OF1400 or 1010

[suds]

Well we went to the Festool dealer and played with both.  He felt that the lightness of the 1010 was better for him and liked the overall size.  However, he liked features that the 1400 has but since he's a beginning woodworker he didn't know if he would ever really "need" the features of the 1400 over the 1010.  He felt he'd use the 1010 more because it was more agile for him.

 

[regdor1999]

UPDATE:  I measured them...

Lee Valley 8mm shank bits:  7.99 mm,  0.314 inches  (any inaccuracy is likely me, using the micrometer quickly during lunch)
Whiteside 5/16" (inch) bits:  7.93 mm, 0.312 inches

The Whiteside bits I bought are an up-spiral RU3100 and down-spiral RD3100, from Holbren.com .  Lee Valley also has a Onsrud 5/16" spiral bit for a few bucks more, and I think that is made in the USA as well.  I didn't see any 8mm shank spiral bits, so I went with the 5/16 inch instead.  Plus I really like Whiteside bits...

The 5/16 inch shank bits will fit fine in the of1010, and the new availability of the 8mm shank bits from LV pushed me over the edge to select the 1010 router instead of the 1400.  I also have a router table with a Triton 2.25 hp router in it and that's what I would use for dangerous or heavy duty work with the 1/2" bits I have.

 

[Jmaichel]

Do you know when Lee Valley will start selling the 8mm bits. I would really like to see their selection before I decide on a router.

James

 

[regdor1999]

J,

They are selling them now, but the website hasn't been updated to show them yet.  They are in the stores and warehouses, though. 

Search for Rob Lee's (the "Lee" in Lee Valley) here and then send him a message.  Basically all the basic straight (inches and mm), chamfer, roundover, slot, dovetail, bearing flush trim and template bits, rabbeting, etc.  You won't find the elaborate ogee and other special shapes, at least not yet.  There are over 80 different bits to start.

 

[B_Swanson]

I picked-up a 1010 a few days ago after going back and forth quite a bit.  Long term I will have a router table for the heavy duty routing applications, so the 1010 became the obvious choice.  The 1400 had some nice features that made the decision a little harder (ratcheting collet, more convenient base /accessory swapping abilities), but it came down to the combination of comfort/size and capabilities for me.  After routing some dadoes in MDF on the MFT3 using a CT26 for dust collection to get familiar with the setup, you can color me impressed.

Brad