new Festool Owner that needs help with Router Choice

[Phillym]

Hi,

I have just purchased my first Festool and now want to buy a router. I am torn between the of1010 because of the size and the OF1400. I am a hobbyist that likes to make small furniture pieces. I generally do not work with anything heavier then 3/4 stock. I have a Ryobi router now that I really hate using. Setting it up is a pain and forget the amount of dust. Can I please get a few opinions on what to do.

Thank you,

 

[Kevin Johnson]

I don't own both routers, I have the 1400.  However when I was ready to buy a router, I chose the 1400 because it gave me the versatility of using 1/2" bits in addition to 1/4" bits.  If you had a router that used 1/2" bits that you were happy with, I might suggest the 1010.  Since you don't, I will suggest the 1400.  The 1/2" bits are better because they tend to chatter less and give you a smoother cut.  If you did buy the 1010, as your collection of 1/4" bits grew, you will later realize that you wish you had 1/2" bits.  That happened to me as my first router only accepted 1/4" bits.  Now, every once in while I replace the 1/4" ones with 1/2" ones and that is an additional expense.  I now try to use the 1/4" bits only in my trim router.

 

[Jim Becker]

I own and use both the OF1010 and the OF1400. If you can only buy one of them...which is a reasonable assumption most of the time...I'd suggest the OF1400 for many of the same reasons that Kevin states. It's the most universally useful of the two for both cutter shank sizes as well as power for harder jobs. It is bigger than the OF1010, but not by a "huge" margin.

You will still want another router for table use, however...the Festool routers are not well suited to that kind of work.

 

[tenfingers]

I too, am a hobbiest.

I just took the plunge 1 week ago and purchased mft3, of1400, ct22, domino, ETS 150/3, and ts55 and am extremely pleased with the purchases.

As far as the router goes, I've basically used it to make 2 11 inch long, 3/8 inch deep, 3/4 wide dadoes and 6 6ft long 3/8x3/4 rabbits and I can tell you that the router cut through it like butta. The dados were done on 2 passes, but the rabbits were one pass. Dust collection is excellent, and that's with the 27 mm hose (36 mm hose is next purchase).

Overall, great router.

Martin

 

[Neill]

Hi,

I have just purchased my first Festool and now want to buy a router. I am torn between the of1010 because of the size and the OF1400. I am a hobbyist that likes to make small furniture pieces. I generally do not work with anything heavier then 3/4 stock. I have a Ryobi router now that I really hate using. Setting it up is a pain and forget the amount of dust. Can I please get a few opinions on what to do.

Thank you,

Phil,

I cast my vote with the others for the 1400.  I have had other routers from Porter Cable and Dewalt. In terms of ease of use, this beats them all.

I also agree with the previous posters about the 1400 vs the 1010.  The 1400 is nice blend of power, versatility and finesse.  With the variable speeds you can always back off if you need less power however you cannot add power to the 1010.  The fact that it can use any size collet without an insert is a real plus.  No other Festool router offers this capability.

Just out of curiosity, what was the first Festool you purchased?

Good luck to you with whatever you choose.  If you stick with Festool you will never go too far wrong.

Neill

 

[daves1996]

May I suggest this kit from Craftsman Professional. It has 3 lightweight magnesium bases, great dust collection, built in LED lighting, 1/2" & 1/4" collets, adjustable power level and the bases have built in height adjustment from the bottom of the base as if you would need in a table setup. I have really enjoyed using this package and the $200 price tag was a huge bonus.  I do not own a festool router.

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_12605_00928084000P?vName=Tools

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Owning both I would start with the 1400 and see where you go from there...  1/2" collet is a real advantage that unfortunatley the 1010 lacks.

Best,
Notorious T.O.D.

 

[Phillym]

Hi,

I was away so sorry for this late thank you reply. I did buy the 1010. My reason was for the size of the router and the type of work I like to do. I figure if the need be I can always buy the 1400. I am getting frustrated in the set up procedures. I tried working with the router using the guide rail attachment with the rail on my MFT. It does not seem to work great. The work moves so I have to work on a better set up.

Neil,

My first purchase was the Ks55. Second was the Mft, third was the Kapex and now the 1010. I am looking at the Donmino now.

 

[nclemmons]

Phillym -

Have you tried clamping the work using the festool clamps so that it does not move? 

Not sure what you are trying to route - is it a dado or rabbet?  Either will require you use the outrigger foot on the 1010 to keep it level with the guide rail.

You might try some wax on the rail so that the router guide slides easily.

Hope these suggestions help -

neil

 

[Phillym]

Hi Neil,

T hanks for the help. I got the router set up prettin good now using the Festool Clamps and the Qwas Dogs I bought from Festool Junkie. The dogs are really nice. I bought 4 and could use 4 more. They are very handy. Its a shame that 20mm dowels or aluminum rod is impossible to find.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

How much 20mm dowel do you want and what species of wood.  I have the ability to make just about any size up to 9 inches...

Also, if you look at the tips on www.thewoodworkersedge.com you will find a tip on how to reduce a dowel to a smaller size using a table saw...

Best,
Notorious T.O.D.

 

[gkeas]

I was torn in the beginning about which router to buy, but landed on the 1400 primarily for the 1/2" bit capacity.

I recently picked up the MFK700, so I've filled the "small" end of the spectrum, but not the "small plunge" end.  I will probably end up with all 4 at some point, but not any time soon.

 

[Phillym]

HAPPY THANKSGIVING TO ALL.

Has anyone found a jig to use to make a Tenon with the Festool Router?

 

[Jim Becker]

Leigh shows their FMT with a Festool OF1400 "in the saddle" in some ads/pictures...

 

[Acrobat]

Hate to differ, but I have the awesome Triton plunge router. It's the bees knees as you can soooo easily change bits above the table when table mounted, and heaps of grunt and soft start, variable speed and micro adjuster.  I believe its been voted best in class. Or you can try the newer smaller model with the same features. For me its my one router I use, other one (Ryobi) sits in the corner unused.

 

[gkeas]

Hate to differ, but I have the awesome Triton plunge router. It's the bees knees as you can soooo easily change bits above the table when table mounted, and heaps of grunt and soft start, variable speed and micro adjuster.  I believe its been voted best in class. Or you can try the newer smaller model with the same features. For me its my one router I use, other one (Ryobi) sits in the corner unused.

I have the Triton mounted in a table (the 2 1/4 hp version) and it comes with a TON of extras.  If I didn't know Festool existed, the Triton would serve me very well as an all around choice.  It does have some provision for dust collection, too.  Having said that, I've never used it out of the table.

At $215, it sure beats the pants off of much of the competition out there. 

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Phillym,

I don't think you will regret buying the 1010.  I struggled with the same issue, ordered a 1010 and many accessories, then changed my order to a 1400 and similar accessories.  I did so because of the collets offered for the 1400, including a 3/8" collet.  My collection of bits at that time already included several with 1/2" shank and even more with 3/8" shank.  But after a couple years usage as a hobbyist and doing a home restoration, I often wish I had opted for the 1010, and eventually will either purchase a 1010 or the new MFK 700.  I find I rarely need the extra power of the 1400 and that the smaller size and thus better balance, e.g., when routing hinge mortices on already installed door jambs or filler inserts to patch old work, the 1400 is much more difficult to handle.  Much of the time I find myself routing small rabbets 1/4" c 3/8" in the backs of furniture cases and guiding a small router for this work is much easier than my 1400 which I am now using for this work.  Like many others on FOG, I wish the 1010 had 1/2" collet capacity.  I also wish Festool would offer either a 10 mm collet or 1/4" diameter brad tipped boring bits so I could use them with the Hole Drilling set and LR 32 guide rail.  As others have said, if you are interested in a router table, other brands of routers are better suited.  I have both a Freud 13A and a PC 15A router for table use.  Both of the Triton units are well suited for table use.

Dave R.

 

[mwhafner]

For table use without a lift, the Triton's are great routers.  I have two that I use as my rail and stile setup.  They do a pretty good job with dust collection.

Off the table, the OF1400 rocks.  I have probably owned 20 routers over the last 10 or 12 years.  For handheld work, the Festool wins hands down.  

Prior the sliding down the green slope, had many different favorites.  The PC 69x was my go to.  I had 2 motors and all three bases.  I still use a couple of 7518's mounted in lifts.  I also had a Dewalt 3 base kit, but I never really cared for it.  The Makita 1 1/4 router, which I don't think they make anymore, was awesome for jig work.  For large bit handheld work, I loved both the Makita and PC 3 1/4 variable speed models.

Now, outside of table work, the OF1400 pretty well does it all.  I am contemplating an OF1010, just to have a second router for dovetail jig work.