OF 1400, is this normal ?

[mhch]

I bought a 1400 router a couple of months ago, which I finally started to use intensively for some projects.

But I noticed two things which worry me.

1) When stopping the machine, I can see quite a bit of electrical arcs through the holes
      at the top of the router body

2) The bottom of the router body gets very hot while the machine is not really supposed to
      provide a lot of work, for instance bevelling MDF, 45 degree, 1mm deep plunge for the router bit.

I did not experience any of these with my 1010. Is that normal ?
Should I contact customer support for that ?

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi mhch,

My experience with all brush style motors is it takes a while for the brushes to fully seat.  In the process there can be significant arcing.  Should go away after a while.  Heat in the bottom of the router is probably either from overly tight bearings or just heat from the bit transmitting up through the collet, into the shaft and bearings and from there into the lower portion of the cast metal housing.  I don't recall that with my 1400, but do experience it with the 700 while plowing 10mm deep female SD groves with the 14.6mm 15 degree dovetail cutter in hard wood.  If the heat persists under light loads, I would call Festool tech support and ask them if it is normal.

Jerry

I bought a 1400 router a couple of months ago, which I finally started to use intensively for some projects.

But I noticed two things which worry me.

1) When stopping the machine, I can see quite a bit of electrical arcs through the holes
      at the top of the router body

2) The bottom of the router body gets very hot while the machine is not really supposed to
      provide a lot of work, for instance bevelling MDF, 45 degree, 1mm deep on the router bit.

I did not experience any of these with my 1010. Is that normal ?
Should I contact customer support for that ?

 

[Christian A.]

Hi mhch,

you're located in France, aren't you?
Thus I assume that you own a Festool OF 1400 EBQ. This - the European - version differs from the US OF 1400 EQ that has no brake as the missing "B" indicates.
Maybe (I'd still contact Festool about it) the arcs are caused by the router?s brake.

Christian

 

[Frank-Jan]

I think Christian is right about the arcs being caused by the brake, because Brice's OF1400 doesn't do it, and I just checked and mine does. (Best noticed from the left side top vents).

I only had it  running no load for a short while though, so I couldn't check the temperature issue.

I do think the arcing is normal, and the OF 1100ebq does it too, only not as bright and visible as the 1400, because of the fewer and smaller vent slots. (You can see the arcs when dissengaging the trigger if you look through the vents left of the rpm dial)

 

[mhch]

Thanks everybody for the feedback on the arcs. Yes itś an EBQ model,
and very new so it can be both the braking system and the brushes.

For the heat problem, I'm really surprised to notice that much heat when load is so light
(just doing a tiny 45 degree bevel, 1mm of plunge into MDF). Bit was not hot at all.

I'll call Festool service too morrow Monday.

 

[jonny round boy]

I (being in Europe - well, the UK, not as European as some ) have the EBQ version - and there is quite a lot of arcing visible within the housing. Nothing to worry about, IMO.

The heat, however, could be an issue.