I Have OF1400 - Seeking Advice on OF1010

[North Country Woodworker]

My 1st posting on FOG. I'll value any perspectives you may have to offer. My specific situation is this: I work 85% with maple plywood, 10% with poplar and 5% with solid maple. About seven years ago my spouse totally surprised me (holiday gift) with the twenty-year anniversary edition of the OF1400 that came with various accessories. It's my first-ever router. I'm a cautious user. 80% of my routing is edge routing, the remainder being 1/2" and 3/4" plywood-related grooves/dadoes. I recently dropped by the local Festool dealer and discovered the OF1010 seems 50% lighter than my OF1400. Seems easier on my hands, arms & shoulders. (1) Would the OF1010 connect to the same hose nozzle as my TS-55 uses to connect with my CT26 for dust extraction or would I require a different nozzle? (2) Would the routing I described (above) be safely doable with the OF1010 instead? (3) Should I simply continue to use the OF1400 due to the fact I already have the OF1400 and due to the fact that I use my router one hour or less per week - or do you have experience with the OF1010 to indicate it may be money well spent for the lighter weight of the OF1010. I'm strictly amateur and my "customers" are my family and my relatives. Thanks - I'll consider any perspectives shared.

 

[Michael Kellough]

You’ll love the OF1010. Once you use it you’ll wish your wife had bought it instead.

What it can’t do, and what probably swayed her to buy the OF1400, is that it (the OF10100 can’t use 1/2” shank bits. For most of what you been doing 1/4” shank bits are plenty. You might want a stouter shank bit for 3/4” grooves (the OF1010 can use 8mm shanks which are much stronger than 1/4”) but you already have the 1400for heavier work.

 

[Cheese]

I have all the Festool routers including the Shaper Origin...the 1010 is by far my favorite. It's also the one I choose to do 70% of my router tasks. I prefer using 8mm diameter router bits because they deflect less. Woodpeckers has recently released a bunch of 8mm router bits. My 1400 only gets used when I need to use a 1/2" diameter router bit.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I have the OF900 which is the forerunner to the OF1010 and love the light weight and ability to use it one handed. I definitely find it a lot more difficult to use the OF1400 one handed.

Having said that, the OF1400 is a truly sensational router, and being 1/2" collet opens up whole new routing possibilities to you that aren't there with a 1/4" or 8mm collet.

 

[Cheese]

And just to put an exclamation point on this conversation...I own 2 of the 1010 routers...the 1010 EQ and the 1010 REBQ.

 

[onocoffee]

Welcome to the group that will never look at you sideways when you say “I’ve got seventeen routers set up for different tasks” (or the same task, for that matter.

I’ve been using a friends OF1400 for the past couple of weeks to do LR32 boring, dadoes and grooves. It’s a nice router but I think when it comes around, I’m going to get the 1010. Compact, lighter weight - and youve already got the larger size covered.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Welcome to the group that will never look at you sideways when you say “I’ve got seventeen routers set up for different tasks” (or the same task, for that matter.

I've been machining up frame and panel sets of cupboard doors the last several weeks, and it's unbelievably convenient to just leave the cutter setup in the router and use other routers for the related tasks, really makes a massive difference to the workflow.

I’ve been using a friends OF1400 for the past couple of weeks to do LR32 boring, dadoes and grooves. It’s a nice router but I think when it comes around, I’m going to get the 1010. Compact, lighter weight - and youve already got the larger size covered.

Be a shame to not get both really! ;-)

There's occasionally times the OF2200 is just a little "much" for some tasks that require a 1/2" shank cutter, the OF1400 just shines at these times.

 

[onocoffee]

I've been machining up frame and panel sets of cupboard doors the last several weeks, and it's unbelievably convenient to just leave the cutter setup in the router and use other routers for the related tasks, really makes a massive difference to the workflow.

Completely agree. When I first came to FOG, I only had one router. It was CRG who demonstrated it was acceptable and welcome to have multiple routers set for different tasks. I now have a compact trim router just for roundovers and one for chamfers.

I feel safe and at home.

 

[North Country Woodworker]

You’ll love the OF1010. Once you use it you’ll wish your wife had bought it instead.

What it can’t do, and what probably swayed her to buy the OF1400, is that it (the OF10100 can’t use 1/2” shank bits. For most of what you been doing 1/4” shank bits are plenty. You might want a stouter shank bit for 3/4” grooves (the OF1010 can use 8mm shanks which are much stronger than 1/4”) but you already have the 1400for heavier work.

Thank you! Your point is very well taken - I could reserve the 1400 for heavier work while using a 1010 for the majority of the time I'm (edge) routing. Much appreciated!

 

[North Country Woodworker]

I have all the Festool routers including the Shaper Origin...the 1010 is by far my favorite. It's also the one I choose to do 70% of my router tasks. I prefer using 8mm diameter router bits because they deflect less. Woodpeckers has recently released a bunch of 8mm router bits. My 1400 only gets used when I need to use a 1/2" diameter router bit.

Thank you! And your suggestion regarding the 8mm diameter option with the 1010 is something I had not ever considered. Your pointing out the value of that option opens up additional options I would have with the 1010. I appreciate your response & perspectives. Perhaps the future role of the 1400 could be when a larger task calls for the bigger router. Again, thank you!

 

[luvmytoolz]

Out of curiosity, what's the price of 8mm cutters like in the US?

Here in Oz for the very limited amount available they're often more expensive than 1/2" cutters.

Probably why 8mm shank cutters never really took off here.

 

[North Country Woodworker]

I have the OF900 which is the forerunner to the OF1010 and love the light weight and ability to use it one handed. I definitely find it a lot more difficult to use the OF1400 one handed.

Having said that, the OF1400 is a truly sensational router, and being 1/2" collet opens up whole new routing possibilities to you that aren't there with a 1/4" or 8mm collet.

Thank you! Your perspectives offer additional aspects worthy of consideration. Perhaps the addition of a 1010 would lead to expanding my use of a router & widening my routing skill set if I wasn't limited to having only the hefty 1400. Especially since at least right now, the majority of my routing is what I'm gleaning from your response and others on the FOG would be a strong suit of the 1010. I appreciate you (and the others) sharing what you did. Again, thanks.

 

[North Country Woodworker]

And just to put an exclamation point on this conversation...I own 2 of the 1010 routers...the 1010 EQ and the 1010 REBQ.

Thank you! And wow - if you own two of them, it certainly suggests there's prospective value in at least having one of them! Perhaps unlike my nine-year-old trusty TS-55, which I rely on for nearly all of my cuts, I should consider that having two routers would be very helpful by allowing me to match the tool with the work at hand, and not simply duplicative or excessive. I thank you for that.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Thank you! Your perspectives offer additional aspects worthy of consideration. Perhaps the addition of a 1010 would lead to expanding my use of a router & widening my routing skill set if I wasn't limited to having only the hefty 1400. Especially since at least right now, the majority of my routing is what I'm gleaning from your response and others on the FOG would be a strong suit of the 1010. I appreciate you (and the others) sharing what you did. Again, thanks.

Always happy to help as are the rest of the fine folk on these forums.

You'll likely find you'll be using the routers for far more than you expect once you get used to what maker options they bring.

Just as one example among hundreds of uses, I use spiral insert bits like the pic attached in the OF1400 to edge joint timber for gluing up panels. It makes what could be a very tricky job for the inexperienced an extremely simple affair. I just use a known good straight edge as a guide and route the edge to get a perfectly straight and dead on 90 deg edge ready for gluing up. I do have a Jet jointer, but I'm pretty lazy and this gives me perfect results with very little effort! ;-)

And then of course there's template guide work, etc, etc.

 

[North Country Woodworker]

Welcome to the group that will never look at you sideways when you say “I’ve got seventeen routers set up for different tasks” (or the same task, for that matter.

I’ve been using a friends OF1400 for the past couple of weeks to do LR32 boring, dadoes and grooves. It’s a nice router but I think when it comes around, I’m going to get the 1010. Compact, lighter weight - and youve already got the larger size covered.

Thank you! And yes - I think the 1400 was an excellent gift from my spouse, since it opened up the world of routing to me. It's handled anything I've tried (and didn't buck when I made a few novice mistakes my first few tries). However, I could certainly now reserve the 1400 for the periodic heavier work while using the more compact and lighter-weight 1010 as a more suitable tool for what is currently the large majority of my routing. I appreciate you shared what you did! And it's good you pointed out that with the FOG, multiple routers will be viewed 'constructively'!

 

[Hipplewm]

Out of curiosity, what's the price of 8mm cutters like in the US?

Here in Oz for the very limited amount available they're often more expensive than 1/2" cutters.

Probably why 8mm shank cutters never really took off here.

They are expensive BUT only the highly reputable brands make them

None of the more "Budget friendly" brands make 8mm

So, if you want a trash bit to do whatever - use 6mm, if you want a fine bit for hardwoods and finer work the difference in price between a comparable 6mm and 8mm bit is neglible - woodpeckers has commited to make more 8mm bits

 

[peter halle]

One thing abut the 1010 specifically, but slightly less so with the other routers in the Festool lineup are the accessories to help it be so versatile. The size and weight of the 1010 make it more suited for many ion the tasks - even if the 1400 could use some of those accessories.

Peter

 

[North Country Woodworker]

One thing abut the 1010 specifically, but slightly less so with the other routers in the Festool lineup are the accessories to help it be so versatile. The size and weight of the 1010 make it more suited for many ion the tasks - even if the 1400 could use some of those accessories.

Peter

Thank you! Your perspective on the value of accessories for the 1010 is well-taken. I took a look online and see there's an accessories kit specifically for the 1010. Perhaps if I purchase the 1010 I'll also purchase the accessories kit as well. That was the approach I took a few years ago when I purchased a Festool sander. Having the range of accessories for that sander has been very helpful for me. I appreciate you mentioned about the accessories for the 1010!

 

[rvieceli]

For anyone looking to explore or add to your router skills, the books by the late Pat Warner are an excellent introduction and advanced course.

They are long out of print but still available through a few online sources.

Here is a listing from Amazon:

Amazon.com : pat warner

Ron

 

[North Country Woodworker]

For anyone looking to explore or add to your router skills, the books by the late Pat Warner are an excellent introduction and advanced course.

They are long out of print but still available through a few online sources.

Here is a listing from Amazon:

Amazon.com : pat warner

Ron

Good morning - and thanks! I'll check that out!