OF 1400 bushing guide not centered

[nexsim]

Today I received my 1400 and I noticed that the bit is not centered inside the bushing.[attachimg=1]
Is there a way to adjust this?

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's a pretty big difference, have you first confirmed the hole is a perfect circle and not slightly elliptical as some dovetail guide bushings are?

If it is just bring the router back and get them to replace it if they can't resolve it, you definitely shouldn't be forced to accept something that far out.

I went through this with my OF2200 although it was nowhere out like yours, mine had about 0.15mm of side to side slop, we went through several template guides trying to get it resolved, in the end I just tapped the outside edge of the guide with a hammer to deform the barest fraction so it was a perfect centred friction fit.

 

[nexsim]

Guide bushing is fine, I just move it from my Dewalt router, where I've been using it and it was perfectly centered.
It seems that there is no way to adjust this, correct?

 

[Lincoln]

Known problem with the OF1400, though your example is a LONG way out.

 

[Cheese]

I think this would be an appropriate query for Festool to answer.  [smile]

They make the router...they make the router bushing...they certainly must have an answer, don't you think?  [popcorn] [popcorn] [popcorn]

On a more serious note, I would contact Festool with this question and see what lame excuse they come up with today. If they were to actually answer you, that answer would indeed become a first as they've been asked this question hundreds of times and have never answered it even once. Instead they just continue to produce the 1400...continue to produce the problem and continue to never answer the question. They don't even bother to deflect the question...they just ignore it and act like you're the fool.

It's the reason you need a 1010, because the router bushing is adjustable like it should be.

15 years later, this simple fundamental issue still makes me more livid than the Kapex issue. Not so much because it exists and is real, but because Festool corporate still refuses to deal with and acknowledge the reality of this problem. At least with the Kapex, they released a new and improved version while never admitting responsibility.  Admitting culpability is just not a German thing and they've honed that approach down to perfection...in their own eyes. The rest of the world knows the truth.

 

[Lincoln]

I first noticed it when I used a hinge jig/template to rout butt hinges into a bedroom door and frame. Couldn't work out why they didn't line up, when the jig was one piece with fixed hinge locations. Once I realised, I had to make sure I oriented the router the right way for both sets of cuts.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Any update on this? Are you planning to send it back? I'm curious what the response will be.

 

[nexsim]

I think this would be an appropriate query for Festool to answer.  [smile]

They make the router...they make the router bushing...they certainly must have an answer, don't you think?  [popcorn] [popcorn] [popcorn]

On a more serious note, I would contact Festool with this question and see what lame excuse they come up with today. If they were to actually answer you, that answer would indeed become a first as they've been asked this question hundreds of times and have never answered it even once. Instead they just continue to produce the 1400...continue to produce the problem and continue to never answer the question. They don't even bother to deflect the question...they just ignore it and act like you're the fool.

It's the reason you need a 1010, because the router bushing is adjustable like it should be.

15 years later, this simple fundamental issue still makes me more livid than the Kapex issue. Not so much because it exists and is real, but because Festool corporate still refuses to deal with and acknowledge the reality of this problem. At least with the Kapex, they released a new and improved version while never admitting responsibility.  Admitting culpability is just not a German thing and they've honed that approach down to perfection...in their own eyes. The rest of the world knows the truth.

I just returned it and I will reorder it. I already wasted time on phone calls and emails before, without any luck.
I've been trying to get Kapex 120. Today I got the third one I ordered. Previous 2 had fence issues and one of them laser way off.
This one is missing a screw holding the insert. [scared] How this can happen, I just can't understand it. At least fence straight.

I love the brand, got TS55, CT MIDI, Domino 500, OF 1010, LR-32, ETS EC 150, CXS12. But these last two purchases had been a nightmare.

I think they have excellent engineers developing their products, but their quality control is disappointing, at least in these two products imho.

 

[nexsim]

The thing is that I don't even need it. I got a Bosch MRP23EVS and is pretty capable router and the OF 1010.
I already bought all the OF 1400 accessories 
Checking the systainer and there is no space to fit the rail guide accessory, or I just don't see it how.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's a real shame and very disappointing you didn't get the level of service you should have.

For me with the issue on my OF2200 the account manager bent over backwards trying to help, and sent extra rings to try, and even tested against other routers. In the end I didn't want to further it as I loved the router, so did the simple fix myself.

 

[me_two]

[member=72863]nexsim[/member]  Is this what you’re after=xlVrqPPQ8AMjRgHe

It helped me store my 1400 accessories.

 

[nexsim]

[member=76373]me_two[/member] thank you so much. That’s exactly what I needed.

 

[PaulMarcel]

For the 1400 accessories, I put one of those zipper pouches in the Systainer with all the tiny bits (leveler foot, guide bushing collar, couple bushings, etc) Works well. Now that I saw that YT video, I may push the rail guides into place.

 

[MikeGE]

I spent the past three days chasing ghosts with my Leigh D4R dovetail jig and the OF 1400.  I bought the OF 1400 specifically for use on the Leigh jig after watching lots of videos with other happy owners using their OF 1400.  After going through over a dozen test cuts trying to dial in the correct cutting depth for half-blind dovetails, I was not getting any closer to having a tight fit.  I watched the Leigh troubleshooting video several times to make sure I was moving the router bit in the correct direction, nothing seemed to close the gaps.

This morning, I decided to reset everything to the recommended depth of cut and start over.  That is when I noticed the entire guide bushing plate in the OF 1400 moves slightly side to side as I move the router between the fingers. Ugh...

I'll buy the plastic insert for the OF 1010 and try again when it arrives.  I have a feeling the OF 1400 will be my first Festool machine that will gather dust.

 

[Cheese]

Mike, here's the same issue that I had and I posted about 4 years ago. And the worst part is that the amount of movement changes depending upon from what direction you're applying the side force. Let's say a horizontal side force will give you .008" movement while a vertical side force (90º to horizontal) will yield .003" of movement.
So, if you mark the router and only move it in the same direction every time, then the movement can be roughly accounted for. The real problem is when you're enlarging holes or need to move the router in a circular motion. Then the bushing movement is constantly changing from .008" to .003" and then back to .008" again depending upon where in the arc of movement you are.

I'm surprised that a machined adapter hasn't been offered on the market yet as this condition has been known for years. Maybe the market just isn't large enough? For this type of work I always pull out the 1010.  [big grin]
https://www.festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/mft-hole-jigs/

 

[ear3]

[member=70363]MikeGE[/member]  Yeah, one of the reasons I originally switched over to Festool was to eliminate tool error from my diagnostics, so the continued problems with the 1400, which essentially make it unusable for template routing unless you get one with perfect calibration from the factory, are pretty depressing.  When you mention the plastic insert for the 1010, what are you referring to?  Leigh makes an aluminum one, which can be centered in the unit:

 

I spent the past three days chasing ghosts with my Leigh D4R dovetail jig and the OF 1400.  I bought the OF 1400 specifically for use on the Leigh jig after watching lots of videos with other happy owners using their OF 1400.  After going through over a dozen test cuts trying to dial in the correct cutting depth for half-blind dovetails, I was not getting any closer to having a tight fit.  I watched the Leigh troubleshooting video several times to make sure I was moving the router bit in the correct direction, nothing seemed to close the gaps.

This morning, I decided to reset everything to the recommended depth of cut and start over.  That is when I noticed the entire guide bushing plate in the OF 1400 moves slightly side to side as I move the router between the fingers. Ugh...

I'll buy the plastic insert for the OF 1010 and try again when it arrives.  I have a feeling the OF 1400 will be my first Festool machine that will gather dust.

 

[Cheese]

Edward, I think Mike's referring to the 469625 template guide adaptor. That's the one I use on my 1010 with a PC style bushing.

[attachimg=1]

 

[MikeGE]

[member=70363]MikeGE[/member]Leigh makes an aluminum one, which can be centered in the unit:

Yes, but these aren't available in Europe.  The closest stocking vendor is Axminster in the UK.  Thanks to Brexit, shipping to Germany with the VAT and import duties increase the price to over $100.  I can buy the OF 1010 insert locally for a few Euros and will have it in two days.

Edward, I think Mike's referring to the 469625 template guide adaptor. That's the one I use on my 1010 with a PC style bushing.

[attachimg=1]

Yes, that's the one I ordered.  The Leigh guide bushing will fit in it and I can center the bushing using the centering mandrel.

 

[jeffinsgf]

I spent the past three days chasing ghosts with my Leigh D4R dovetail jig and the OF 1400.  I bought the OF 1400 specifically for use on the Leigh jig after watching lots of videos with other happy owners using their OF 1400.  After going through over a dozen test cuts trying to dial in the correct cutting depth for half-blind dovetails, I was not getting any closer to having a tight fit.  I watched the Leigh troubleshooting video several times to make sure I was moving the router bit in the correct direction, nothing seemed to close the gaps.

This morning, I decided to reset everything to the recommended depth of cut and start over.  That is when I noticed the entire guide bushing plate in the OF 1400 moves slightly side to side as I move the router between the fingers. Ugh...

I'll buy the plastic insert for the OF 1010 and try again when it arrives.  I have a feeling the OF 1400 will be my first Festool machine that will gather dust.

Mike,

I have both the Festool and Leigh guide bushing adapters for the 1010. The Leigh is vastly superior, simply froim the fact it is metal rather than plastic. It is Leigh's part #704R and I center it with the Festool centering mandrel 492187.

I have been trying for over a year to get Woodpeckers to make something like the 704R for the 1400. One of the engineers and I even made a very successful prototype. But, it's hard to get anyone here excited about a replacement part to fix another company's shortcomings.

 

[MikeGE]

Mike,

I have both the Festool and Leigh guide bushing adapters for the 1010. The Leigh is vastly superior, simply froim the fact it is metal rather than plastic. It is Leigh's part #704R and I center it with the Festool centering mandrel 492187.

I have been trying for over a year to get Woodpeckers to make something like the 704R for the 1400. One of the engineers and I even made a very successful prototype. But, it's hard to get anyone here excited about a replacement part to fix another company's shortcomings.

Jeff,

Thanks for the comparison, but given the cost to get each of these to my mail box, the Festool version is the best choice for me.  I ordered two of them from Mike's Tool Shop, an Austrian vendor I've used before.  The total cost is €20.10 and they will be here tomorrow or Wednesday.

Lee Valley now owns the Leigh brand, and any orders placed on the Leigh website are routed to Lee Valley.  Unfortunately, the 704R is not available yet at Lee Valley, so my only source is Axminster in the UK.  If I ordered the Leigh part from Lee Valley when it is available, I would wait over three weeks for it to arrive.  Shipments from Axminster are taking about two weeks.

The only complaints I have read about the Festool adapter is it is made of plastic.  I have not read any complaints that it didn't work.  Considering the Leigh bushings appear to be die cast zinc, I'm not bothered about a plastic holder as long as it works.

It's unfortunate that the Woodpeckers leadership doesn't want to move forward on a better solution for the OF 1400.  This is such a well known failure on the OF 1400 it would almost be like printing money if a suitable alternative was available.