Longer Cutters For OFK500 Router/Trimmer

[jonny round boy]

Over the last few months I've been lucky enough to use Festool OFK500 trimmers for solid surface work.

It's not a tool I would ever have considered buying, but having used them quite a lot, I think I'd struggle to work without one now.

The only criticism I have is the depth of cut on the straight cutter (this trimmer uses special cutters so only the Festool ones fit):

The maximum length (NL) of cut is 8mm, so (allowing for a bit of adhesive that may need cleaning up) the thickest material you can trim is 1/4". I'd like to see a longer bit, so that 1/2" material can be trimmed with it. The motor is, in my opinion, capable of doing it, so why not make a suitable cutter? All that it would need would be to extend the cutting blades to, say, 15mm, and extend the centre fixing screw to suit.

Making this router capable of trimming 1/2" material would, I feel, greatly increase the market for the tool, too.

 

[richard.selwyn]

I probably shouldn't chip in as I've got the other one - I think its the OFK 700 so don't really know what I'm talking about (but that's never stopped politicians has it?) - I just used it today and the bit looks longer (twice as long?)- but doesn't have a bearing on the end.  How is the bit held in - I assume it's just a standard collet and you could use someone elses bit? (The 700 came with two collets I think, but as I'm no longer in the shop I can't check.)  I know that CMT make a 22mm dial cutter with the bearing above it - maybe they make one the other way round so to speak?
Sorry if I'm missing the obvious.

 

[jonny round boy]

Richard,

On the OFK500, the router has a steel shaft that protrudes (ooh err, missus!) from the router. The bits slide over that protrusion (ooh err, again!) and then are fixed via a screw which goes through the bearing and directly into the end of the shaft (ooh.... you get the point). It doesn't have a collet as such.

I'll take some pics tomorrow if I remember, to show this in more detail. There are some pictures in THIS REVIEW that show the bit mounting arrangement.