OF1010 or OF1400

[bigfella]

Hi Guys,

I know this has been covered a few times before, but would appreciate some additional feedback based on my use cases.

I currently have a reasonably old Hitachi TR-12. It runs well, but is really heavy and difficult to use. I also hate that it has no dust extraction. I work from my garage and typically it takes about five times longer to clean-up than it does to complete the actual routing!

I was planning to buy the OF1400. I have used it before (a friend has one) and was really impressed. I found the dust extraction fitting a but fiddly, but it worked well. I headed down to my local shop this morning and one of the guys there suggested that I consider the OF1010 instead. I liked the feel of the 1010 but was reluctant to buy as I have a good collection (about 18) of 1/2 inch bits.

My main use is for putting round overs on hardwood edges, routing rebates (normal 19mm wide / 10mm deep) in ply and occasionally tidying up edges of 40mm hardwood.

I will keep the Hitachi but would like to avoid using it as much as possible (due to the mess).

Should I go for the OF1010 and build a new collection of bits or get the OF1400 and leverage what I already have?

 

[Birdhunter]

I am fortunate enough to own every Festool router. If I had to have just one, it would be the 1400. It is not as beautifully engineered or powerful as the 2200. It is not as light and ergonomic as the 1010. But, the 1400 handles the 1/2" shank bits as well as the 1/4' shank bits, has good dust extraction, has excellent power, integrates into the Festool guide rail system and dust collector system.

 

[bigfella]

Thanks Birdhunter.

Do you think it is agile enough for edge work like hinge mortises?

 

[bigfella]

I don't want to get the 1400 and find that it is either too heavy in some situations, yet not powerful enough in others. I guess I can always pull out the Hitachi if I need more power.

Hard decision!

 

[ear3]

I agree that the 1400 is probably the best all around router.  That said, I was really impressed with how powerful the 1010 was -- I've been able to shape a hardwood edge with a 1 1/2" (38mm) bearing guided edge forming bit in a single pass, without incident. 

The 1400 might be a stretch for hinge mortises.  I suppose it's possible if you're really, really careful, or if you outfit it with two edge guides on either side of the board so that it has more stability while riding on the edge of a board.

Another option is to get a cheap palm router to do the hinge work, and leave the larger stuff to the 1400.  For the work that you describe, the 1400 would have plenty of power. 

Thanks Birdhunter.

Do you think it is agile enough for edge work like hinge mortises?

 

[rvieceli]

1400 since you have 1/2 inch bits.

For hinge mortising just make a jig that has  larger flat surface on the top for the router to ride on. Like this"

http://www.finewoodworking.com/item/106798/simple-jig-for-hinges

 

[Greg M]

I don't want to get the 1400 and find that it is either too heavy in some situations, yet not powerful enough in others. I guess I can always pull out the Hitachi if I need more power.

Hard decision!

Buy it, try it, return it within 30 days if it does't fit your needs and then get the 1010.  The 1400 is Festool's best 1 router solution.  It's the jack of all trades Festool router but that doesn't mean that it's the best router for every situation.

 

[VW mick]

I don't want to get the 1400 and find that it is either too heavy in some situations, yet not powerful enough in others. I guess I can always pull out the Hitachi if I need more power.

Hard decision!

Buy it, try it, return it within 30 days if it does't fit your needs and then get the 1010.  The 1400 is Festool's best 1 router solution.  It's the jack of all trades Festool router but that doesn't mean that it's the best router for every situation.

I will second that I really like the OF1400

But I don't think it's an accident on festools part that you can't just have one of anything . You will have a 1010 as well by the end of the year

 

[Brent Taylor]

I have both of these routers (along with 8 others, professional shop), for what you are looking to make and what you already have I would say that the 1010 would be the best match for you and the type of work you want to do. 1400 is a great router, but with edge work it does take some skills and practice. The 1010 is a lot more forgiving .

 

[Birdhunter]

Lots of good advice. I like the idea of getting the 1400 for a general purpose router and a Home Depot edge router for hinges. My gut feel is that you will end up with the 1400 and the 1010.

 

[bigfella]

Will probably end up with a 1010, 1400 and 2200 by the end of the year!  [big grin]

 

[Floorman70]

Will probably end up with a 1010, 1400 and 2200 by the end of the year!  [big grin]

And possibly a divorce too lol ;D

 

[Holmz]

Will probably end up with a 1010, 1400 and 2200 by the end of the year!  [big grin]

I thought that the small deWalt (ex Elu) was router of the year?
Maybe a smaller router with dust collection would take care of the 80% use-cases, and then the big work can be moved outside to where the Hitachi can throw chips and dust to the elements?
Whether the smaller router is FT, or something else is what I am finding interesting.

Dust collection being relatively high on my list, but historically most of my needs can result in the work being moved outside.
If I needed to do work in-situ then dust collection would move up on the priority list.

 

[Mr Heavy]

My strategy was based on W Wizard's experience. He had the full set, plus other non-Festool options and he got rid of the 1400 saying there was unnecessary overlap with all three.

SO I got the 1100 mainly to ride the MFT rail, while hanging on to my big Trends (and a couple of Chiwanese door stops which may become permanent parts of a box jig.)

IF I get another - unlikely -  it would be the 2200.

Having used the 1100, it's my favourite of the bunch. It's light and QUIET and has more than enough power for things I'd want to do with a small/medium sized machine.

The only reason I'd consider the 1400 is if I knew for certain that it would be my only router.

The 2200 really comes into its own mounted in the CMS where I'd say that for "ordinary, non-fancy-joinery tasks it's as good as my Trend/Incra rig and overall, a fraction of the size with portability to boot. The CMS is  obviously designed to take the 2200 whereas fitting the 1400 into it is a sort of elegant bodge. Putting the 1100 in the table would be an even worse choice from what I have seen, but for stand-alone work or cutting housings (dados) with the MFT it's peerless.

It's a tough call but I'd say if you have an MFT now and your long term plan is to also go table-mounted, get the 1100 now and deal with the bits as-and-when you have to, just as you'd deal with the table situation when you have to - or build a Hitachi-based table soon.

Just my thunk on the matter, coloured by having seen the 100, 1400 and 2200 in action c/w the Trends and Elu. All good machines, really.

 

[Acrobat]

Hi Big Fella
Since you say you're keeping the big router you have and of course all the 1/2 shank bits, then go the 1010. It's light and easy to use.
If however you're gonna give that big router a toss out, you'll need to have a router capable of using the 1/2 shank bits so go the 1400 for all-round use.
Goes well in the CMS table too from what I've seen.

I'm in the same boat kind-of, my old big heavy Triton router in my router table is failing, and I'm torn between replacing it with either the Festool 2200 or the 1400 as I already have the 1010 for small hand use stuff.. Cost is prohibitive and I'm concerned if I get the 2200 is it too big and unwieldy for manual handling out of the table when I may need to use it occasionally instead of the 1010?.

 

[Holmz]

The 1010 looks so good I am starting to think about getting one. Mostly for the 32-mm hole kit and that sort of stuff.

For a big one there are more options, and some are quite expensive (LO 65, Scheer, etc).
The Virutex FR317s is also interesting.

I can see some sense in having a small and a large one.

Big Fella - I'll give $100 for the Hitachi.

 

[bigfella]

I appreciate all the feedback.

I am leaning towards the 1010. It is over A$240 cheaper than the 1400 so I will put the "savings" to good use an buy some new bits and maybe a systainer to store them!  [big grin]

I will keep my Hitachi for any grunt work that can be done outside (like fence posts, etc).

Any must have accessories that I should buy for the 1010?

 

[peter halle]

Assuming you already have a track saw I would suggest the guide rail adaptor.  The edge guide also.

Peter

 

[SittingElf]

Depending on whether it's available in your location, the 10-bit Festool Router set is AWESOME!  Expensive, but AWESOME! [big grin]
(Pretty good savings over individual purchase, and these are the most common used bits, all 8mm shanks)

[attachimg=1]

Cheers,

Frank

 

[Stone Message]

I absolutely agree with Frank about the Festool 8mm shanked cutter set - it is a very useful group of profiles, very high quality and nicely presented.

Peter