I need advice on router and Domino

[COrider]

Hello,

So I am looking at getting a new router (have not had one in several years). I also am thinking about the Domino.  My dilemma is that I cant do both any time soon.  I can do the 1400 router or another brand router and the Domino.  I guess my question is is the 1400 that much better than say a PC or Dewalt that I get the 1400 and wait for say a year or so on the Domino.  thanks for any advice. 

 

[grbmds]

For me, the Domino gives you a significantly increased flexibility and capability to put together a variety of projects; furniture, cabinets, boxes, drawers . . . While I believe the OF1400 router is a great router with probably the best dust collection when compared to other manufacturers, there are many other routers available from other manufacturers that will do the same jobs.

The other factor is what you plan to use these tools for and what other tools you already own. If you don't plan to make furniture, it's possible that waiting a year to purchase the Domino wouldn't be a problem. There are numerous ways to put drawers and cabinets together that don't require the Domino. For example, if you already own a dovetail jig, the OF1400 should work with that and dovetailed drawers are always great. If you own a biscuit joiner, for many projects, that would also be an acceptable option. A pocket hole jig is also great for making cabinets and drawers and, for some furniture projects also a good option.

 

[copcarcollector]

What kinds of things are you making? Most any router should work fine for routing tasks, the Domino is in its own 'category' if you ask me.

Also don't forget the price increase on April 3rd

 

[SS Teach]

No question the Domino is in a class all by itself. If you plan on making cabinets and the LR 32 is in your future you need a 1400 or 1010 and a holey rail. If not many manufacturers make very good routers for less.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the 1400 and both Dominos. The 1400 is a really great router, but it doesn't do anything any router can do. The Domino is a total game changer. If you buy the Domino, I suggest you buy the accessory kits.

 

[Wooden Skye]

If you don't have a track saw I would probably go with a different router.  The 1400 is nice and I wouldn't get rid of it, but without the ability to use on the rail, any router would work.

 

[antss]

rider - you didn't say much about why you're thinking about a new router.  Is your other one giving up the ghost? Maybe it's hard to handle? Not variable speed, or not a plunge type ? 

Do you use a router a lot ? For what mostly ? 

Do you currently make or want to get into projects that would benefit form mortise an tenon joinery ?

That'd be a good reason to drop a grand on a domino - you don't have that capability now while you do have a router. 

I don't find the 1400 to be the holy grail of routers. It's a nice piece of equipment, but it's still a medium duty router.  A bosch 16xx , a dewalt dw618, and a porter cable 89x will all do exactly the same things for half the price with a bit more power.  Those guys have even upped their dust collection accessories to get pretty close to the 1400's ability there.

Those types are also easier to adapt to generic router tables than the of1400 especially if you want to upgrade to a lift.  The OF 1400 plays well with their CMS table, but that's a $1500 investment by itself.

Unless you're really using your current router to death , I'd go with a  domino before getting a of1400.

 

[DrD]

[member=14478]Wooden Skye[/member] nailed it for me; the only reason I added Festool routers to my collection was for use with rails and the LR32 cabinet system; now that I have them, I am partial to the OF1010.  I think for general routing, nothing beats the old D-handled Makita and for plunge routing the mid-powered DeWalt.

Unless you are flush with Lamella biscuit joiners, I would go with the Domino.

Best wishes!

 

[COrider]

Thank you all for the advise!
I don't currently have a router.  The work I will be doing over the next few years is home remodel (basement Reno, building cabinets in basement, building out a shop in the garage, and fun projects). Currently I own a carvex, Mafell kss300, ct26 and general power tools.  I think the advice of the Domino is the way to go.  Any thoughts on a good all purpose router for hand held and or table work?  Thanks.  I wil also be using it to make an Mft top as my first project. 

 

[Holmz]

...Currently I own a carvex, Mafell kss300, ct26 and general power tools...

There is the Bosch FSN-OFA, and it is a (LR) 32-mm system. It also takes a number of routers. If dust control is important then the OF1400 maybe worth it.

Whether it is more useful to have the domino depends on what you are doing, but I could imagine any brand router and the domino would be more useful than a 1400 and no domino.

 

[RNEMTP]

Thank you all for the advise!
I don't currently have a router.  The work I will be doing over the next few years is home remodel (basement Reno, building cabinets in basement, building out a shop in the garage, and fun projects). Currently I own a carvex, Mafell kss300, ct26 and general power tools.  I think the advice of the Domino is the way to go.  Any thoughts on a good all purpose router for hand held and or table work?  Thanks.  I wil also be using it to make an Mft top as my first project.

The DeWalt 618 router kit is pretty versatile. You can get the kit with 3 bases that pretty much cover the gamut of routing. I leave the fixed base attached to one of my router tables. Then I can just take the motor out and use it with either the D handle or plunge bases for freehand work. I have a dedicated router in a lift in the extension wing of my table saw but the other small router table works well when I need to do multiple set ups like making rail and stile cabinet doors. I set up one router for the rails and the other for the stiles. I can batch out cabinet doors very quickly. The only thing that slows the operation down is not having enough clamps.

 

[rst]

I've been routing wood since 1971, have 14 routers, PC (two 7518s, one permantly mounted in table, two trimmers, two 892s... Bosch trimmer, 1617 EVS, and older version of 1619 EVS and Festool (MFK 700, 1010, 1400, two 2200s).  If I could only have one router it would be the 1400, with the 2200 coming in as a very close second.  The only dust collection models above are the Festools, the two PC 890s and the one PC trimmer (only on the fixed base).

 

[grbmds]

Thank you all for the advise!
I don't currently have a router.  The work I will be doing over the next few years is home remodel (basement Reno, building cabinets in basement, building out a shop in the garage, and fun projects). Currently I own a carvex, Mafell kss300, ct26 and general power tools.  I think the advice of the Domino is the way to go.  Any thoughts on a good all purpose router for hand held and or table work?  Thanks.  I wil also be using it to make an Mft top as my first project.

I've had great success with both Porter Cable and Dewalt routers. I think Dewalt might be a little less money. If you are only going to have one router, I'd suggest, whatever brand you buy, you buy a plunge router rather than a fixed base. It will just give you more flexibility of use as a handheld router. The Dewalt DW621 is a good router with integral dust collection (although might not be as good as Festool's collection). That router should do what you need it to do. I'm sure the Bosch MRP23EVS  would also be a great router but I don't see that it has dust collection. The Makita RP2301FC would likely be good but, again, I don't see that it has dust collection. The Porter-Cable 895PK would give you a 2 1/4 HP motor plus both a fixed and plunge base and an under table mounting kit for $250; a great deal and I've always had great luck with PC routers.

 

[COrider]

Thank you all for the great advice!  I ended up getting a DW621 and Pat Warner base.  I also just ordered a Domino and get the systainer and bits with dominos off the classifieds in the FOG.  Super excited to put this  all to use. 

 

[grbmds]

I don't believe you will regret getting the Domino. I feel it is my favorite tool of all time. I think the router is a good choice also. My Dewalt tools have always been great. I think it will do anything you want it to and is a versatile router.