Need a cordless router - OFKC 500 and North America
- Thread starter Ebuwan
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Can't compare to the Festool, but I have used Milwaukee, Makita and DeWalt cordless palm routers at work and the Milwaukee is what I bought for my shop at home. The Makita is very good, too, but I like the collet on the Milwaukee better. It also helped that I'm deep into Milwaukee 18V for my lawn and garden gear. The plunge base for the Milwaukee is nice. Swapping bases seems a bit easier on the Milwaukee than others and the micro-adjuster on the fixed base works very nicely (Makita doesn't have micro-adjust). Any Milwaukee 18V battery will work, but the little ones (2Ah and 3Ah, I think) give the best balance and last a surprisingly long time. If you already have batteries and charger for one "M" or the other, just pick the one you're already invested in. I am confident you'll be happy with either. If at some time in the future Festool decides NA is worthy, if you're like most of us, adding yet another router to the stable will be the smart move.
DEwalt makes a really good one, just solid
mino
Member
OFK500 / OFKC500 are really specialty tools. I would *strongly* advise you check out the OFK 500 in person at some local dealer.
It is one of those tools which you either absolutely must have once you see how it works, or you find it too restrictive as you do not use a trim router enough for it to matter.
Those small OFK 500s are definitely *not* directly relatable to any other trim router out there. Starting with the special bits they use..
ADD:
If you are not looking into the OFK 500 specialty trimmers - which I presume you are likely not - the MFK/MFKC 700 series are a much better option as the cordless router of choice.
But no idea when that one comes to US.
I would consider a small Makita or Milwaukee and the MFKC 700 as the "daddy" option upgrade once it comes.
It is one of those tools which you either absolutely must have once you see how it works, or you find it too restrictive as you do not use a trim router enough for it to matter.
Those small OFK 500s are definitely *not* directly relatable to any other trim router out there. Starting with the special bits they use..
ADD:
If you are not looking into the OFK 500 specialty trimmers - which I presume you are likely not - the MFK/MFKC 700 series are a much better option as the cordless router of choice.
But no idea when that one comes to US.
I would consider a small Makita or Milwaukee and the MFKC 700 as the "daddy" option upgrade once it comes.
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Packard
Member
Unlike other tools that I thought I needed a cordless version (including, drill, nail guns, screw driver, circular saw, air compressor), I’ve never felt limited by the tether of an electric cord on the router.
Most often I use it at the work bench. And when I bring it to a location, it generally does not require much mobility.
So, I am wondering what situations are driving the need for a cordless router?
I would say I would be loath to give up cordless nail guns, circular saw and electric drill, in that order. Of the three, I would want to keep my corded electric drill always because of its higher spin speeds and rpms under load. So far, I have found no need for a cordless track saw.
Most often I use it at the work bench. And when I bring it to a location, it generally does not require much mobility.
So, I am wondering what situations are driving the need for a cordless router?
I would say I would be loath to give up cordless nail guns, circular saw and electric drill, in that order. Of the three, I would want to keep my corded electric drill always because of its higher spin speeds and rpms under load. So far, I have found no need for a cordless track saw.
Depends on what you are comparing.
I have a wired Metabo SBE 850 Impuls. I basicly... never use it. The rpm is higher yes, but not double. The low-rpm torque is absolutely sh*t and when the drill bit bites the kick is gigantic due to it's enormous rotating mass. No thanks.
onocoffee
Member
I've had the Makita R0701 for quite some time and about a year ago, ended up getting a great deal on the Hercules 20v. It's a great router that I try to connect to dust collection as much as possible. And while I mostly use corded tools and never complain about it, the cordless is quite nice. Except when you're doing longer sessions and you run out of battery. To me, that's really the downside.
I've also got the DeWalt 620 cordless router, which is performing really great. But, on a recent project, it was like I was PLOWING through the PowerStack batteries. Luckily, I've got a lot of DW batteries but I was going through them - and their chargers aren't like the TCL6...
Packard
Member
I have two Porter Cable 690 routers (corded) that I got on sale (when they went out of production) at Lowes for $49.00 each, new in the box. Very good routers. I guess they had good reason to replace them, but I find them fine.
I have a Craftsman router which I purchase in 1964 or 1965 (before i got my drivers license, and I rode to Sears on my bicycle to get it) and it still works (but it is basically decorative. When the motor brushes wear out, I doubt I can keep it running.).
I replaced my pneumatic nail gun with a battery powered one, when the hose and compressor became unmanageable in a small bathroom remodel (plus the P-C 15 gage nailer was extremely unreliable).
i replaced my P-C circular saw when I was working on my deck and the cord was a nuisance. But, basically the cord has to become an obstacle before I make a switch to battery.
I especially like my corded drill for dowel work. The cooling fan does double duty as a blower to clear sawdust.
I have a Craftsman router which I purchase in 1964 or 1965 (before i got my drivers license, and I rode to Sears on my bicycle to get it) and it still works (but it is basically decorative. When the motor brushes wear out, I doubt I can keep it running.).
I replaced my pneumatic nail gun with a battery powered one, when the hose and compressor became unmanageable in a small bathroom remodel (plus the P-C 15 gage nailer was extremely unreliable).
i replaced my P-C circular saw when I was working on my deck and the cord was a nuisance. But, basically the cord has to become an obstacle before I make a switch to battery.
I especially like my corded drill for dowel work. The cooling fan does double duty as a blower to clear sawdust.
luvmytoolz
Member
For me I do a lot of ad-hoc trimming, inlay work, edging, etc, that means grabbing a cordless trimmer saves me a lot of mucking around, especially as I can essentially do it anywhere without restriction.
I just desperately would love a cordless 1/2" shank router in the Festool platform though, that would be incredibly useful even though the batteries wouldn't last long!
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Jim_in_PA
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I'm not really dying to have a bunch of cordless tools. That said, a trim router is one that I think it might be more desirable and convenient due to the type of tasks I might use it for rather than the OF1010, OF1400 and DW618 that I have for hand-held use. And even though I'd prefer not to add another battery platform, I'd probably choose the DeWalt as it seems to be about the best design overall.
luvmytoolz
Member
The "one extra" battery platform is what's stopping me from getting the Hikoki cordless 1/2" router. It took years of me kicking and screaming to finally get dragged into an additional battery platform (Festool SYS 50 did it for me), I just really hate the thought of yet more battery platforms.
Michael Kellough
Member
Resistance is futile…
WillettBarrel
Member
The OFK/OFKC are limited to R1 to R6 or so roundovers and a couple different chamfer angles, correct? Aren't they designed specifically for edge banding?
I was excited when I saw the OFKC come available. The height adjustment feature looks much more streamlined than the MFK, which is a specific feature upgrade I've long wanted to see. Love the idea of an integrated bit shank as well. It seems like a brilliant tool ... designed for one small task I do very seldom.
Jim_in_PA
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Yea, I have Festool batteries (drill/drivers), but two flavors and Bauer from Harbor Freight for infrequently used utility tools like the hot glue gun I use at the CNC machine, a heat gun for helping with resin bubbles and a small circular saw I use on the property for getting rid of trashy stuff. I guess I could poke around and see if anyone has created an adapter to use a Festool 18v battery on a DeWalt. LOL (Or the HFT 5.0 amp Bauer batteries) EDIT: There actually are Bauer to DeWalt adapters on Amazon.
100's if not 1000's of linear feet of mdf molding. I rough break it all down outside (cordless festool track saw), and being able to zip the small roundover at the same time would be super convinient.
The OFKC would be totally fine for it; i've used my MFK a lot for the same purpose; had the same roundover bit in it for like a year straight. The cord is super annoying though when doing piece after piece.
So anyone know of any secret of when the OFKC might come to the USA?
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The absolute best reason to use cordless trim routers is with laminate countertops (imagine that)
The main reason is that the edges are very sharp, after being cut. Dragging a cord across that is just asking to slice it open.
That was my main motivation to getting my first cordless Makita. Not Long after, I bought the kit with the additional plunge base. They are handy for a lot of the quick little things I used to do regularly.
The biggest issue is the previously mentioned depth adjustment. They are quick, very easy to remove the base from the motor, but that's mostly because of the lack of a micro-adjust. For much of the trimming I did with them, that didn't really matter, so I had a few with pre-set uses.
Anything bigger than just flush-trimming laminate, OF1010. Cordless is a non-issue because I am using the extractor hose anyway.
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The full-sized Milwaukee is pretty decent, but it's not going to do long sessions or big diameter bits. 18V DC is just not enough for that kind of work. My old apprentice kid has one, but he was already all-in on that platform.
Amen! I did all I could, years ago, to minimize mine. Except for the CXS, mine are all Makita.
As long as you have enough batteries, or a quick charger, you're good.
The real issue with the OFK is the cutters. Getting regular router bits from Festool is hard enough in NA, the proprietary ones could be tough too. I suppose that actually selling the router would make that easier, but....
luvmytoolz
Member
Although I have an older MFK700 already, I've been thinking the cordless MFK would be really useful for me with my roundovers on my charcuterie boards with the large base providing extra grip and support.
I find the small stock bases on the Makita trimmers can be a little finicky to keep perfectly aligned on narrower material.
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