Potentially humiliating OF 1010 question

[Mac]

Over the last month or so I've been getting to know my OF1010 (first ever router). This might be a really silly question as I don't have any experience of other makes of router, but is there a reason that they don't have a kind of ratchet device on the collet thing, to make changing bits easier...i find it a hell of a fiddly job getting the old spanner in there and moving it after each turn. Am I missing something here? The accursed thing slips around like a dog in a bath while I'm trying to do this, and I've lost more knuckle skin than I'd care to mention. On the upside, it does make me look like a bare knuckle fighter, which helps in my real job as a teacher as it intimidates the kids.

Any thoughts or advice gratefully received.
Rick 'knuckles' Macpherson

 

[Neill]

Mac,

You bring up a valid point, but just think about the older router models such as the Porter Cable 690 (which was, and maybe still is,  the standard here in the US)  that requires two wrenches. Be grateful.



Neill

 

[mike1967]

I've lost more knuckle skin than I'd care to mention. On the upside, it does make me look like a bare knuckle fighter, which helps in my real job as a teacher as it intimidates the kids.

Slip on a pair of work gloves (probably only one is needed) when you lean on the wrench.  That will solve this problem as well as skin removed by a two-wrench PC setup.

 

[joiner1970]

Its just a standard thing on routers for years you get used to it, then along came the of1400 with the ratchet system.
It doesnt really bother me as I have been using routers for well over 20 years so dont even think about it. I got my first router when I was about 13 I think maybe younger, my brother bought me a Black & Decker one for Christmas.

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

The collet can be a pain at times. Then my wife gave me the 1400 router with its ratchet system. That ratchet system is seriously very, very good. It's so intuitive and natural to use. Why it was never thought of before is beyond me.

I also use some Vaseline grease on the router bit shaft as it makes it a tad easier to remove the bit from the collet. Vaseline? I went into Boots pharmacy here in Crawley a while back and asked the assistant where I'd find some Vaseline. The moment I asked her I could see the faint trace of a smile on her face and I made the connection between simple question and implied innuendo. I told her I wanted it for my router bits. She probably thought "Router bits? I've never heard it called that before." ;D

 

[Mac]

I'd have thought she'd have been used to people for asking much worse, in Crawley...

I didn't realise the 1400 had a ratchet system. Seems such a shame it couldn't have been incorporated into the 1010, too. Maybe one day I'll find a need to spring to two routers and get to try it for myself.

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

Crawley is definately feral. I liken it to the steel town portrayed in The Deerhunter movie except there is no steelworks here in Crawley. Lots of trailer trash wondering around for sure. As for Festool ownership, I don't think this town rates highly on the Festool Owner's Group membership.

 

[clev1066]

Crawley is definately feral. I liken it to the steel town portrayed in The Deerhunter movie except there is no steelworks here in Crawley. Lots of trailer trash wondering around for sure. As for Festool ownership, I don't think this town rates highly on the Festool Owner's Group membership.

You have "Trailer Trash" in England? I know I'm under-travelled, but I thought that was particulare the midwest USA.  ;D

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

Crawley is definately feral. I liken it to the steel town portrayed in The Deerhunter movie except there is no steelworks here in Crawley. Lots of trailer trash wondering around for sure. As for Festool ownership, I don't think this town rates highly on the Festool Owner's Group membership.

You have "Trailer Trash" in England? I know I'm under-travelled, but I thought that was particulare the midwest USA.  ;D

I'm taking artistic licence. We don't have many trailer home parks here in the UK and those that do exist are generally very well looked after by their owners and have an enviable community spirit. Crawley was created in the 1950's as a post-war regeneration response to provide low cost housing. The town was also designed as a dormitory town for London. In other words, it was a quick and dirty solution to get the working classes pushed out to areas where light industry could provide jobs. The trailer trash is mostly the feral domain of what, in English sub-culture are called Chavs and Chavettes. That's mostly teens pushing out kids for benefit handouts when they are barely in their teens. Mind you, some of their parents are not to be trifled with either. In fairness there are many decent people in this town. We chose to live here because in 2000 it was actually affordable after we left S'Effrica. Not out first choice but compared to some towns in the UK it's fairly typical. We have nice neighbours and that makes a big difference.

Hardware shops: we used to have a really friendly hardware shop that closed its doors about two years ago. That was a pity as they sold decent tools and gave perfect customer service. The staff who ran it were very knowledgeable about woodworking and stocked mostly middle-of-the-road products that were priced about right for the earnings average of the 120,000 people who live in Crawley. Once they closed you had to cast a wider net to find larger tool shops and I'm fortunate to have two Festool dealers about 20 minutes drive from home. Both are very friendly shops but I sometimes feel a bit intimidated  at the one dealer as most of the customers know exactly what they want: "I'm looking for a size 15 semi-carbide bit tempered at 800 celsius with an asymmetric ratio of no more than 1.2034:1 and I need it for straight-cutting a housing joint that butts up to a through dovetail of 7:1 slope. Have you got one?" When I first looked at Festool a long time ago the salesman asked me "Lusting or buying?" One day I thought, one day. When I went there last week I compared the 1400 router to the massive gun dog 2000. The difference in size and weight between them is noticable, seriously so. I think the 1400 is an ideal compromise. Compared to my 625 Dewalt the 1400 is more ergonomically usable and I think it represents the best buy in the Festool router stable. I've lost my fair share of knuckle skin changing bits in the past. My wife could change bits on the Festool now.

 

[Mac]

This made me laugh, Peter. I must say I have fond memories of Crawley. Well, of a girl I met in Crawley, at least. Well, of a night spent in Crawley with a girl, I don't think we got round to discussing her family residential history.  But that's maybe a tale for a different forum altogether...

I've never worked up the nerve to even stroke the OF 2200 in a showroom. Frankly, I don't think I'm man enough for it.  For now, I'll stick with my little 1010, and get my name down for a knuckle skin graft.

Rick Mac.

 

[robtonya]

Crawley is definately feral. I liken it to the steel town portrayed in The Deerhunter movie except there is no steelworks here in Crawley. Lots of trailer trash wondering around for sure. As for Festool ownership, I don't think this town rates highly on the Festool Owner's Group membership.

You have "Trailer Trash" in England? I know I'm under-travelled, but I thought that was particulare the midwest USA.  ;D

Hey! I represent that statement! ;D

 

[woodshopdemos]

I hate to disrupt the stories but thought that a thought or two on making the OF1000 easier to handle. 1) don't tighten the collet down that hard...tight but not ball bustin tight. 2) When you insert a bit, insert it all the way and then pull it out about 1/8"; 3) do not use vaseline or any oil product on router bit shafts...that will just mean you have to tighten the collet more; 4) when you first loosen the colet, you will be able to use your hand to loosen a turn or two and then it will stop...use the wrench again and then when loose you can use hand the rest of the way; 5) if you want to use vaseline or any oil product, use it sparingly on the colet threads and most important, 6) do not leave bit in the collet it isnt good for the bit or the collet. If the bit is carbide tip, you should clean with bit and blade cleaner right then and there. Store router without bit.

 

[tbellemare]

Great advice, John!

You don't need to tighten a router bit very tight because the rotation induces tightening. The same is true of the Domino. Over-tightening the Domino can cause the oscillating mechanism to become misaligned.

Also, Festool router bits have a mark on the shaft that indicates how deep to bury them in the collet.

Tom

 

[Neill]

Crawley is definately feral. I liken it to the steel town portrayed in The Deerhunter movie except there is no steelworks here in Crawley. Lots of trailer trash wondering around for sure. As for Festool ownership, I don't think this town rates highly on the Festool Owner's Group membership.

You have "Trailer Trash" in England? I know I'm under-travelled, but I thought that was particulare the midwest USA.  ;D

Hey! I represent that statement! ;D

Robert,

By "trailer trash" I don't think he was talking about a construction trailer.  :

Neill

 

[HowardH]

once you post something, you can go to the top of the post and hit "modify", make your changes and then hit save.  

 

[spikfot]

I hate to disrupt the stories but thought that a thought or two on making the OF1000 easier to handle. 1) don't tighten the collet down that hard...tight but not ball bustin tight. 2) When you insert a bit, insert it all the way and then pull it out about 1/8"; 3) do not use vaseline or any oil product on router bit shafts...that will just mean you have to tighten the collet more; 4) when you first loosen the colet, you will be able to use your hand to loosen a turn or two and then it will stop...use the wrench again and then when loose you can use hand the rest of the way; 5) if you want to use vaseline or any oil product, use it sparingly on the colet threads and most important, 6) do not leave bit in the collet it isnt good for the bit or the collet. If the bit is carbide tip, you should clean with bit and blade cleaner right then and there. Store router without bit.

I had to quote that just because it is worth reading twice.

I think that the extra collets are the way to go. I've had the reducers slip.
Router maintenance can't be understated. Most tools just die calmly in your hand, but a router winding out at 20,000+ rpms has the potential for catastrophic failure, which is not something you want occurring a few inches from your gut or under your chin.  The moment any odd vibration is felt or heard, shut down immediately and inspect. If you run a router table, make sure to use a secondary switch and don't plug in direct. if something goes wrong, you don't want to be squatting down fumbling for the on off switch.

 

[Mac]

John, and all,  thanks so much for all the advice. Will think hard about everything you've said.

Cheers,
Rick

 

[Peter Hamilton-Scott]

...if you want to use vaseline or any oil product, use it sparingly on the colet threads and most important...

I only use a very small amount on the bit. I find I can remove the bit from the collet much easier. I'm probably guilty for over tightening the nut which probably explains why I use Vaseline in the first place. The prospect of having my face close to something spinning at 22K rpm makes me err on the cautious side! I always clean the bit once I remove it. I've come close to slicing my fingers trying to remove a stuck bit. Those bits are darned sharp on the unsuspecting finger.

When you say not to leave the bit in the collet are you talking about long-term storage? I'll be routing some MDF on and off over the next couple of weeks. I've got the idea to leave the roundover bit in the collet as that'll make it easier for me to get consistent profiles on all the edges. It'll help me to maintain the same depth without having to tweak it each time I set up. What do you think?

 

[clev1066]

John that is very good advice on the router.

I have always been good about following most of John's advice, but I seem to have gotten lazy with the OF 1000. I tend to leave a roundover bit in it all the time. I really need to go back to my old ways and remove the bits at the end of the day. It is extra stress on the collet and can cause them to fail (slip) over time.

 

[AlexThePalex]

do not leave bit in the collet it isnt good for the bit or the collet. If the bit is carbide tip, you should clean with bit and blade cleaner right then and there. Store router without bit.

Just wondering John, why is it bad to leave it in?