OFK500 - not available in UK and Ireland ?

kifi

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The Festool catalog lists the OFK500 as not available in the UK or Ireland. Why is this?
 
I was wondering why Festool didn't make any palm router... but wow... I need this!
 
JINRO said:
I was wondering why Festool didn't make any palm router... but wow... I need this!

The 240v thing would be an issue in the US. Most likely needing a transformer, adding about $200 to the cost?
 
It's a nice looking unit, but the cutter and spindle design means you'll be paying exponentially more for cutters for no perceivable benefit!

Unless you got a carton of cutters to suit it off the back of a truck, I really don't think it comes even somewhat close in value to a bog standard Makita trimmer?
 
luvmytoolz said:
It's a nice looking unit, but the cutter and spindle design means you'll be paying exponentially more for cutters for no perceivable benefit!

Unless you got a carton of cutters to suit it off the back of a truck, I really don't think it comes even somewhat close in value to a bog standard Makita trimmer?

Yeah, because of the versatility difference, the MFK700 is a much better value, plus the vertical base is much better suited for edge work. The off-set of the base and handle make it far more stable. 
 
luvmytoolz said:
It's a nice looking unit, but the cutter and spindle design means you'll be paying exponentially more for cutters for no perceivable benefit!

Unless you got a carton of cutters to suit it off the back of a truck, I really don't think it comes even somewhat close in value to a bog standard Makita trimmer?
The benefit is a quick AND precise accurate cutter change. No need to spend time tuning, making the base perpendicular etc. etc.

The issue is other.

For the price you can have 4-5 cheap trimmers already setup. So the main use case is for someone working a LOT on site who does not want to carry 4-5 boxes along.

As a dedicated trimmer it is hard to beat. And the cutter are not much more expensive than casual quality cutters.

IMO the main use is a one-man shop who does installs/renos and needs to have a the trimmer along with multiple cutters. The quick-change then pays itself in saved time.
 
Stuff like laminate trimmers could really do with being cordless nowadays in order to appeal to site carpenters who are away from reliable power as well as bench joiners who spend most of their careers no more than 20 feet away from a power socket.
 
mino said:
luvmytoolz said:
It's a nice looking unit, but the cutter and spindle design means you'll be paying exponentially more for cutters for no perceivable benefit!

Unless you got a carton of cutters to suit it off the back of a truck, I really don't think it comes even somewhat close in value to a bog standard Makita trimmer?
IMO the main use is a one-man shop who does installs/renos and needs to have a the trimmer along with multiple cutters. The quick-change then pays itself in saved time.

Nahhh, not in a month of Sundays. I use my Makita trimmer just for trimming. It takes seconds to change a blade, plus seconds to set the depth of cut. In all cases it dosn't cost me £50+ for a trimmer blade.
The OFK500 is an overpriced, over engineered and over loved bit of kit by people that just love it..............................most off that don't have to actually use it day by day and certainly don't have to pay for it's cutters.
 
Crazyraceguy said:
What am I missing? how are the cutters different?


Festool got away with the collet and the cutters are precise-made instead to exactly fit. This helps with ease of cutter removal, precision, weight and general ergonomics. It also makes it a pure trimmer.

Basically, they created "the ultimate trimmer". The only "issue" is, whether it is worth it.

Over here these go €350 after taxes which is not that much in my view. A router spindle of same quality with no base and no cutters goes €200 or so.

EDIT: This is better - shows the hollow cutters:
 
mino said:
The benefit is a quick AND precise accurate cutter change. No need to spend time tuning, making the base perpendicular etc. etc.

The issue is other.

For the price you can have 4-5 cheap trimmers already setup. So the main use case is for someone working a LOT on site who does not want to carry 4-5 boxes along.

As a dedicated trimmer it is hard to beat. And the cutter are not much more expensive than casual quality cutters.

IMO the main use is a one-man shop who does installs/renos and needs to have a the trimmer along with multiple cutters. The quick-change then pays itself in saved time.

Maybe in the States it's worth it, but here in OZ we get well and truly screwed on pricing, a basic 60deg chamfer cutter for this model is $140. I would consider that excessively expensive. I'd hate to be buying the full range to cover all scenarios. I still don't see any time or use benefit over a Makita trimmer at a much greater lower cost.
 
luvmytoolz said:
Maybe in the States it's worth it, but here in OZ we get well and truly screwed on pricing, a basic 60deg chamfer cutter for this model is $140. I would consider that excessively expensive. I'd hate to be buying the full range to cover all scenarios. I still don't see any time or use benefit over a Makita trimmer at a much greater lower cost.
HUH ? Is that australian dollar ? Was there some crazy devalution there lately ?

That cutter goes €50 in Europe. With taxes:https://www.idealo.de/preisvergleic...fasefraeser-hw-60-ofk-500-491533-festool.html

I do not have the OFK, but was getting equivalent 6mm OEM non-brand cutter for €30. And that was the cheapest from the quality ones I can get. So the premium is there, but nothing /too/ crazy.

Those AUS prices really ask for having a friend buy here and ship over. Cannot imagine shiping for a couple cutters being $100-ish.
 
Yeah we traditionally get reamed in OZ for almost everything! The DF700 kit for example with just a 12mm cutter, no dominos, and none of the accessories included is $2600 AUD. Literally just the DF700, power cable, 12mm cutter, vertical support bracket and spanner.
 
Razor blade approach:  Handle is cheap, make money on the blades.

Festool approach: Tool is expensive and make money on custom cutters

How is tightening the cutter with a screwdriver that much better than a wrench on a collar?

How many of you think this will be a big seller?

Once again, a few persuasive people with a fancy presentation may have sold management on this concept.
 
jimbo51 said:
How many of you think this will be a big seller?

Once again, a few persuasive people with a fancy presentation may have sold management on this concept.

Are you asking if the OFK 500 will be a big seller?

The tool has been around since at least 2008; it and the OFK 700 were the predecessors to the MFK 700.

Given its 14+ year history as part of the Festool product catalog, I would say that it has been a big enough seller for them to continue production of the tool, even if it's not available in all markets.
 
The tool has been around since at least 2008; it and the MFK 700 were the predecessors to the MFK 700.

I work mostly with small(palm) routers and was thinking about OFK700.  But its base is too large for what I do.  Is there any way to take off OFK 700 base and replace with smaller, maybe circular base? That will be an instant purchase for me :)
 
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