Question about Festool routers and cutters...

[johnny33]

Hey guys, I use an OF2200 router (with extractor) every single day on a bench at my workplace. I need to switch between various cutters through the day for different tasks and recently I have been wondering, why could the cutters not be designed so they are able to be changed in the quick release Centrotec format? My bench seems to love hiding my spanner in the sawdust....! Any comments or ideas on this thought? Thanks

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Forget about the mechanics behind that.  I don't see that ever getting U.L. approval, so no sales in the U.S.  Big difference operating a drill at 1500 rpm and a router at ten times that.

 

[johnny33]

Thanks for the input Ken, I suppose safety really is the first issue here, and after all, festools ratchet system is a million times better than the two-spanner trick used by other router manufacturers. Just a thought.

 

[yankee]

if anything at that high rpm where to jamb up the bit, you risk danger to yourself and or to the tool if the bit had a hex shape shaft to it that could not give at all.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Johnny,

I noticed you're in Scotland, so the U.L. doesn't affect you like it does us.  You'll learn from this site that tool safety approval decisions aren't always based on common sense.  Welcome to the United States of Litigation.

 

[VictorL]

1. You'll still need adjust depth of cutting. It takes a lot of time
2. Without some kind of tightening router bit will be wobbling.
3. Mass production of router bits will be much harder
4. Weight and complexity of "fast change" collet will be sky high
5. ....
6. ....

Regards,
VictorL 

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Why not just get another OF2200 and limit the need to swap bits? [tongue]

Agree with others about the safety behind the device and on a router being run at such a high speed.

Scot