OF1400 router won't align with guide rail adaptor

[Markiee77]

Help! I hope someone can help me.  I'm trying to crosscut a dado with my brand new OF1400 and using the FS 1080 guide rail plus the 1400 guide rail adaptor (492601).  The guide rail and the router are sitting on the same surface.

But it appears that the guide rail is raising the adaptor height up a bit such that the rods tilt down as they near the router.  I'd have to tilt the router up slightly on one side to get them to slide in.  As you can see in the photo, the rods are close to .25" too low at the adaptor end.

I'm stuck.  Can anyone tell me what I'm doing wrong?

Thank you! 
Mark

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

Hi Mark,

The router should be partially riding on the rail at the same height as the guide rail adapter......Not directly on the workpiece.

Here's a picture of what I mean....

Having the router and adapter at the same height, the rods will line up with the adapter correctly.

There is a support foot on the opposite side of the router that you can lower down onto the workpiece that will help to keep the router supported.

[attachimg=1]

 

[peter halle]

sounds like you are aren't using the support foot.  Sometimes it is hard to find in the Sustainer.

Peter

 

[Mike Goetzke]

[member=71903]Markiee77[/member] I recently purchased a slightly used OF1400 and found this video very helpful (around 10:30 they show the guide stop):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?list=PLFGIE_jCN0y7GTs_SndG020YJbDNiN58B&v=F1tCkCkYXT4&feature=emb_logo

Mine came with probably every accessory except the guide stop. I'm pretty sure the support foot comes with this guide stop kit.

Mike

 

[Cheese]

I thought that I previously read that the SUPPORT was no longer supplied with the router...don't take that as gospel, I'm not as sharp as I used to be.  [big grin]  For a 1400 the part number is 10019109...that in itself is a weird part number.

 

[MaineShop]

As said above the router sits with just sort of one side of it on the rail. The little drop foot adjusts down on the other side of the router to give it support over the work piece. I use mine often and it works great.

 

[fraz]

]The router should be partially riding on the rail at the same height as the guide rail adapter......Not directly on the workpiece.

Not a requirement to ride on the rail.  If you use the rail, you need the support foot.

I'm pretty sure the support foot comes with this guide stop kit.

The support foot does indeed come with the guide stop "Includes support foot and knob."
https://www.festoolproducts.com/acc...guides/festool-492601-guide-stop-of-1400.html

@DistinctiveInteriors, you can rout away from, and off of the rail with one of these...
https://www.festoolproducts.com/acc...s/festool-492574-small-bore-base-of-1400.html

I do it all the time and it makes up the height diff exactly.  So much so I don't ever use the support foot because it seems to be more in the way most of the time.

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Sorry to go off track a bit but an issue I read about over and over again and find my 1400 is infected with is the bit not being centered in the guide bushings. Plus I think it was Cheese that showed the bushing holder deflects when side loaded. If I get some free time I think I will make my own base that can center the bit. I have seen a nice video on this but it is pretty straight forward. I had a few minutes today so took a look at the router base. It looks like Festool could have made the bushing adapter have some adjustment. The ring that sets the bushing position has two screws but also has a couple of pins. The pins seem to be what prevents any adjustment.

Mike

Sub base video

 

[hdv]

You could use the base plate LAS-OF 1400 (493233) for this.

 

[Markiee77]

I just want to thank everyone for their replies on my issue. I think the solution might have been purchasing one of the bases that was suggested by a couple of people, but I didn’t have time with a deadline on the project.

I ripped an 8 inch strip to elevate the router so it was level, while routing completely off the guide rail.  I guess the guide rail adaptor wasn’t designed for off the rail routing, as a couple of people pointed out.  My solution was a bit sketchy, but it worked.  Using the support foot would have had the router completely in the air resting on the foot and the guide bars and with a dado at 90 degrees in the middle of the routing path, I was afraid the support foot would get caught.  My strip acted as a bridge across the dado which made it work.  Hope that all makes sense.

Anyway, thank you!  You guys are all awesome!!

Mark

 

[Coen]

You could use the base plate LAS-OF 1400 (493233) for this.

Wait what? Isn't that thing way fatter than the ~5mm lift you need when using the guiderail adapter?

For the OF 2200 they sell an separate baseplate with this offset on half the plate. #494681

I've complained for years that they don't make the same for the OF 1010 and the OF1400. The support foot is garbage compared to that plate for the 2200.

 

[hdv]

My apologies. You are correct. That base is too thick indeed. I thought I remembered I had used it in a similar situation. It seems I remembered wrong.

 

[SGreenberg]

I'm just trying this out too, seeing how essential the foot is. It works but it's not a great design. Seems like you'd want a setup shim to make sure the router is exactly parallel to the piece you're cutting. Also the foot doesn't always stay where you put it, you have to keep retightening it. And it seems to make everything less stable, since the bottom plate is not sitting in on the work. You also have to calculate in the extra depth for whatever you're routing.

Or am I missing something?

 

[guybo]

Hi, along time ago craig harimon made one ,so did I, works well. guy[attachimg=1]

 

[SGreenberg]

Thanks, that's a great idea. I searched for the specs on that sled but couldn't find them. I can figure it out but if anyone has done that already I'd appreciate the info.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I guess I'm wondering why you would want to be so far from the rail? Seems like the further you are cutting away from the actual mounting point would increase the leverage against it.
I always set the router as close as practical to the rail, letting as much of the base make contact as I can, depending upon bit diameter. I do use the adjustable foot, but I am thinking that I need to make something a little larger. The contact is pretty small.

 

[guybo]

Hi, slides where ever you like it.[attachimg=1] just a larger foot. guy

 

[Coen]

Doesn't slide underneath so can't be used on narrow stock.