OF 1400 centering guide bushings

[UncleJoe]

I have searched and I just can't find any answers. The guide bushing adapter for the 1400 does not appear to have an adjustment to make sure the bit is in the center of a bushing. I have the Centering Mandrel 492187 but no instructions on how to make sure it is all tight and centered. I watched a good YouTube video from Korban3 where he cut away part of the assembly to access some adjustment screws.

Using a centering cone is a simple task on every other router brand I have owned. What am I missing here?

I find it difficult to accept that a company that over engineers every part would leave this part this way. I am certain I am missing some simple trick to aligning guide bushings and I am hoping someone here can enlighten me.

Thanks for your help

 

[Pompeio]

You might want to check out Peter Parfitt's New Brit Workshop's video "Festool OF 1010 Router - Part 2 of 2" regarding using the mandrel.  Hope this helps. 

 

[Sparktrician]

Whiteside Machine offers several centering mandrels for various size bits.  Pick one, center the mounting, then shift to the guide bushing of choice. 

 

[JFelchlin]

This has been a known Festool design problem since at least DEC 2007.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tools-accessories/centering-template-guides-to-collet-in-1400-router/

I really like my OF 1400 - And it’s my “go to” router for most all hand held router tasks.
But, not being able to center a guide bushing on my OF 1400 - I had to find a “work around” to use my Leigh D4R Jig. My solution:
A modestly priced, dedicated Porter Cable 690LR Router - (currently $129~ at Amazon.) -
Coupled with a Leigh Jig e7 Elliptical (adjustable) Guide Bushing.
A little adjustment gets me “dead on”.
“Side bar”: Leigh Jigs was apparently having a similar type of issue several years ago.
Hence, their introduction of their elliptical (adjustable) guide bushings.

 

[call3edc@hotmail.com]

Shop Fox bushings from Woodcraft work well and mine were centered dead on though that may have been pure luck.  Leigh makes one (E10) that is elliptical and adjustable for the 1400

 

[Michael Kellough]

Shop Fox bushings from Woodcraft work well and mine were centered dead on though that may have been pure luck.  Leigh makes one (E10) that is elliptical and adjustable for the 1400

Hope you aren’t that lucky [wink]. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Cheese]

Here’s another discussion of the issue. It starts with discussing the various MFT templates available and then segues into the 1400 guide bushing problem.

I found out the hard way, that because the guide bushing isn’t actually fastened to anything and is just held in place by 2 friction arms, any significant side force applied to the bushing can move the bushing by .010” or more.
That’s the reason I was getting weird shaped holes when I used the Woodpeckers MFT template.

So there are actually 2 issues, guide bushing adjustability and guide bushing movement.
http://festoolownersgroup.com/other-tools-accessories/mft-hole-jigs/30/