Loose Depth Stop Indicator on OF1400

[ear3]

A little frustrated right now.  Started getting variations in the plunge depth on the OF1400.  I couldn't figure out what was going on at first -- thought the plastic foot might have shifted (was using it on the rail), or that I was just misreading something, since I was doing multiple passes to achieve the full depth of the cut.  But after it kept on happening, I finally realized that the plastic collar/pointer on the depth stop rod must have been a bit loose (not the rod itself, but the thing that indicates the depth on the scale).  It's not loose enough to fall out of position when at rest, but enough that the vibration of the router causes it to creep downwards a couple of millimeters after every pass.

The only adjustment that seems possible on the indicator is to turn the tiny hex head set/grub screw.  I've now done that, and am about to go back to routing, but just wanted to check if this is indeed the solution.  To the touch, the plastic pointer does not seem to be that much more -- if at all -- snug on the rod.

UPDATE: Just tried another pass, and the pointer is still sliding.  I can muddle through right now, and just zero out after every pass, and it's just a piece of garden furniture in any case, but it's frustrating that the work is being compromised by a 50 cent piece of plastic.  Any advice on fixes?

 

[joiner1970]

Is it just the plastic part moving ? Surely the actual depth stop that hits the turret is still locked solid ?

The plastic slider on my 1010 came back from service really loose so festool sent me out the parts to change it and its fine now

 

[ear3]

Yeah, just the plastic.  It's not an issue if I'm routing at a single depth, since the rod remains locked in place, but with multiple, progressively deeper passes, the depth registration gets thrown off.  So if I just routed a 9mm deep channel, the depth reading will have dropped from 9mm to, say 7mm.  So if I were to increase the depth, I would have to remember to first slide the dial back to 9mm, and then further up the scale to get my desired depth, otherwise I would end up routing 2mm deeper than I intended.

So the router is still usable, but in an operation like I was doing yesterday, where I was cutting a lot of deep half-lap joints, the constant need of readjusting the depth setting added a lot of time and potential imprecision to the work. 

 

[joiner1970]

Oh right, I don't do that . I'd set it for say 5mm do the cut and then reset the rod for 4mm taking off a total of 9mm. I wouldn't trust the plastic part to stay where it was while using it.

 

[mastercabman]

Why not set the depth stop at 9 mm then back off to 7 mm Do your first pass(or multiple) and finish with the 9 mm setting?
At that point you don't need to worry about the plastic thing anymore

 

[ear3]

I guess I'll give Service a call when they open up again on Monday.  Maybe there's and end user fix they can guide me on -- it would suck to have to give up the router for a few weeks just to repair such a small problem.

 

[peter halle]

Why not set the depth stop at 9 mm then back off to 7 mm Do your first pass(or multiple) and finish with the 9 mm setting?
At that point you don't need to worry about the plastic thing anymore

[thumbs up]  That is how I always use mine.

Peter

 

[rvieceli]

Edward - The way to do those multiple depth passes is to use the depth stop turret. In reality,  that indicator is only there to set up the depth stops on the turret not to used in a production manner like you are.

Unplug the router [smile]

The turret has three stops. To set up a three pass depth adjustment, you would rotate the turret so the lowest stop is engaged. Adjust the router so the plunge to the stop is at the full depth of the final pass. Lock the depth stop locking lever. So now you have a full depth plunge to the accurate depth.

Unlock the router plunge lock, so the router moves up and down. DO NOT unlock the depth stop rod. Rotate the turret to the highest post. Plunge the router till it engages the stop. Lock the plunge. Determine if the plunge is going to take off too much or not enough of the material and adjust the height of the turret post accordingly. DO NOT unlock the plunge depth rod.

The process would then be rotate the turret to the highest post. Plunge and rout the material. Rotate the turret to middle stop. Plunge and rout to an intermediate depth. rotate the turret to the lowest stop. Plunge and rout to final depth.

For setting the depth you can use blocks or the depth stop indicator.

On pages 10-12 of the OF 1400 EQ Router Supplemental Manual by Rick Christopherson, he outlines the procedure with great pics.

http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/OF1400_manual_usa.pdf

Ron

 

[ear3]

Thanks -- I actually didn't want to use the turrets on this project because I currently have them calibrated for another project I broke away from to do this one.

Just to confirm then -- have you observed the indicator slipping as well on your machine?

Edward - The way to do those multiple depth passes is to use the depth stop turret. In reality,  that indicator is only there to set up the depth stops on the turret not to used in a production manner like you are.

Unplug the router [smile]

The turret has three stops. To set up a three pass depth adjustment, you would rotate the turret so the lowest stop is engaged. Adjust the router so the plunge to the stop is at the full depth of the final pass. Lock the depth stop locking lever. So now you have a full depth plunge to the accurate depth.

Unlock the router plunge lock, so the router moves up and down. DO NOT unlock the depth stop rod. Rotate the turret to the highest post. Plunge the router till it engages the stop. Lock the plunge. Determine if the plunge is going to take off too much or not enough of the material and adjust the height of the turret post accordingly. DO NOT unlock the plunge depth rod.

The process would then be rotate the turret to the highest post. Plunge and rout the material. Rotate the turret to middle stop. Plunge and rout to an intermediate depth. rotate the turret to the lowest stop. Plunge and rout to final depth.

For setting the depth you can use blocks or the depth stop indicator.

On pages 10-12 of the OF 1400 EQ Router Supplemental Manual by Rick Christopherson, he outlines the procedure with great pics.

http://www.festoolusa.com/media/pdf/OF1400_manual_usa.pdf

Ron

 

[rvieceli]

No, I've got an OF2000

 

[ear3]

Just an update -- called Festool service and they sent me out a new depth stop rod mechanism under warranty.  It's all good.

 

[Linbro]

Edward, from what you were describing in your original post, the parts Festool send out will probably be the same. The pointer isn't meant to 'lock', it's just used to set the depth/s via the turret. You can't use the pointer as some sort of repeatable stop, if you know what I mean.
Unless I'm not understanding the problem you're describing?