New Router 1010 vs. 1400

[JeffPhillips]

I am in the market for a new router, mostly for dust collection. I was at my local woodcraft today comparing the 1010 and 1400, and the size of the 1010 is very appealing, EXCEPT for the limited collet options. Right now, 90% of what I do with a router is 3/4" wide by 3/8" deep dados in particle board, flush trim on 3/4" face frames,  and 1/8" and 1/4" roundovers on the frames. The 1/4" shank limitation doesn't bother me so much on the round over bits; it bothers me a little for the flush trim, but where I am having my biggest hesitation is for the 3/4" straight cutter. I realize that the 1010 also has an 8mm collet, but lets ignore that, because I have almost no local access to 8mm shank bits.

For anything larger, I still have a PC690 and an 890, so I wouldn't be limiting myself for the other 10% of what I need a router for.

Is this router going to do what I need it to, or am I going to be fighting it the whole time? I have never really used 1/4" shank bits, as all of mine are currently 1/2".

 

[FM_SC]

In your situation, I would go with the 1400.  The larger one will do everything you want.  If you go with the smaller one, you will always want the bigger one for the more demanding tasks. 

I originally had purchased the smaller router and for the problems you mention sold it and decided to go with Dewalt 621 instead of the 1400, mainly because I could not justify the price difference.  I am very happy with the Dewalt, it has enough power for all handheld router uses I have and does have good dust collection.  I also have couple palm routers and a router table with the big PC in a lift.

 

[fatroman]

If dust collection is really your number 1 goal here, I'd pick the 1010.

I've got both, prefer to use the 1010 where I can, and think that the built in dust collection port is just so much nicer than the clip on version for the 1400. If you go with the 1400, get the D36 hose, too, as that makes a big difference in not unclogging the dust port every 2 minutes.

I hesitated about getting the 1010 for the collet reasons too, but I'm glad I decided to overlook that.

 

[RC]

I got an OF 1400 and couldn't be happier with my choice. I was a bit worried about it's size ahead of time, but it just works like a beauty without any problems using it even single handed in a pinch. Just having the option to use any size bits is a good enough reason to get the 1400.

 

[davee]

For a single router, I'd go with the 1400 because of the collet size.  Replacing existing bits with 1/4 bits could be expensive.  Having said that, I've used the 1010 in Lebanon and would really like to have this one as well!

 

[VictorL]

OF-1010 is better suited for describe tasks. 3/4" long bits work just fine. I prefer OF-1010 for its weight and size, but I'm using OF-1400 where I need more power and bigger bits. Also OF-1010 is seldom guest on the second hand market.  Plus you have 30 days money back guarantee for the router. I recommend you buy angle arm, edging plate and edge guide too if you'll decide to keep the router.

Good Luck!
VictorL

 

[waho6o9]

+1 for 1400.

 

[Jack Parks]

Based on you saying you have a PC690 and 890 I suggest you get the OF1010.  I have an OF1010, OF1400, PC690 and PC890.  The PC890 has reasonable dust collection and is a good router to use with 1/2" bits.  The OF1010 is in a class by itself.  It does many things well, has all kinds of accessories available and is comparable to buying one of the expensive aftermarket precision plunge bases for trim routers.  The one thing I do not like about the OF1010 and OF1400 routers is that you cannot use a centering mandrel to adjust the base to center a bit in a template.  I use the PC890 when I use templates.

 

[Julian Tracy]

I have them both.  IMO, there are many mid-range 2- 2 1/4HP great quality routers out there, many with high precision and decent dust collection.  So the 1400, while nice, is not in a class by itself, unless you are referring to the high price.

The 1010 though, IS in a class by itself: perfect weight, balance and feel - there's nothing like it in the marketplace.

Buy the 1010 and buy a great quality Bosch or Dewalt or Elu or PC or Milwaukee mid range router for 1/2" bits.  You'll have an extra $300 to spend on bits.

The clip-on dust port of the 1400 is clunky and not that much more elegant than the other brand's dust solutions.

The through-the-base port of the 1010 is great.

Julian

 

[Jesse Cloud]

As you can see, this is very much a matter of personal preference.  They are both great routers.

This may border on unethical, but why not buy both and return your least favorite within the 30 day free return period?

My personal experience is that owning both, I pull out the 1400 90 percent of the time.  I love the ratcheting on the 1400 and the guide bushing setup (yes, you can't adjust it, but I have never needed to).  The 1010 overall just doesn't seem as solid.  There are cases where a smaller router is needed and I love the 1010 for that.

To me, the collette range on the 1400 is a huge advantage.  I'm a big fan of the 3/8 collette, for using 3/8 inch end mills.

Hard to go wrong on this choice.

 

[fifo28]

I have the 1400.  I picked it specifically because it is the perfect do all router.  Not as small or light as the 1010 or big as the 2200.  I had a PC 690 and sold it after I got the 1400.  To me the versatility is the key, the 1010 is just not as versatile for the reasons you listed and the extra weight does not really bother me.  For larger jobs I have a table so between the 1400 and the table I am pretty well covered.

 

[Kevin Stricker]

I have the 1400 and while it does a good job in the dado department I find it a bit top heavy for edge treatments and very difficult to get consistent results flush trimming narrow objects ( i.e. shelving or cab. parts)

So plan to spend another $100 for the base widener if you go with the 1400.

I would go for the 1010 in your shoes, a 1/4" shank cutter will be fine cutting particleboard.

 

[Joberwocky]

I only have an OF 1400 and that's great because it's an amazing all around router.  I'd you already have the larger routers on hand, I would suggest the OF 1010 simply based on ease of use.  I've had an opportunity to play around with it and it's a pleasure to use.  Most of the time at my job when I'm hesitant to use a 1/4" bit it's more a case of paring it with an inferior router (my boss unfortunately doesn't let us have nice things, i.e. Festool routers).  The tasks you plan on performing seem light enough duty that I wouldn't be worried about the collet limitations, and few things are as irksome as bringing too large a tool to small work.

 

[RC]

Thanks for your great insights!

I ended up getting an OF1400 for the possibility of using all bit sizes and the extra power over the 1010.

Just completed my first project of routing 25mm x 23mm grooves into 2"x3" garden door frames (3x 4.4m grooves). The router worked like a charm after I went down to a 16mm wide bit from my initial try of a 22mm wide one that overloaded the engine every meter of so. (I ran the groove in four passes, half depth, one mm inwards, full depth, 1mm outwards). So I guess the reasonable max of the 1400 is around 20mm wide bits and 1.5cm depth at a time.

Most problems did stem from having an underpowered Kärcher VAC borrowed from a neighbour that got clogged up every 5 minutes or so and the subsequent clearing of the router bit-area and the shroud after they got packed with gunk that wasn't hoovered away.

Love the precision of the router with literally no indents between successive passes on the grooves.

Did some hinge indents with it too and it handled like a charm doing them free hand.

 

[ccarrolladams]

RC,

You will enjoy your OF1400. You well may be correct that a 22mm dia bit is somewhat ambitious for an OF1400 unless making very shallow cuts each pass.

I am not clear the size of hose on the vac you borrowed. As far as I know that brand is not distributed widely in the USA. One trick to keeping the OF1400 from clogging is to use a 36mm Anti-Static hose. All the Festool CT dust extractors have the appropriate connection to work with anti-static hoses. Most other portable dust extractors frustrate the anti-static connection at the vac end.

Way back in 2006 the OF2200, OF1400 and MFK700 had not been introduced to the USA by Festool. I bought an OF1010 primarily for drilling LR-32 holes. As they became available I did buy an OF1400, 2 OF2200 and several MFK700, in addition to more OF1010. All of these routers have special virtues.

Before trim routers were common I remember using heavy conventional routers to flush-trim laminate. Holding such a router horizontal was not all that easy, so I bought a succession of trim routers before settling on the MFK700. I know people who do use the OF1010 as a trim router, but because I already had other trim routers I have not done so.

The OF2200 not only has more power than the OF1400, because of its mass and advance design it runs very smoothly even with large bits and heave routing. I Festool router class I have used bits on OF2200 larger than I would use by choice in my own shop. Personally I prefer to use large bits in a router table, but before I had a shop I made those cuts with the OF2200.

 

[RC]

The VAC had a narrow head that fit into the dust port of the router, but the problem with it was the 90-degree angle in the intake port before the dust bag that got stuffed with anything longer than 2cm and would very quickly stop all suction from them hose and subsequently clog the routers dust-shroud and result in the routed groove to overflow.

Mainly it was next to impossible to notice when the VAC got clogged because the only way on noticing was to notice that suddenly the dust port started to gather chips and dust in it and by that time it was already too late.

I seriously need that pending tax return of mine to buy a proper CTL36 VAC...  [tongue]