Plunge Router Maintenance

[markchamness]

My OF 1400 doesn't seem to plunge as easily as it used to.  Is there maintenance I need to perform?  Should I oil the plunge shafts?  If so, what type of oil?  Should I take the shafts apart and clean it?  This topic is not discussed in Rick Christopherson's manual.

 

[Neill]

Mark,

In no way to I profess to be an expert on tool or equipment maintenance but I would just like to venture a guess.

Many woods such as pine, have resin that can go soft with friction and re-harden with time.  It may be possible that this type of sawdust could have somehow gotten wedged in there somewhere to gum-up and restrict the plunge action.

If this is the case, you might try cleaning with a tar / pitch  cleaner or other solvent.  If you do lubricate, I would suggest camellia oil.  It is a light, nontoxic lubricant that seems to work well on all my tools.  I know you can get it at all the usual good woodworking shops such as Rockler, Woodcraft and Lie-Nielsen's website.  (You know if Tom Lie-Nielsen recommends this stuff, it has got to be good.)

Good luck.

Neill

 

[Doobaya]

HI ,

I had the same problem , i have used new 1400 from the box and after only one day the plunge action was very poor ,router needed 2 sec. to lift himself up after i released the pressure. I have noticed that in factory they used some sort of grease that is sticky and small particles of dust  will stick to the shafts and block the router movement.

My solution was to clean the shafts with cloth and spray it with 1Z Ultra Gel , here in Croatia you can purchase easily, but in USA shouldn`t be a problem too  i have found 1z USA sitehttp://stores.1z-usa.com/-strse-Lubricants/Categories.bok  .....

 

[Forrest Anderson]

I had the same problem , i have used new 1400 from the box and after only one day the plunge action was very poor...

I don't have an OF1400, but the two or three that I have tried out at dealers didn't plunge when I only pushed down on the rear handle. I also had to push down the body of the router with the other hand, or push down on the front clamping knob.

For owners of the OF1400 - can you plunge one-handed, by just pressing down on the rear handle?

Forrest

 

[JJ Wavra]

I have trouble with rust on the plunge rods.  I cleaned the rust off then added a dry lubricant.  I plunged the router maybe five times when the lubricant was wet and now it is amazing  how smooth and quick, if need be, the router goes up and down.

I think the lubricant was made by empire.

JJ

 

[mwhafner]

I had the same problem , i have used new 1400 from the box and after only one day the plunge action was very poor...

I don't have an OF1400, but the two or three that I have tried out at dealers didn't plunge when I only pushed down on the rear handle. I also had to push down the body of the router with the other hand, or push down on the front clamping knob.

For owners of the OF1400 - can you plunge one-handed, by just pressing down on the rear handle?

Forrest

Forrest,

I can plunge mine one-handed, but it is a little awkward.  I think any additional friction would make it impossible.

 

[Doobaya]

For owners of the OF1400 - can you plunge one-handed, by just pressing down on the rear handle?

Forrest

After i spray it is very easy to plunge it one handed, now it goes so quick so if you press it down and just remove hand when the rooter is in lower position it will lift so quickly that the router will jump.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

My OF 1400 (~3 yrs old) plunges and returns without much drag on the guide rods.  I clean them at the end of each day, and usually when changing bits.  I simply wipe them with a rag onto which I have sprayed something like T-9, WD-40, Dri-Cote.  My main complaint is that I would like the plunge return springs to be weaker.  I find the plunge return action too snappy, and most of the time I am wanting to use the router as if it was a fixed base type rather than plunge type. 

Dave R.

 

[Forrest Anderson]

For owners of the OF1400 - can you plunge one-handed, by just pressing down on the rear handle?

Thanks to everyone who replied - it looks as though it can be plunged one-handed, so long as it is kept lubricated.

Forrest

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

My OF 1400 (~3 yrs old) plunges and returns without much drag on the guide rods.  I clean them at the end of each day, and usually when changing bits.  I simply wipe them with a rag onto which I have sprayed something like T-9, WD-40, Dri-Cote.  My main complaint is that I would like the plunge return springs to be weaker.  I find the plunge return action too snappy, and most of the time I am wanting to use the router as if it was a fixed base type rather than plunge type. 

Dave R.

Dave,

Any thought of trimming a bit off the springs and taking a bit of the snap out of the action?  I also have a big old Hitachi that I totally removed the springs from to use it in cutting some 3 inch deep mortises for interior doors. I just got tired of pushing against all that spring tension all the time and I could still use the plunge lock to hold a setting if I wanted.  Just a thought based on some of my past experiences...

Best,
Todd

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Thanks Todd.

I discussed this issue with Festool's head of service.  He recommended not doing so for safety, and to maintain the warranty.  I may try it later.  Have you or any owner done this?  I have not studied mine to determine how it comes apart for removal of the springs.  If there was a 1 - 1/2 Hp fixed based router with comparable dust collection, I might buy one.  The MFK 700 seems pricey and not really suited to my typical usage.

Dave R.

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

Hi Dave,

I am not surprised that the Festool people would want you to keep in the as-designed configuration...and the warranty is also a consideration I guess but the springs if just removed can always be replaced or if shortened can always be replaced with stock springs.  I have not really closely looked at the Festool router for disassembly, but my work on other plunge routers has shown that the usual way to hold everything together is with the height adjustment rod or a similar rod at another location on the router. Usually removing the nut on top of this rod or the adjustment knob or nuts will allow the base to be separated from the motor and upper part of the plunge mechanism.  The springs usually just sit inside the telescoping tubes that form the guide for the plunge mechanism.  I am sure it would be clearer if you looked at the router or the parts diagrams.

The last router I purchased before my Festools was the Bosch 1617 EVS with the fixed and plunge based and that was years ago. I don't have a clue what might be the best routers on the market today for other needs.

Best,
Todd