Is the OF2200 Too Big For Me?

[Mike Goetzke]

I've been a serious hobbyist - ha, for as long as I can remember. I've had a Milwaukee 5625 in my router table for almost 20 years now. I have had a few Bosch 1617's, Bosch trim, and a Bosch MRC23.

About 3 years ago I got a great deal on a OF1400 and about a year ago bought an old but unused OF2200 w/acc kit.

I have found I have used the 1400 but not touched the 2200. I decided to put the 2200 up for sale. It's been there for maybe 4-5 months and some are scared away because of the 2008 build date (yet I found before I bought it the parts are all compatible with todays 2200). Just this past week I have two parties interested in it but at the $ I have into it.

If I sell it I was thinking of getting the 1010 (or guess I could get the 1010 and keep the 2200  [big grin]). Now that I have interested parties I want to make sure I don't regret selling it. I have run it on my bench and as many say it's the best balance router I have ever run, but, maybe my projects of furniture and cabinets don't need the 2200.

Any others find the OF2200 just sits due to it's size?

 

[mino]

The OF 1010 is meant to be the "go-to" router in cabinetry while the 2200 is the big guy which a hobby user keeps in a table and takes out for those jobs the 1010 cannot do.

When one has it, and the 2200, it is the 1400 that becomes a bit redundant.

So far, so good. If you are not in the US ..

The 1010 is made as the ultimate 8 mm collet machine. It is optimised to handle all tasks the 8 mm collet can handle.
Using it (solely) with 1/4", while an absolutely workable option, means one has a bigger machine than necessary for what the bits can handle ..

Used as intended - with 8 mm bits - is both what makes it the go-to - it can handle 90% of the tasks in cabinetry - and what limits it severely in the US context, especially if one has a big 1/2" bits selection already ..

 

[SoonerFan]

Mike, I build mostly cabinets and table tops so seems similar to you. The OF1400 and the MFK700 are my go to routers. I basically leave the MFK700 setup to trim edge banding. Then I do all the handheld work with the OF1400.  I also have a 3.25HP Bora mounted in my router table. I have considered buying an OF2200 several times the last few years and never pulled the trigger. Never had a specific use case where I needed that much power/performance for handheld work. In my case it would likely just sit in the systainer all the time or see very little use.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I do the occasional panel shaping and the OF2200 absolutely kills it for the large CMT style panel cutters that are around 80-95mm diameter. Yes you could do this on a router table, but the OF2200 is a dream to manoeuvre, so for those times when using many of our hardwoods that are prone to bad tearout, I need to do a climb cut which is always risky on a router table, but I can do it easily and with full control with the OF2200.

It's a sensational router, and would be the very last one I would sell if I had to.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

I do the occasional panel shaping and the OF2200 absolutely kills it for the large CMT style panel cutters that are around 80-95mm diameter. Yes you could do this on a router table, but the OF2200 is a dream to manoeuvre, so for those times when using many of our hardwoods that are prone to bad tearout, I need to do a climb cut which is always risky on a router table, but I can do it easily and with full control with the OF2200.

It's a sensational router, and would be the very last one I would sell if I had to.

Is your 2200 mounted in a table when you do panels?

 

[luvmytoolz]

I do the occasional panel shaping and the OF2200 absolutely kills it for the large CMT style panel cutters that are around 80-95mm diameter. Yes you could do this on a router table, but the OF2200 is a dream to manoeuvre, so for those times when using many of our hardwoods that are prone to bad tearout, I need to do a climb cut which is always risky on a router table, but I can do it easily and with full control with the OF2200.

It's a sensational router, and would be the very last one I would sell if I had to.

Is your 2200 mounted in a table when you do panels?

When I do small square or rectangular panels I usually use the router table, but larger ones and with a curved top one I last did I used the router freehand, as this was in Tasmanian Blackwood and took around 8 hours to CNC, so I didn't want any tearout stuffing it up. For me anyway controlling climb cuts on a router table while manhandling large panels is way more risky (and dangerous) than doing it freehand.

Despite it probably being the largest panel cutter CMT make, it was like a hot knife in butter, couldn't have gone more flawlessly! Aside from the amazing sheer power of it, the 2200 is so smooth and manoeuvrable it's beyond belief.

This is the panel in question, the dark bits aren't burnt areas, they're actually the darker grain showing through. You can see just how large the panel is compared to the MFT behind it!
[attachimg=1]

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Wow - beautiful work! With raised panel bits since you don’t use a fence do you hog it all off in one pass?

 

[luvmytoolz]

Thanks Mike! With the sections I climbed cut I took a few gentle swings at it, the rest was done in one pass once I realised how easily it machined despite being a hardwood. the cutter was huge, took up almost the entire router base opening. If I can find a pic I'll add it.

 

[simonh]

As a hobbyist I have an MFK700 and OF1400. I have an old Dewalt mounted in a JessEm router table.

I don't really have the projects for free handing a OF2200. For anything spinning large bits I normally feel more comfortable at the router table.