shaped outrigger scaled in metric. I don't think the OF 1400 includes or makes use of  that part but if it does I'd want to get one in metric if available. It's handy for locating the router to the center of a layout line and helps balance the router when it is cantilevered.

Currently, the OF1400 does not ship with the support foot. It does come with the Guide Stop FS-OF 1400 which still has the metric scale. The Guide Stop allows you to use your router on the Guide Rail.

 

[Cheese]

Interesting...my 1400 came with the support foot.  [smile]

And it is metric.

 

[oakhilltop]

I'm confused also. I thought that the guide stop was extra and that it came with the support foot to support the side that is not on the rail. I would want the support foot to be metric also.

I'll have to stop by a dealer and take a look, and try turning the micro adjust 20 or 30 times if possible. That should reveal the increments

 

[Cheese]

Photo 1...All you have to do is to place the green knob on zero, bring the rod down to touch a stop, lock the rod in position and then

Photo 2...turn the green knob to 4.

Photo 3...Measure the distance between the rod and the stop with a feeler gauge. Calipers are too bulky to get a good measurement.

 

[Cheese]

I bought my metric 1400 two summers ago. I came with 1/4", 1/2" and 8mm collets but no support foot. Now the Festool USA site doesn't even list the 1/2" collet as included.

I think you have to treat the catalog as the authority source here as the website is notoriously known for producing inaccurate information. I know that doesn’t make any sense and it should really be the website that’s the go-to source, but sadly not. At least that’s been my experience.  [sad]

 

[Michael Kellough]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] that is a clean machine! Have you even inserted a bit yet?

 

[Corwin]

I'm confused also. I thought that the guide stop was extra and that it came with the support foot to support the side that is not on the rail. I would want the support foot to be metric also.

I'll have to stop by a dealer and take a look, and try turning the micro adjust 20 or 30 times if possible. That should reveal the increments

The scope of delivery has changed over the years. I believe that the OF1400 I purchased a dozen years ago did come with the support foot, but the guide stop was an extra. I sold that router years back and purchased a new Imperial version a year or two ago. My new OF1400 did not come with either the guide stop or the support foot -- they are both extras.

The support foot is scaled in metric.

I just checked the micro adjust earlier this morning and could only turn it 2.4 turns (24 increments). It is obvious that the increments are NOT Imperial. The increments are metric.

There, I just saved you a trip to your dealer!  [big grin]

 

[Cheese]

Actually yes...because I purchased a 10mm collet for it. But it’s never been turned on.  [poke]

I’m working on some walnut right now and the 1010 & 700 are just so nice to use. I still use my Milwaukee Palm Grip router, it’s still a fave.

I just didn’t want to put myself in the position of trying to find the metric variant a few years down the road. Interesting that's what this whole thread today is about. I’d rather be on the outside looking in than on the inside frantically trying to find a solution.  [cool]

 

[Corwin]

I bought my metric 1400 two summers ago. I came with 1/4", 1/2" and 8mm collets but no support foot. Now the Festool USA site doesn't even list the 1/2" collet as included.

I think you have to treat the catalog as the authority source here as the website is notoriously known for producing inaccurate information. I know that doesn’t make any sense and it should really be the website that’s the go-to source, but sadly not. At least that’s been my experience.  [sad]

Unfortunately, not even the catalog can be relied on as the authority. I've seen a few examples over the years where the catalog did not have the correct list of items included.  [blink]