OF 1400 - Festool router bits

[Boski]

Are they worth the money?

I have been using a trend set of router bits so far, which have been ok, but I think with the OF1400 it will really perform well with a good bit in it.

Are Festool worth the money in terms of performance or longevity etc, or are there better alternatives? (based in UK) 

 

[luvmytoolz]

Are they worth the money?

I have been using a trend set of router bits so far, which have been ok, but I think with the OF1400 it will really perform well with a good bit in it.

Are Festool worth the money in terms of performance or longevity etc, or are there better alternatives? (based in UK)

The Festool ones are quality but I'm a bit ambivalent to general run of the mill cutters, I don't see the point in paying a much higher premium. Cutters that really matter to me are the spiral insert cutters, door frame panel sets, etc, where the quality really does show. More so than on a plain 2 flute or roundover. I really like CMT for door panel sets, CSP Tooling for my spiral insert cutters, Carbitool for architrave and moulding cutters, and all else are bulk cheapies off Ebay/Ali, etc, even for my CNC.

In over 40 years I'm yet to wear a bit out, they always snap or chip before that. I did have a lot of the original Festool HSS specialty cutters bought new when I got the many years back, but to be honest they really sucked as almost all general purpose HSS router bits do. If I had the OFK I'd be stuck with paying a massive premium on every cutter, which is why that's one trimmer I'll probably never buy.

 

[petertheeater]

For UK you need to be using WEALDEN TOOLS. Router bits, spindle/ shaper tooling, etc. Consistently great service, knowledgeable and willing to help.  Cutters last really well.

 

[guybo]

I am in the us. when looking for 8mm shank bits the woodbutcherbower liked ent ,so i bought a 30 bit hw set. very happy with the wear and sharpness. They are no longer on amazon. should be local to you,cost was good.ent=european norm tool.

 

[bobtskutter]

+1 for Wealden Tools.

Bob

 

[Boski]

I have never heard of Wheelden, so thanks for the heads up, I'll will check them out.

 

[Boski]

Are they worth the money?

I have been using a trend set of router bits so far, which have been ok, but I think with the OF1400 it will really perform well with a good bit in it.

Are Festool worth the money in terms of performance or longevity etc, or are there better alternatives? (based in UK)

Solid advice there.

I have looked at the two bits that I need and it comes to just under £100, and with the Festool router bit set you can get 1o bits for £200.

The Festool ones are quality but I'm a bit ambivalent to general run of the mill cutters, I don't see the point in paying a much higher premium. Cutters that really matter to me are the spiral insert cutters, door frame panel sets, etc, where the quality really does show. More so than on a plain 2 flute or roundover. I really like CMT for door panel sets, CSP Tooling for my spiral insert cutters, Carbitool for architrave and moulding cutters, and all else are bulk cheapies off Ebay/Ali, etc, even for my CNC.

In over 40 years I'm yet to wear a bit out, they always snap or chip before that. I did have a lot of the original Festool HSS specialty cutters bought new when I got the many years back, but to be honest they really sucked as almost all general purpose HSS router bits do. If I had the OFK I'd be stuck with paying a massive premium on every cutter, which is why that's one trimmer I'll probably never buy.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I have looked at the two bits that I need and it comes to just under £100, and with the Festool router bit set you can get 1o bits for £200.

For us in OZ if this is the set you're talking about it's megabucks! There's nothing in that set that makes me want to spend that much for standard cutters, as an example I buy 1/2" cutters in bulk for around $3ea, no doubt the geometry and specs are possibly lesser than Festool's, but I'm only guessing there really.
[attachimg=1]

 

[Michael Kellough]

I am in the us. when looking for 8mm shank bits the woodbutcherbower liked ent ,so i bought a 30 bit hw set. very happy with the wear and sharpness. They are no longer on amazon. should be local to you,cost was good.ent=european norm tool.

What is “ent”?

 

[guybo]

.ent=european norm tool.

 

[Coen]

I have looked at the two bits that I need and it comes to just under £100, and with the Festool router bit set you can get 1o bits for £200.

For us in OZ if this is the set you're talking about it's megabucks! There's nothing in that set that makes me want to spend that much for standard cutters, as an example I buy 1/2" cutters in bulk for around $3ea, no doubt the geometry and specs are possibly lesser than Festool's, but I'm only guessing there really.
[attachimg=1]

Festool pricing in OZ is from a different world. Just like so many other things in OZ...

Edit; didn't know the OZ$ was that low

 

[woodbutcherbower]

Speaking as a pro who sometimes wears out half a dozen cutters every month, Trend are my go-to. But they have two ranges - the cheaper ones are called ‘CraftPro’ and are coloured green, the pro range is self-coloured. I’ve yet to find better than these.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I have looked at the two bits that I need and it comes to just under £100, and with the Festool router bit set you can get 1o bits for £200.

For us in OZ if this is the set you're talking about it's megabucks! There's nothing in that set that makes me want to spend that much for standard cutters, as an example I buy 1/2" cutters in bulk for around $3ea, no doubt the geometry and specs are possibly lesser than Festool's, but I'm only guessing there really.
[attachimg=1]

Festool pricing in OZ is from a different world. Just like so many other things in OZ...

Edit; didn't know the OZ$ was that low

Yeah for any US or European stuff we get absolutely reamed. Even some of the Asian supplied stuff that was traditionally dirt cheap has gone up 50%-75% in the last couple of years. It's been many years now since the OZ$ was even near parity with the US$.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Here in the US, Amana and Whiteside are the go-to for me. At least for the more important bits, where I don't have insert style versions. I like insert bits for flush-trim and pattern type cutters because they stat flush. Sharpening brazed bits reduces the diameter and the flushness is lost.
The biggest problem I encounter is trying to get straight bits in metric diameters. I have a few that are from a Bosch set I imported from Amazon.DE
8mm shanks are another minor inconvenience, not impossible, but limited.

 

[rst]

I use a eclectic assortment of Amana, CMT, Whiteside and Freud bits.  The only Festool bits I own are the ones for drilling MFT tops and the through and shelf pins.