Late 2017 updates on mounting OF2200 in a table?

JHZR2

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Joined
Oct 22, 2016
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Been searching without much luck.  Christmas is coming and all that... want a real router table, to upgrade from my Bosch 1181.  If I get something, I'd like for it to be able to accommodate the OF 2200 for doing panel raising.

I do not wish to spend the nearly $2000 for the CMS (not to mention it's not really allowed in the USA). Have an MTF/3 and have found that other tables set up in wood working stores are consistently more stable.  Don't want to risk the money for a super expensive festool table.  Would consider the insert only, which could be purchased from Europe, but it's still a pricey proposition.

Its difficult searching for solutions, and even YouTube doesn't have much...

Thanks!

So, what have others done to properly and safely mount their 2200?
 
Whereas you have written that you are a YouTuber (or at least search on YouTube), Guido Henn has some videos on building a router table.  I don't remember which router he used, but the basis was that you could use metal rods thru thru the router base like would would be used for an edge guide as the mounting structure.  He additionally used a scissor jack as a support for the router itself and it's height adjustment.

I am intentionally not posting a link so that you will go look and possibly find other inspiration in his videos just like many others here have.

Peter
 
Peter Halle said:
Whereas you have written that you are a YouTuber (or at least search on YouTube), Guido Henn has some videos on building a router table.  I don't remember which router he used, but the basis was that you could use metal rods thru thru the router base like would would be used for an edge guide as the mounting structure.  He additionally used a scissor jack as a support for the router itself and it's height adjustment.

I am intentionally not posting a link so that you will go look and possibly find other inspiration in his videos just like many others here have.

Peter

Peter,

Your response somewhat missed my mark.  Perhaps I wasnt sufficiently clear that I am interested in what others have found for mounting to commercial tables, say, Kreg, Woodpeckers, etc.

Ive found the recommendations for lawn mower clips.  Ive found the recommendations to buy a PC 7518 or triton as a dedicated table router for big jobs. 

What is lacking is long term reflection on how well any approach (which are not well documented on YouTube or elsewhere) has worked and the associated issues.

I am not asking how to build a router table, nor am I looking to build one from scratch.  That inspiration is not what I'm looking for.  I am looking at how alternates to the full up CMS system might be done and working. 

About the best Ive seen is Richard Leon's basis of making a stout table top to accept a CMS insert.  That's a €600 alternate to a full up Festool table which is not that impressive to me. 

But others have even better fences and overall systems.  Its the correct, safe and long-lived attachment of an OF2200 on a widely available table surface that interests me.  Searching for that comes up quite short.
 
Sorry.  I offered what I did because there aren't many commercial alternatives out there.  I hope some of our members have some ideas for you.

Peter
 
I have a American 110V CMS both GE and VL . When I was in Euro I mounted my American 110 V 2200 into my CMS for over 4 years with no issues what so ever. From you useing the euro symbol Im guessing you are european, in which case you have no issues mounting the 2200 in CMS.

Now Im not sure by your post whether you want to mount a 2200 in your CMS or mount your 2200 into another manufacturers table.

I got the CMS GE because it came with all the goodies I need on a router table, the router lift isnt cheap and a good one for the lift will run you over $300 USD. The sliding table is awesome I dont think you can get one for a standard table. The 2200 as old as it is , is still one of the best routers if not the best router on the market.

If its the standard fence that you have issues with many people here use the VL CMS mounted to their MFT and use a incra fence. Im not sure who the manufacturer is but someone (maybe incra) make a mount to beable to mount the incra fence with all its bells and whistles to the MFT/CMS.

If you add up the cost of the CMS especially te GE unit with all its accessories, sliing table, router lift superb dust collection and do what I do make mown CMS mosules to mount everything from a Kreg jig to my Bench top 5" Disk/Belt sander, kreg jig clamping plate, My small vice etc youll see that there are quite a lot of advantages to owning a CMS and adding up all the extras, router life, sliding table etc the price isnt that far off what you'd get from other manufacturers.

There is also a built in advantage, the CMS is the exact height of the MFT so u can use that to your advantage as a out feed or infeed table.

Im not a sales man here or a guy who thinks only festool when someone makes something better and will work with the system l'll get it if I need it.

Just giving you something to think about.
 
jobsworth said:
I have a American 110V CMS both GE and VL . When I was in Euro I mounted my American 110 V 2200 into my CMS for over 4 years with no issues what so ever. From you useing the euro symbol Im guessing you are european, in which case you have no issues mounting the 2200 in CMS.

Now Im not sure by your post whether you want to mount a 2200 in your CMS or mount your 2200 into another manufacturers table.

I got the CMS GE because it came with all the goodies I need on a router table, the router lift isnt cheap and a good one for the lift will run you over $300 USD. The sliding table is awesome I dont think you can get one for a standard table. The 2200 as old as it is , is still one of the best routers if not the best router on the market.

If its the standard fence that you have issues with many people here use the VL CMS mounted to their MFT and use a incra fence. Im not sure who the manufacturer is but someone (maybe incra) make a mount to beable to mount the incra fence with all its bells and whistles to the MFT/CMS.

If you add up the cost of the CMS especially te GE unit with all its accessories, sliing table, router lift superb dust collection and do what I do make mown CMS mosules to mount everything from a Kreg jig to my Bench top 5" Disk/Belt sander, kreg jig clamping plate, My small vice etc youll see that there are quite a lot of advantages to owning a CMS and adding up all the extras, router life, sliding table etc the price isnt that far off what you'd get from other manufacturers.

There is also a built in advantage, the CMS is the exact height of the MFT so u can use that to your advantage as a out feed or infeed table.

Im not a sales man here or a guy who thinks only festool when someone makes something better and will work with the system l'll get it if I need it.

Just giving you something to think about.

I appreciate it. 

I am in the USA, but have euro sources :). I'm also not terribly concerned about warranty if running the 2200 in a table.  I'm more concerned about upfront cost when other alternatives seem much better to me.

The video linked just above is a concept I'm sort of keen on, just perhaps with a Kreg universal base... but it's still a LOT of money.

Optimally there would be a decent way to affix the OF2200 to the Kreg router table top (MDF) or the Woodpecker one (Phenolic), so I can get away with a $400-600 router table complete.  The CMS top is that ca €600, the table and kit is between $1200-1800... lots of dough!

Hoping there's a better way... I really desire to go with the 2200 when I upgrade to that power level router, but the safety of operating on a table is important.

Ive seen the handheld panel raising with a 2200 by Brice Burrell, using just the 2200 and mft.  Maybe I'm overly conservative, but that seems unsafe - I know he goes multi pass, but it's still a big bit on a powerful machine...

Thanks!
 
You could probably mount the 2200 to any top or plate, but you would have no way to adjust the router from above the table top.  Seems like you would need to have an open stand so that you could adjust the router bit height.  That's why the CMS insert is probably best for Festool routers.  It has an above the table adjustment mechanism made for it.

Wonder if you can buy only the adjustment mechanism from Festool's Ekat and then adapt it to a table or plate? 
 
Hi [member=62732]JHZR2[/member]

I have built several router tables and they were all very easy to make. The fundamental design criteria is safety as the last thing you want is a 3 HP router chasing you around the workshop.

I have always chosen very tough material for the table surface to which the router gets attached. My favourite way of mounting the router(s) has been to utilise the rods for the fence as additional anchor attachment points.

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Once that is sorted the rest is easy. Fences just require a couple of flat pieces glued at right angles with some form of adjustment provision. Dust extraction is also simple - use the router supplied system plus something behind the fence.

Good luck.

Peter
 

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antss said:
How about this combo?  You can have a powerful table mounted set up for less than $550 bucks.  [big grin]
https://www.amazon.com/Variable-Router-Portamate-PM-P254-Wrenches/dp/B00TBF5DSY

woodcraft even had this for $130 recently  [eek] [eek]
https://www.amazon.com/INCRA-Mast-R...coding=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=T24S5ZRP2DB9WBA50F6X

-or-
https://www.amazon.com/MLCS-9563-U-Turn-Router-Routers/dp/B00XMUMIOG

add a sliding table if you like:
http://www.jessemdirect.com/Mast_R_Slide_p/07500.htm

While I know there are lots of other options out there, I specifically want an OF 2200, and therefore want a table that can accept it. 

The CMS is $1800 if we were even "allowed" in NA to run the 2200 in it.

I want to raise panels and use it as a jointer of sorts.  Its a great and powerful machine, and I want to make the best use of it.

I don't want to buy the 2200 and then also another router, my desirable situation is to fit the 2200 to a table/insert.  Maybe that's just not viable.

But at minimum I could buy the cms router insert from Europe and then mount it in another bigger/ more stable table.

I had hoped others would share if/how they did it.
 
I understand the desire for an OF2200 and mounting it for table use.  Fulfilling that on a meager budget isn't really practical in my eyes though.

Why not get the 2200 and the solution above ? ? ?  You'll spend the same or even less and have two routers at the end of the day.  The 2200 in a CMS module by itself doesn't really offer anything a motor + lift can't do except snob appeal.    It also has the drawback of not being able to mount the fence on the short end of the plate.  This is useful for doing rail&stile work so that more of the frame is supported.

For me, a 2200 mounted in a table is kinda a waste.  Better and cheaper solutions exist.  For handheld work where a high HP router is needed it's exceptional. I think you'll end up finding out (like most guys) a router mounted in a table tends to stay there despite aspirations of removing it for freehand work.
 
I have had my OF 2200 in my CMS unit for 3 or 4 years. I visited a professional friend of mine who has more routers than you can shake a stick at, including all three Festool ones, and we chatted about which should go in the CMS. To cut a long story short I went straight back to the workshop and took out the OF 2200 and put the OF 1400 in.

The good thing about this is that I now have one of Festool's 3 amazing tools back in my hands and I love it (the other 2 are the Domino DF 700 and the Conturo). The OF 2200 is an almost perfect design for hand held use. I accept that it is on the heavy side but it is such a gentle giant.

The OF 1400 is easily able to do everything that I need in the CMS unit including panel raising. The only nuisance is the need to switch the tool off at the trigger switch to change a bit even though it is disconnected from the mains.

I know this does not address all the points of the OP but it may help.

Peter.
 
"alternates to the full up CMS system"

There are none so just buy what you have already decided what you
need and determined that all other options do not fit your situation.
 
Peter Parfitt said:
I have had my OF 2200 in my CMS unit for 3 or 4 years. I visited a professional friend of mine who has more routers than you can shake a stick at, including all three Festool ones, and we chatted about which should go in the CMS. To cut a long story short I went straight back to the workshop and took out the OF 2200 and put the OF 1400 in.

The good thing about this is that I now have one of Festool's 3 amazing tools back in my hands and I love it (the other 2 are the Domino DF 700 and the Conturo). The OF 2200 is an almost perfect design for hand held use. I accept that it is on the heavy side but it is such a gentle giant.

The OF 1400 is easily able to do everything that I need in the CMS unit including panel raising. The only nuisance is the need to switch the tool off at the trigger switch to change a bit even though it is disconnected from the mains.

I know this does not address all the points of the OP but it may help.

Peter.

I'm taking a somewhat contrary position in that my OF 2200 is just exceptional in it's CMS home.  I've found it to be superb for getting a straight cut when I'm doing a long 15° undercut on a tabletop or raising panels.  To be sure, there are times when I use it hand-held, and it's a stellar performer. 
 
Hi Willy,

Yes, I understand. For those who have not got a CMS unit of any type it is very quick to remove a tool for hand held use and then return it to the unit.

Peter
 
I’m curious why you are determined to use the 2200 in a router table. I thought about doing that and then just modified a Kreg table and assorted other bits around a PC motor.
 
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