OF 1400 learning curve

[HowardH]

I recently picked up my OF 1400 router and just friday I got the guide rail attachment.  What a great combo!  Cuts dados and grooves perfectly, that is, If you use some clamps!  I'm the middle of creating the Jointech router cabinet and it's going to be a primarily festool project.  TS-55 to breakdown the ply, MFT 1080 to hold everything down.  Router to cut the dados.  Might even use the Domino to attach the face frame but that's another story.  I thought I would save a bit of time (almost always a mistake) and use the short rail attached to the MFT to cut a dado across the plywood.  I figured the pressure I put on the guide system would hold everything in place.  Wrong.  I looked down and saw the dado walking across the piece.  oops.  Learned a few lessons today.  1.  always buy more stock than you need ( I did, thank goodness!  )  2. don't take shortcuts.  Using that router to cut dados requires the hold down clamps to make sure the guide rail doesn't move when pushing the router down it's length.  3.  think about what you are cutting.  I love the center finding feature of the router.  I meaured the distance away from the edge I needed and then since I was using a 3/4 bit, added 3/8ths to get a perfect center.  Cut the dado and admired my work.  Then started looking at it.  Hmmmm.  Something doesn't look right here.  Oops again.  Should have SUBTRACTED 3/8ths!    Yep, cut on the wrong side of the line.  Oh well, gotta cut another piece tomorrow and start over.  Learning curve strikes again!  God I love this Festool stuff.  Even making mistakes is fun!  BTW, on a sad note, I was in the Jointech factory on Thursday and heard the owner had very recently passed away.  The last time I was there he showed me the new design for a lead screw table saw fence system he was working on.  Now it's on the back burner, maybe permanently.  His son-in-law is taking over the biz.  He was a nice man, former Incra engineer.  Young, too.  Only 67 or so . 

 

[Les]

Howard,

Thanks for the honesty and heads up. Glad to know I'm not the only member of the oops club. : I made the Jointech cabinet several years ago. It is a nice set up but there are a few changes I would make if doing it again. Drop me a PM if you're interested in the changes.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Howard,

Welcome to the OOPS club.  I frequently contribute to that group, but the overall end result still comes out well.  Sometimes I have some small pieces for my next project and sometimes extra firewood.

I noticed mention of a JoinTech router cabinet in your post.  I, too, own a 1400 FEQ and have a JoinTech Saw Train on my General 10" Hybrid table saw which I intend to double as my router table.  I just beginning to learn how to use both of these, the router being more familiar to me.

Dave R.

 

[HowardH]

I thought about going that route but I thought building the router station would be fun and a good learning experience.  I have all the main pieces cut and dadoed at this point.  Measured correctly this time!  Gotta cut my hardwood drawer slides next and then start the glue up process.  I'll post some pics when I'm done.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Howard,

You may actually be happier with the dust collection achieved with your own setup.  I found that for many projects a simple fence made from a scrap of 2x4 or 2x6 stock with a partial circle cut out to wedge grip a standard 2 1/2 inch shop vacuum hose inserted from above worked very effectively while routing T&G and bevels on 400 sq ft of oak "ranch plank" styled flooring I once made.  This fence was easily made and kept true by running its bottom front face and it over a jointer and clamping the flat side to the router table.  Need to swing a bigger bit - simply enlarge your cutout and screw a top layer of 2x stock with the requisite hole saw cutout to accept your vacuum hose.

Dave R.