If you could only buy two Festool routers...

M

marrt

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Jan 13, 2008
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For tax purposes, I "need" to buy some tools by year end.  :)  So, I was thinking about picking up a couple Festool routers. 

If you could only have two Festool routers, what would you buy?  I realize this is totally dependent on use.  However, think "general woodworking use." 
 
Not sure how useful our replies will be since this is totally dependent on what you do.

I build furniture and use the router for joinery and edge treatments.  95 percent of my work is on the OF1400.  I occasionally use the OF1010 when I need to get into a smaller place or when I need two routers with different setups for a process.

If I were looking to spend $$ I would get the 1400 and lots of accessories (MFS, different bases, copy rings, bits, etc).

I have the 2200, but frankly it hardly ever comes out of the systainer.  I sold my MFK700.

If you do solid surface or lots of countertops, those two might be just what you need...
 
Depends on what you do.

For Festool either the OF 1400 and the OF 1010 or the OF 1400 and the OF 2200.

I just do not like the mfk at all and other brands routers of that size work for me.
 
If it were me, I would go for the 1400 and the 2200.  The 1400 can handle tasks that smaller routers can with some adjustments.  The 2200 can handle the bigger items.  If you do edgebanding more than larger tasks, then consider the MFK700 instead.

Peter
 
I don't do enough edge banding at this time to justify the MFT700. 

I was originally thinking the 1100 and 2200.  Although I don't do solid surface work, the 2200 appears to be a very nice platform...if you can get used to it's size.  I don't really want to buy a shaper, so I thought the 2200 would be a nice compromise to handle those projects where you'd normally want a shaper (or router table).
 
I have 2- OF1400 and the MFK.  Don't use the MFK much but the OF1400 gets most of the use.  I have a PC 7538 and was using it last week with sawdust flying everywhere.  I really would enjoy the dust collection of the OF2200 and am thinking about it somewhat.

Hindsight is 20/20 and if I were to choose today, it would be the OF1400 and the OF2200.  This is highly dependent on what you intend to do with them however.

Steve
 
i have the 1010 and the 2200

i use the 1010 for roundover bits etc and the 2200 for big cutters/worktops
 
The 1010 and the 2200 to me is the ultimate router combo.  The 1010 is small, nimble and versatile and can handle most routing tasks.  It was designed to be used with the LR32 and with the edging plate and accessories, you can make it into a very good trim router.  When you need more power, then the 2200 can handle those needs with ease - this thing is the most feature rich, well balanced tools on the market and is one of my favorites.  This would be my choice for the best combo.

Scot
 
Dido on the 1010 and 2200.  I have the 1010 and really like how easy it is to use because most jobs just require a small bit. The 2200 is just a work of art, its what all other routers aspire to be, the biggest baddest and can take on whatever you want to throw at it.
 
I Bought the 1010 and 1400. I also bought the guide stops, edge guide, LR-32, the MFS, and the edge trimming stuff.

The guide blocks with the edge guide makes for a good offset base, and the 1400 is beefy enough to do edge profiling.

The LR-32 works with either router, but it's a game-changer.

The 1010 with the edge trimming accessories and a spiral (down) flush bit is hands-down the best and slickest set-up I've ever used, and it's good enough that I don't think I'll ever need the MFK.

The 1400 is a solid, all-around beast. I've used the 1010 for a long and lusty list of detail work from inlay to profiles, flush trimming, etc, and I find it to be ergonomically intuitive and light enough to feel downright sporty. Good enough to justify the effort of finding 8mm bits, or paying for Festool bits.

But the joy of Fes routers for me is in the accessories. There's nothing to compare them to. 'Better than,' is a phrase that requires something to compare to. There are no equivalent offerings in the states to any of the stuff I mentioned, except the edge guide. This one is very solid, and very adjustable.

 
marrt said:
For tax purposes, I "need" to buy some tools by year end.   :)  So, I was thinking about picking up a couple Festool routers. 

If you could only have two Festool routers, what would you buy?  I realize this is totally dependent on use.  However, think "general woodworking use."   
Click to expand...

As far as I am aware the IRS hasn't specified a limit of two (2) routers (yet... [scared]) -- go for three (3).  [wink]
 
I own a sign company. I use the 1010. I like it because it is nimble, lightweight, and powerful to do what I need. I use it for roundovers on MDO, and for carving out letters from cedar. My second router is a Milwaukee that is used in the router table. If I were to buy two Festool routers, I'd buy two 1010s. Then I wouldn't have to change out the bits as often when I move from job to job.

So, yes, it all depends on what you want to use a router for...
 
I have an OF1400 for general, handheld use, a Bosch Colt as a small trim router, and a Triton as a router table router. If I were to do it over again, I'd get an OF1010 as a trim router and for light duty use, and an OF2200 for heavyweight stuff. 

Regards,

Dan.
 
I have the OF 1010 and 2200. I don't own nor have I ever used the 1400. My combo works very nice, at least for the work I do. If you ever intend on using the router in a table (i.e. if the CMS is ever available in the USA), the 2200 is the best option. For smaller stuff like working with the LR32 the 1010 is great. I've never missed the 1400, at least not so far.
 
I have the OF1400, the OF2200 and the MFK700.  Of the 3 , the 1400 gets the most use and the OF2200 the least.  I have a router table with a Porter Cable 7518 mounted in it with a lift so I don't have a lot of use for the OF2200.  Looking back, I would have not purchased the OF2200, but I'm sure there will be times down the line that I will be glad I have it.  The MFK is a great little router to have but again not really needed.  I would purchase the OF1400 as it is a great compromise between size, flexibility and power and then the 2nd one really depends on what you will be doing.
 
I do mostly small projects.  My GoTo is my trusty old OF1000.  I have the OF 1400 if I need larger bits.  Those are my two most used.
Also have a couple of mid sized PC's which I don't like and an ancient Milwaukee 5625 (I think) that is single speed and no DC.  I like the feel of it and the Switch is locate perfectly for thumb operation.  The Festools and the Milwaukee hold bits where I set them.  The PC's. uless i really rare on the lock nuts love to change depths on me.  Lots of redesigned projects as a result. Mostly, they just gather dust for me.  I suppose if I were smart, I would keep them close when using the Milwaukee to catch all of tat dust it likes to toss around. [cool]
Tinker
 
Jesse Cloud said:
Not sure how useful our replies will be since this is totally dependent on what you do.

I build furniture and use the router for joinery and edge treatments.  95 percent of my work is on the OF1400.  I occasionally use the OF1010 when I need to get into a smaller place or when I need two routers with different setups for a process.

If I were looking to spend $$ I would get the 1400 and lots of accessories (MFS, different bases, copy rings, bits, etc).

I have the 2200, but frankly it hardly ever comes out of the systainer.  I sold my MFK700.

If you do solid surface or lots of countertops, those two might be just what you need...
Click to expand...

Well, I have semi-dissed the 2200 a few times around here and said that it doesn't get used in my shop enough to justify the space it takes up.  I've been thinking about selling it to partially fund a Domino XL.

Well, today I tried it on one of the big challenges in chair making.  Back legs of chairs usually have a S-curve to provide proper lumbar support and to look cool.  But they also have joinery areas that need to be dead square and in exactly the right place.  This usually means using a pattern to mark out the shape and then a rough trim on the bandsaw followed by lots of handtool work to get it exactly right.  The ideal would be to attach the pattern to the trimmed workpiece and run a flush trim bit to duplicate the pattern on the workpiece.

That's not easy.  My chair legs are 2 inches thick in some places and 2 inches is a wide router cut.  I tried it with my 1400 and there was major chatter.  You can get past some of the chatter by working off different sides of the workpiece so that the bit direction will match the wood grain, but there's lots of potential for error there.

I remembered that shapers generally were smooth enough to handle it in one direction and then I remembered I had a "handheld shaper" in the OF2200.  I had to jury rig an offcut to keep the OF2200 stable and square and there were a few places where I couldn't use the 'below the deck' dust shroud, so it was a little messy.  But the bottom line is that I did in about 20 minutes what I used to spend on couple of days on.

OK, the OF2200 is staying - now I gotta figure out how to afford the big Domino. [eek]
 
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