OF1400 Router - Exceptional quality cut

[Cannuck]

OK...credit where it is due.  I have to say now that the OF1400 is the best router I've used.  I will qualify this by saying that it is the only Festool router I've used.

After my initial purchase of a Domino and MFT, I became sold on the quality of the Festool tools, and the overall System approach.  I ended up buying the OF1400 router (despite already having 3 other routers) on the basis that I was going to get the LR32 system, and that I could use it for cutting dados, etc... in conjunction with the guide rails and guide stop.

Apart from a few nice features, such as ratchet collet and improved dust collection, I never really thought that the Festool router would be leaps and bounds better than the other routers that I had.  Frankly, I had no expectations that the router would have a better cut quality that any other router that I had in my arsenal.  I have a rather expensive PC router kit that had been my mainstay - up to now.

I had only used the OF1400 to cut dados until this past weekend.  I had seen improved productivity and repeatability using the router to cut dados in conjunction with my MFT guide rail.  I had never used it for edging, to cut profiles.

I hate setting up routers (which is why I now have 4), so I usually reserve one for particular task.  Well my others were setup for other tasks, so I reverted to the OF1400 to cut a couple of ogee profiles for a window seat.  All I can say is WOW!

I can't really quantify the difference, but it was there.  The quality of the cut was just that much better with the same router bit that I'd used many times before.  I was shocked.  I always imagined that the cut quality was mostly about the bit.  This was just smoother, and with less chatter and tear-out than what I'd experienced before - and I was working with poplar of all things (not exactly the best wood to work with).  It was virtually stain-ready after a first pass, and a second light pass.

I suspect that the bearing design of the OF1400 must have something to do with the quality difference, or maybe the dust collection helps.  Only speculating.

All I can say is that my router collection is on the path of cyclical replacement now - soon to be mostly Festool.  The PC has found a permanent home in my router table.

 

[nickao]

I really like the router to, but I find the cutter is the weak link in most routers and with a fresh new cutter in my DeWalt or Porter Cable(usually Amana, Whiteside or CMT) I see no difference in the quality of cuts at all. The OF has a nice feel I'll give you that.

Nickao

 

[extiger]

My OF 1400 router sits new and unused in its Systainer. Waiting since April for the arrival of my MFT/3 workbench.  My intent is use it mainly for Dados (with the Guide Stop and Rail). But there's no reason why I can't use if for all my hand routing applications if it's as good as you say. The dust collection ability is what really attracted me to the tool.

Gary Curtis
Northern Calif.

 

[nickao]

What the heck is taking so long on your table, that's aggravating!

 

[extiger]

I go real slow, courtesy of retirement. After 40 years in two industries reminiscent of a Waring Blender set to the Frappe speed, I take things slow. My shop (new constructed house and work room) is in its final stage of completion. Getting my last two big machines - a jointer and a planer - this month.

Hell, I already have the entire Lee Valley category in inventory. This stuff takes a while to evaluate, to acquire and to put in place. I am making sawdust. Just trimmed the ends off a 2" x 7' solid Euro Beech laminated workbench top. This is for hand woodworking and assembly use.
I knew full well that my MFT/3 might serve temporary duty until Big Bench is built .... and then end up on Craigslist.

To learn furniture making (on my own) I built 20 running feet of wall benches just like furniture. Cut 32 sliding dovetails in 4x4s and 2x6s for the legs and aprons in order to practice. Got a sliding table saw to mill down the lumber. Now I'm down to the fine points. Lots of Dados for the bench shelves. Rabbets and Dados in 10 drawers. I am producing sawdust  --- at last. Photos of shop to follow. I promise.

Gary

 

[Dan Clermont]

I really like my OF 1400 as well and wouldn't trade it for the world. I was even more impressed with the OF 2200 and hope someday some of the features like the dust shroud, extra turret stop for cleaning up the cut, and the height locking system make it over to the OF 1400 version 2.

Can't see how the cut with the router bit would be dignificantly better unless your other routers have allot of runout which is possible.

Dan Clermont

 

[paul_david_thomas]

Spot on... I purchased the OF1400 due to it's use with the guide rail & dust extraction - other than this, I equally had no expectations of it. Your right, how different can it be ??

Well... I've just ebay'ed my Dewalt 625 (I think) 2,000W router I've had for 4 years. The difference ? The world.

1. Dust extraction - amazing... Except when routing all the way through a material off the edge of the MFT/3 - i.e. rounding a corner of sheet material via a template.
2. Tool Change - very easy & quick. The Dewalt was a pain to use, esp. change the collet's. This, I can chuck bits and collets in and out really easy and quick.
3. Balance - sure it does not weight a couple of bricks, but it sure packs a punch.
4. Cut - Well, I know what you mean. I can't quantify it... But with the same bits I don't scorch wood AT all. and the start/stop is very smooth. Shame it's not got a stop break like the OF2200 ?!
5. Plugit & Dust... Just swap the tools over
6. Bush change - simple - no screws

Don't get me wrong I'm sure the Dewalt has a place as it's a powerful beast. But I just got ?169 ($296) for a 4 year old bit of kit, so that made the purchase easier.

As it's so much easier to use, I will use it more and be more "elaborate" with the things I do - or at least round more edges off

 

[RogerF]

I second all the good points made so far and a add a few more. It was the OF 1400 that began my slide down the slippery slope.
A year ago I was working on a job site using a PC 890 with the plunge base to hog out some recesses in the ends  of some 8/4 Teak stair treads. I was never enamored of the plunge base on that router as it was sticky, the lever poorly placed so it interfered with the casting and the bit height changed the very moment you locked it. Sometimes I would push too hard to overcome the stickiness and move the depth setting bar. Please believe me when I tell you I have enough experience to know the difference between an indelicate user and an inelegant design. ( Months later a Porter Cable rep admitted to this and said he was sorry that base was ever put out, that the they now use a Dewalt base. Yeah, well, too late, they lost me to Festool)
I threw up my hands and drove down to Anderson Plywood in L.A. where a Festool rep was on hand to demonstrate the features and benefits of the OF 1400.
+When you lock the plunge depth a cable connects two clamps, one on each stanchion. This stabilizes the motor and the business end far better than any other design.
+Internal bearing design has a lot to do with cutter smoothness.
+Fast set up out of the systainer. Ratcheting collet- Nice! Edge guide and vacuum attached without tools very quickly as are guide bushing plates.
+Micro depth adjustment of 0.1mm. I have NEEDED that to fine tune a rabbet to fit in a slot. That's small. My digital caliper can't render that as a fraction of an inch. It can measure 1/128"
You have to account for the spring loaded turret stop when measuring depth. That's a pity but I imagine the price one has to pay to have it indented and therefore stationary while cutting.
I use the chip catcher when edge routing using templates and could use a deeper one for long router bits.
It's been said before but I'll repeat for emphasis, the dust collection is extraordinary. On one project, I have used my OF1400 and CT33 with the LR32 Sys to cut more than 2,000 1/2" holes in solid cherry with perfect precision. Here's the best part: After I put my tools away I could go out for dinner without changing clothes. No dust.
I'll keep my two Porter Cable routers with their fixed bases to use as a pair with my Omni Jig. But thanks to that worthless plunge base,  my introduction to the OF1400 and the excellent, polite and useful advice from members of FOG, I am the happy and dust free owner of a CT33, TS55, MFT3, Domino (don't get me started on that! - my dream horizontal mortiser that I always wanted but no one would invent for me), RTS 400, LR32, the tool caddy systainer, a sortainer and various others for sandpaper and couple of excellent Bosch tools and 5 rails.

 

[nickao]

Roger I know exactly what you are talking about on that PC. They changed it to the DeWalt set up and it is much better. The DeWalt setup is just as dustless as the Festool. I was using the router an hour ago and with the CT33 the plunge router sucked 100% of the dust.

That PC base was not very good, I agree wholeheartedly, but the router itself had nice power and very little vibration. No question the Festool is better, but I think I paid almost 50% of what I paid for the Festool.

Nickao

 

[RogerF]

Nickao,
Glad to hear that the DeWalt Base has good dust pick up too and yours is an opinion that I have learned to respect.
Despite costing twice as much I see you bought an OF1400 too. For me, the benefits of quick set up, tool-less attachments, compatibility with guide rails and plug-it cords as well as the systainer for transport justify the expense. At least I can throw away the bottom half of the PC plastic container that held the plunge base. It was always cumbersome and awkward to close.
I have high hopes for PC. I think they will distinguish themselves as brand under the Black and Decker umbrella by concentrating on the high end tool market.

 

[rnt80]

I like the dust collection on the Dewalt as well.  However, I've found that I'm really limited by the bits that I can use.  The opening on the plunge base is about the size of a PC bushing so most of my round over bits and others of that size will not work.  How big is the opening on the base of the 1400?

 

[nickao]

Well on the stock base yes, but I have so many different bases I lost count. Actually, that DeWalt is not the best router for swinging the big bits anyway and I usually use it for the smaller bits only. Like you said I could always pull out the OF 1400 or my big Milwaukee if the need arises.

Nickao

 

[Pete Pedisich]

I got a OF 1400 a year and a half ago...embarassed to say I just used it for the first time this past weekend!
A career change, then another...life is funny. Well not really funny, but if you don't laugh...

But wow, quiet and smooth! great smooth plunge and excellent dust collection, ergonomics, etc. Across the board greatness.

I already had a DW618 in a Quicklift, and it is a super router. The plunge base is really good, considering the 3-base kit was $259 when I got it, it was an excellent value. The low height body also contibutes to a great 'feel'.
I have one complaint about the DeWalt, the high-pitched sound is annoying. Not as bad as the PC 690, which sounds like a waring blender about 2 inches from your ear, but at work they replaced a few 690's with 890's, and the 890 motor sounds like a Mercedes V-12 engine by comparison. But they soon discovered that the 890 motor gets HOT.

Back to the Festool...it's on my new mortise jig for now, and it's pulling the dust out of the mortise better than my DeWalt ever did. I think maybe the side discharge is more efficient?
Plus I like the handle shape on the Festool much better so far. It felt natural the first time I used it.

Pete