OFK 500, OFK 700, MFK 700 ???

[BarryL]

I have recently purchased the MFK 700.  I am deciding if I want to keep it.  I went to the IPT site for the trimmer / router.  I am trying to figure out if this router will do all that the OFK's will do?  They call the OFKs laminate trimmers....they call the MFK an edge trimmer.  Are they made for different reasons? 

One thing I liked that I saw on the site was the trenching they did on panels...made me think it could be used in conjunction with the sommerfeld tounge and groove approach to cabinetmaking...use the MFK to make the grooves in panels rather than running on the router table...also leaving the router table set up for the tongues..

Any input on the trimmer / router?  I could add 300.00 to it and get that beast OF2200 to add to my arsenal...any good reasons to keep the MFK?

Barry

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I have recently purchased the MFK 700.  I am deciding if I want to keep it.  I went to the IPT site for the trimmer / router.  I am trying to figure out if this router will do all that the OFK's will do?  They call the OFKs laminate trimmers....they call the MFK an edge trimmer.  Are they made for different reasons? 

FOG member Anthony, who is a Festool dealer in Australia, has a comparison of the OFK700 (not available in North America) and the newer but similiar MFK700 on the Australian ubeut Woodworking Forum.. The two share a lot of parts and accessories.

Forrest

 

[monte]

I have recently purchased the MFK 700.  I am deciding if I want to keep it.  I went to the IPT site for the trimmer / router.  I am trying to figure out if this router will do all that the OFK's will do?  They call the OFKs laminate trimmers....they call the MFK an edge trimmer.  Are they made for different reasons? 

FOG member Anthony, who is a Festool dealer in Australia, has a comparison of the OFK700 (not available in North America) and the newer but similar MFK700 on the Australian ubeut Woodworking Forum.. The two share a lot of parts and accessories.

Forrest

after having read the above thread, I thought I'd copy out what Forest was was referring to above.
....it's very interesting and I was wondering if the OFK parts he is referring to below would be available stateside?
Particularly the "ski foot" Anthony is talking about.
....and for those that are using the MFK 700, what "would" you think of this attachment for curves?

this is an excerpt of Anthony's review.......


I spent a bit of time with the OFK today and had a chance to speak with some Festool reps about the differences between the two models.

I will start with a simplified description of the key difference between the two routers, then go onto the minor functional differences. And finally, a simplified selection guide.

Simple explanation of key differences:

The OFK700 comes with a single table that can positioned for horizontal routing, then repositioned for vertical routing - this table is 1.5 degrees. An optional table is available providing for 0 degree horizontal or vertical routing.

The MFK700 comes with two tables, one for horizontal routing, and another for vertical routing. Both tables are 0 degrees. An optional table is available providing for 1.5 degree horizontal routing.

Apart from the minor functional differences (below), the OFK and MFK are generally designed to perform the same functions, but some users will like the single table arrangement of the OFK and some users will prefer the two table arrangement of the MFK. It's nice to have this level of choice but it can be mean you need to spend a little more time making your purchasing decision. And spend a little time thinking over the minor differences mentioned below and which would best suit your needs. So what are these other differences....

More functional differences:

In addition to a bearing guide, the OFK700 also has a 'ski' foot. Useful for particle board which when tracked with a guide bearing directly transfers the particle board imperfections to the trimmed edge. The ski foot smooths out the imperfections so they are not reproduced on the edge. Particle board edge is an example requiring the ski foot over the bearing guide, but any textured/rippled/dimpled edging is also a time where the ski foot proves useful.

The MFK700 comes with a parallel side fence just like a regular workshop router. This fence can also be used to avoid problems with edge roughness using the bearing, but I am not sure it would be effective like the OFK700's ski foot arrangement on curves. I have not tried this yet. Most importantly, the parallel side fence make this trimmer more of a regular router.

My thoughts which may help making a selection between the OFK700 and the MFK700 a bit easier:

If laminate/edge trimming is the highest priority - it's what you do all the time - the OFK700 is the way to go.

If you do laminate/edge trimming but are also looking for a small easily managed router for round over, chamfering, routing trenches, etc. The MFK700 is probably better suited to your needs.

Other comments:

The MFK700 is not a direct replacement of the OFK700 - so both available.
__________________
Regards,
Anthony

 

[BarryL]

Thank you for pointing to this site Forest.  One thing to clear up....I believe the MFK kit does include the 1.5 degree base and the 0 degree is the optional base.  I guess I am trying to determine for myself if this router deos enough for me to justify the cost, over that of what a Bosch or PC laminate router can do.  One obvious thing to me is dust collection.  I do like the wide base and extra handle for guiding the router...and like I mentioned...I do like that the router can come in handy for trenching say a 1/4 by 1/4 trench for t & g application...

 

[woodshopdemos]

I have recently purchased the MFK 700.  I am deciding if I want to keep it.  I went to the IPT site for the trimmer / router.  I am trying to figure out if this router will do all that the OFK's will do?  They call the OFKs laminate trimmers....they call the MFK an edge trimmer.  Are they made for different reasons? 

One thing I liked that I saw on the site was the trenching they did on panels...made me think it could be used in conjunction with the sommerfeld tounge and groove approach to cabinetmaking...use the MFK to make the grooves in panels rather than running on the router table...also leaving the router table set up for the tongues..

Any input on the trimmer / router?  I could add 300.00 to it and get that beast OF2200 to add to my arsenal...any good reasons to keep the MFK?

Barry

Barry, I am a little reluctant to enter this discussion because I have no direct comparison to support my feelings. That said, in the tongue and groove set, the groove bit is sideways cutting as a slot cutter where as what you are intending is a dado or trenching cut. In my estimation, the latter is always a more difficult cut for the cutter. It will heat up faster, clog with sawdust faster and maybe even give a less polished cut. The other thing is that they are matched bits. Once you set the tongue cutter, the groove bit is also set. I have used the tongue and groove set of CMT's when Marc S. was still promoting those and I used it a lot. His method of cabinet construction is quite useful.

 

[BarryL]

John

Yes I agree...I like the CMT set...and that is good info for me to know (about the bit heating up faster doing the trenching cut).  In the interactice product tour, they show the MFK doing the trenching cut and that was the first thing that popped into my mind was the possibility of using it for a quick way to cut the groove with an edge guide.  It does kind of defeat the purpose of the CMT set and being matched though as you point out.  I think I am just trying to find "other things" that the MFK can be used for so that I can feel better about keeping it....I have not even turned it on yet.

I am thinking I may have been hasty in this tool purchase...I am sure it is a dandy for it's intended purpose but if it shines primarily in laminate trimming, I may want to think about spending the money on other things as I continue to set up shop.  I know the MFK can do other things like the trenching...roundovers, chamfers and such...but I also have an OF1400 which is a little bigger but can do some of the things the MFK can do.  I just keep leaning towards coming back to this particular tool purchase....unless someone can talk me out of it? 

 

[woodshopdemos]

Barry,
  Pardon the late reply. No, I think the MFK700 is way more than a trim router. I look at it at the small router in Festool;s router arsenal. It can do a whole lot of things including trenching. My answer was strictly in response to it vs the slot cutting bit as part of the Sommerfeld cab making method.

 

[Jerry Work]

Hi Barry,

I have followed your questioning your purchase of the 700 with some interest.  Certainly it is not the be all to end all for everyone, but if you build furniture it will quickly become one of your favorite routers.  I use five different Festool routers plus a PC monster in a table and a beater Bosch so have no shortage of routers to select from.  I am not trying to "sell" anyone on the 700, it is just that I am finding the 700 in my hands far more often these days than any of the others.  The power is more than adequate for spinning any bit that will fit through the hole in the base and its light weight and small form factor make it easy for me to use and control one handed.

As I point out in the short tutorial on my web site (www.jerrywork.com) on constructing a guide rail stop for the 700 and how easy it is to attach to the side of a MFT or MFT3 as a horizontal router, it excels at cutting both the male and the female for the sliding dovetail joints that I use to assemble many of my cabinet type pieces.  I also find it perfect for inlet routing of things like flat hinge mortises, bed rail connectors, reinforcing plates, Soss hinge mortises and all kinds of thin strip wood-on-wood inlays. 

The special chamfer bit made for the 700 that cuts both the chamfer and cleans the vertical guided by a wide bearing is the fastest and cleanest method I know of for doing all the edge chamfers needed for designs like arts and crafts style furniture.  It is the first router/bit combination that I have found that is faster and easier to use above the table than an in-table mounted router for this task.  And, there is no tear out even with woods that are notorious for chipping and splintering.  Yes, that bit can be used with any router, it is just the small, light weight 700 is so much easier for me to control than any of the larger routers.  The 1010 comes close, but the 700 gets the nod in my studio.

I like to make my rail and stile components with 10 x 10mm tongues and grooves and a flat, Shaker style profile with chamfored edges.  To make them faster and easier to assemble, I also cut a Domino M&T centered on the tongues and grooves anywhere a rail and stile meet.  With the 700 I find it faster and easier to dry fit and use the 700 to chamfer all the edges with the components in place than to mark where they will fit and then run them all through a table mounted bit stopping at all the points of intersection.  I have been experimenting using the 700 with a shop built edge centering fixture to plow the 10 x 10mm grooves but it is too early to make the call for this application as I have not yet perfected the method of holding workpieces of different widths.  But, it does look promising and I think will turn out to be a winner in this application as well, especially if I find I can consistently use the multi-wing chamfering bit to cut a shallow anti-chip out groove before doing the full 10mm depth groove.

This is far from an exhaustive list, but if you do any of these things then I think you will find the 700 very much to your liking.  But, only you can make the value-benefit-cost trade off decision.  I will be posting several much more exhaustive tutorials on my web site and perhaps even doing a "Getting the most...." style manual over the next several weeks.  Hope this helps.

Jerry

John

Yes I agree...I like the CMT set...and that is good info for me to know (about the bit heating up faster doing the trenching cut).  In the interactice product tour, they show the MFK doing the trenching cut and that was the first thing that popped into my mind was the possibility of using it for a quick way to cut the groove with an edge guide.  It does kind of defeat the purpose of the CMT set and being matched though as you point out.   I think I am just trying to find "other things" that the MFK can be used for so that I can feel better about keeping it....I have not even turned it on yet.

I am thinking I may have been hasty in this tool purchase...I am sure it is a dandy for it's intended purpose but if it shines primarily in laminate trimming, I may want to think about spending the money on other things as I continue to set up shop.  I know the MFK can do other things like the trenching...roundovers, chamfers and such...but I also have an OF1400 which is a little bigger but can do some of the things the MFK can do.  I just keep leaning towards coming back to this particular tool purchase....unless someone can talk me out of it? 

 

[wcndave]

I know this thread is rather old, however I think the answer to the question might have changed.

I wanted to get an OFK 700, typed into Axminster and clicked purchase.

However it seems that I actually purchased the MFK.  Had a look to see what's different and couldn't see much.

- Both come with a 0 degree and 0.5 degree table.
- One has a fence, and the other has the spring "ski" foot.
- Both about the same price, although I can't find the OFK at any of my usual purchase points.

The quide mechanism for the OFK looks like it might be more meaty in difference than just the ski-foot.

Is the OFK really the one to go for for trimming? Or are they basically now the same bar that one small difference?  IE is the guide mechanism for trimming on the MFK top notch assuming you're not following a rough chipboard edge?

 

[wcndave]

Anyone?

I have a few routers, and this will be 99% focused at edge trimming, so I want to get the best thing for the money.

Thanks

Dave

 

[Bohdan]

Anyone?

I have a few routers, and this will be 99% focused at edge trimming, so I want to get the best thing for the money.

Thanks

Dave

The OFK700 and MFK700 are both the same router with different bases. Choose the base that suits you work best and if not satisfied then get the other base. I think that there are actually three or four bases with the OFK being designed to run against rough material like chipboard.

 

[wcndave]

Thanks, they both seem to come with 2 bases in the UK, so I was wondering if it was simply a case of edge guide vs ski-foot attachment and that was it.  If the bases are the same too, then I guess it doesn't matter for what I want.

Cheers

 

[Bohdan]

Thanks, they both seem to come with 2 bases in the UK, so I was wondering if it was simply a case of edge guide vs ski-foot attachment and that was it.  If the bases are the same too, then I guess it doesn't matter for what I want.

Cheers

I think that the bases are different (Horizontal or vertical with different trim angles) but I agree the main difference is the foot.