I'm trying to help a buddy who likes my Festool router and is just getting going with his woodworking adventure. What would everyone recommend, the OF1400 or the 1010. He's just going to be mainly do basic hobby woodworking and I doubt he'll ever tackle anything furniture wise. Mostly edge routing, dados etc. He just bought a small house with a big garage so I think most of his work will be doing shop cabinet/bookcase type of stuff. He loves the "No dust" feature of the Festool and the guide rail. Maybe even another brand that could be hooked to the vacuum/rail??
OF1400 or 1010
- Thread starter suds
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i have everything from 700 to 2200. the 1400 is generally considered the 'all around' router.
a clear decision point is 1/2-in shank bits... if he wants/needs/should-use 1/2 bits for his projects, then the 1400. this may come into play with the bookcase datos that you mention.
a clear decision point is 1/2-in shank bits... if he wants/needs/should-use 1/2 bits for his projects, then the 1400. this may come into play with the bookcase datos that you mention.
I love the feel and ease of use on my 1010 but I also have a larger Freud in my router table that I can use for 1/2" shanks and panel bits if needed.
Really for general hobby stuff, not making raised panel doors using large diameter bits or something like that, the 1010 is a very good router. If he's just doing edge profiles, dados, dovetails and sign making, the 1010 excels at those areas and with the right attachments can do edgebanding and inlay work quite well by all accounts (I don't do inlays yet but all the right features are there from what I can see...)
If he thinks he will ever do raised panels or anything requiring really large profile bits, the 1400 is the way to go, otherwise, the 1010 is more controllable and user friendly for a hobbiest IMHO...
-Jim
Really for general hobby stuff, not making raised panel doors using large diameter bits or something like that, the 1010 is a very good router. If he's just doing edge profiles, dados, dovetails and sign making, the 1010 excels at those areas and with the right attachments can do edgebanding and inlay work quite well by all accounts (I don't do inlays yet but all the right features are there from what I can see...)
If he thinks he will ever do raised panels or anything requiring really large profile bits, the 1400 is the way to go, otherwise, the 1010 is more controllable and user friendly for a hobbiest IMHO...
-Jim
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hhh, made a great point about the disadvantage the OF 1010 has when it comes to not being compatible with 1/2" bits. Additionally the overall fit and finish of the 1400 is a bit more top notch than the 1010. It's a newer tool with better dust collection and a bit better ease of use and overall capabilities really make it worth the cash over the 1010.
suds said:
I'm doing dados for 3/4" cabinet grade maple face ply right now, 1010 works fine with 1/4" shank bits. Remember for dados and rabbets in ply we are only talking about 1/4" deep so really 1/2" or even 8mm shank isn't necessary. Just get a good quality 1/4" and go to town
It's only for high torque operations where the 1/2" bits are needed, if you are doing heavy stock removal like single pass edge profiling 6/4 hickory or single pass deep grooves in mahogany and wide bits like panel bits that the 1400 is going to really be a help... (though I'd do that in a table, might work with a track though). The 1010 just isn't for that sort of routing, it can do heavy stock removal but it'll take multiple passes which can take some time.
A lot of folks are going to recommend the 1400 and it's not a bad choice by any means but the 1010 makes a great first router and he may never grow out of it. The 1400 was less controllable, more grunty and more intimidating.The power and 1/2" shank may be a good selling point for many. I chose control and ease of use over power.
See if he can get them both in hand to try, I don't think there's a really bad choice in any of the Festool routers and the normal disclaimer applies here, he can try either for 30 days and trade in if he wants the other so there's not really a downside to trying them out I guess if he's got a dealer nearby...
-Jim
MrToolJunkie
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Another option to consider is a 1010 and 2200 - this gives you all capabilities - small routing and large routing and all shank sizes. I think that this is the perfect combination of routers.
Scot
Scot
Well, it was a job just getting him to look at the expense of the Festool, but when he saw the dust capability that seemed to be what moved him to looking at the green. Sine he's a little old in the tooth like me, I would imagine that this may be hisone and only router purchase.
Kev
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Get the tool that does the job he wants today. An OF 1010 will be smaller, lighter, easier to use. The OF 1400 is noticeably bigger and less nimble - though offers much broader application.
Festools retain value, so your friend would be able to switch down te track from a OF 1010 or (more likely) add something to the stable - possibly something that gets turned upside down in a table.
Festools retain value, so your friend would be able to switch down te track from a OF 1010 or (more likely) add something to the stable - possibly something that gets turned upside down in a table.
ccarrolladams
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Suds, you did not mention your friend's experience level woodworking, especially with routers. This is a factor I discuss with everyone seeking my advice.
I bought my first electric router in 1946. At the time I bought my first Festools in 2006 I owned 8 routers of other brands, only one of which had a plunge base. As my first Festool router I selected the venerable OF1010, because I wanted that for drilling LR32 holes. Back then the OF1400 was not available and the OF2200 does not attach to the LR32 rail device.
Subsequently I have added many OF1010 to my tools, as well as 2 OF2200 and several MFK700. I only own one OF1400.
For me the OF1400 is Festools sincere effort to produce a very versatile router, which means there had to be design compromises. I am delighted to find that because the OF2200 is massive and runs so smoothly, for me it handles hand operated as easily as does an OF1010. For most of the tasks I perform using a hand-operated router the OF1010 has more than enough power.
Personally I make a whole lot of raised panel doors, for which I have been using router tables with conventional routers for decades. Consequently I own a comprehensive collection of 1/2" shank panel raising sets. Many of those go back to before the OF1400 was available in the USA. What I discovered after buying my OF1400 is that very few of my panel raising bits are small enough to fit on the OF1400. That router can be attached to the Festool LR32 "Holy Rail" device, but doing so is a PIA compared to using an OF1010.
Bottom line of my advice is to buy an OF1400 only if it will be your only router. I suggest the OF1010 as a first Festool router. BTW, my experience is that for most tasks the OF1010 collects dust and chips as well or better than does the OF1400. Perhaps this is because I have thousands of hours of experience with the OF1010 and probably less than 100 hours with the OF1400. Trust me, in the real world by following the advice contained in OF1010 supplemental manuals, you will be thrilled by the OF1010 dust collection.
I bought my first electric router in 1946. At the time I bought my first Festools in 2006 I owned 8 routers of other brands, only one of which had a plunge base. As my first Festool router I selected the venerable OF1010, because I wanted that for drilling LR32 holes. Back then the OF1400 was not available and the OF2200 does not attach to the LR32 rail device.
Subsequently I have added many OF1010 to my tools, as well as 2 OF2200 and several MFK700. I only own one OF1400.
For me the OF1400 is Festools sincere effort to produce a very versatile router, which means there had to be design compromises. I am delighted to find that because the OF2200 is massive and runs so smoothly, for me it handles hand operated as easily as does an OF1010. For most of the tasks I perform using a hand-operated router the OF1010 has more than enough power.
Personally I make a whole lot of raised panel doors, for which I have been using router tables with conventional routers for decades. Consequently I own a comprehensive collection of 1/2" shank panel raising sets. Many of those go back to before the OF1400 was available in the USA. What I discovered after buying my OF1400 is that very few of my panel raising bits are small enough to fit on the OF1400. That router can be attached to the Festool LR32 "Holy Rail" device, but doing so is a PIA compared to using an OF1010.
Bottom line of my advice is to buy an OF1400 only if it will be your only router. I suggest the OF1010 as a first Festool router. BTW, my experience is that for most tasks the OF1010 collects dust and chips as well or better than does the OF1400. Perhaps this is because I have thousands of hours of experience with the OF1010 and probably less than 100 hours with the OF1400. Trust me, in the real world by following the advice contained in OF1010 supplemental manuals, you will be thrilled by the OF1010 dust collection.
He's pretty new to woodworking but has had various power tools. He's been more on the mechanical side of the fence so he's not completely new to tools. I showed him my 1400 and having never owned a smaller router I really couldn't tell him my experience with a smaller router. I do know he wants to do a lot of inlay type work in addition to building shop cabinets. Would the 1010 or 1400 be best for inlay?n
ccarrolladams
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suds said:
Suds, if there is any way that your buddy could use your OF1400 when that much power is needed, then I suggest he buy an OF1010 as his first router.
Inlay is not my personal bliss, but I have a lot of friends who really are into inlay. Some use other brands of light-weight standard routers, but more use the OF1010. Here in the USA there is a wide range of bit choices with 1/4" shanks. I do not remember ever seeing an inlay bit with a larger shank.
All the bits needed for rabbets and dadoes in plywood are available with 1/4" shanks and do not need more than 1000 watts of power.
Your friend should visit FOG and read the many posts about the two-pass approach to making dadoes which fit appropriately despite variations in plywood thickness. Trust me, att of that can be done very well with 1/4" shank bits and some practice.
Bottom line is that effectively, safely and efficiently using a router takes practice to gain confidence, and sharp bits!
I was just in this situation myself. i have wanted to buy my first festool for a while. So i decided that i "needed" a router. Then which one, i ended up ordering an OF1010 and am quite confident in my decision. Seems to be very nice to use and i can so that LR32 thing, which i am very excited about. It will do all that i want it to do for now(in a smaller more compact easier to manouver unit) and when i need bigger 1/2" bit it seems as though most people with both the OF1400 and OF2200 recommend the OF2200 as their first choice anyway.
score0matic
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I totally agree with Carroll
Also if he gets a 1010 you can play with it too [wink]
Also if he gets a 1010 you can play with it too [wink]
hockey_magnet
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Same with me, I agonized over this for a while but the 1010 came out on top. My first router in many years. If I need a 1/2 inch capacity with a lot of power occasionally, I will likely get something much cheaper than the 2200 since it will get very little use whereas the 1010 will get used a lot.
jlyons said:
mouppe
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Sorry to say but I disagree. For inlay work visibility is paramount and the 700 is terrible for visibility. I use my 1400 for inlay work- I like the stability it gives me especially with the wide base. Others prefer the 1010 I don't think you can go wrong with either. I have a lot of 1/2" bits too so it's 1400 all the way for me.
