Rabbeting with the OF1400/dust collection

[rmcabot]

I am new to the forum and have done little posting but a lot of reading and listening. The technical support from member to member is just great and has been very helpful for a newly "converted" Festool junkie like me.
I have been making some screens for a project here in Northern Maine. I have rabbeted out a 3/8" rabbet to accommodate the screening material which is then covered with a strip insert. I was hoping to use my new OF 1400 router but find that the plastic tube collector that fits over the base is limited to a 28mm diameter bit. My rabbet bit diameter is just over 30mm. I bought the OF 1400 for it's dust collection capabilities.  Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Rick Cabot
Maine

 

[Jim Becker]

I've been using my OF1400 for this for some time and it works wonderfully relative to both dust control and quality of cut. The obvious solution for your situation is, well...a smaller diameter cutter. The one I use presents no issue. (an older Jessada rabbiting bit from back when they were a viable manufacturer)

 

[semenza]

Hi,

 Welcome to the forum

                    I have the same problem with the larger  bits.  The little slide open does not sem to work for placing it around bits either.  My method to get the shroud on is to insert the shaft in the collet through the bottom of the shroud with the shroud just hanging loose. Once the collet is tightened , plunge the router, lock the shroud in place, then adjust depth. This essentially makes it a fixed base router for the job. DO NOT release the plunge!  
        I acn't seem to track it down right now but someone reamed out the opening larger so that big bits would go through. I now have an extra hood so I plan to try this myself.

Seth

 

[greg mann]

IIRC, the 1400 has a shroud that attaches to the base which would improve rabbetting DC significantly, or, if you are using the fence, there is under base DC available on the fence.

 

[semenza]

IIRC, the 1400 has a shroud that attaches to the base which would improve rabbetting DC significantly, or, if you are using the fence, there is under base DC available on the fence.

Hi,

      Just a note. I have tried the hood that attaches to the edge guide several times. Even with the D36 hose it has not done much for me.

Seth

 

[Warrior]

I just took the large bit and slowly plunged it through the shroud. then glued the slide window on. I have yet to get another shroud but plan to.

 

[semenza]

I just took the large bit and slowly plunged it through the shroud. then glued the slide window on. I have yet to get another shroud but plan to.

Hi,

Eiji, what type of bit did you plunge through?  If it worked for you I would just as soon not experiment with a different one.

Seth

 

[JayStPeter]

I use the dust shroud that Festool says is for the VS600 ?I think? dovetailing jig.  It works better than the edge guide shroud for edge shaping cuts.  I haven't used it specifically with a rabbeting bit though.  It's a huge improvement over the standard dust shroud and cup when doing roundovers and chamfers though (at least with the smaller dust hose), so I imagine it'll work pretty well with a rabbeting bit also.

 

[Warrior]

Seth,

I just used the too large for shroud rabbetting bit that I was planning on using for the rabbets.  aaahhhh, what's up doc?

Eiji

I use the dust shroud that Festool says is for the VS600 ?I think? dovetailing jig.  It works better than the edge guide shroud for edge shaping cuts.  I haven't used it specifically with a rabbeting bit though.  It's a huge improvement over the standard dust shroud and cup when doing roundovers and chamfers though (at least with the smaller dust hose), so I imagine it'll work pretty well with a rabbeting bit also.

Hmmm, very interesting. I will have to check that out.

 

[Warrior]

jay,

I was never impressed with the chip catcher cup. It always seems to catch on the corner when you starting the rout, and right where you have to be super careful. Very annoying. Also the chip catcher tends to rotate on its own to a position where most of the chips just fly past it. And I think to myself "now that's why I'm using this sweet router with the vac hose attached to it."

Eiji

 

[semenza]

jay,

I was never impressed with the chip catcher cup. It always seems to catch on the corner when you starting the rout, and right where you have to be super careful. Very annoying. Also the chip catcher tends to rotate on its own to a position where most of the chips just fly past it. And I think to myself "now that's why I'm using this sweet router with the vac hose attached to it."

Eiji

Hi,

  Interesting how people have very different results some times.  I use the chip catcher and find that almost nothing gets past it.  I have had it catch on a corner but rarely as long as I check its orientation befor e I start the cut.  When rounding a corner  it has not been a problem either. Maybe it has to do with the technique used when making the turn?  I don't know?

Seth

 

[nickao]

I have a chip catcher bottom cup from PC and it works darn near 100%. I will check and look at the differences between the two.

Nick

 

[JayStPeter]

One of my biggest issues with the router has always been stability when edge routing.  It wants to tip outward along the edge, and on a corner the router barely has anything on the piece due to the large center opening.  It's almost like the corner just falls in the opening.  If the bit fits through it, I use the template guide adapter to close up the opening, which doesn't allow the cup.  Eventually I got tired of no DC, so I tried the dovetail jig adapter.  That adapter requires you to use the edge guide rods, which happen to stick through the other side and give you a handhold that helps stabilize the router on the edge.  Works all around.
Even when I did use the cup, it is just OK.  Probably works better with the larger hose, but still significantly better than nothing.  I don't recall having a problem with it catching though, but I was always trying to rotate the router so the dust stream wasn't flying through the side that wasn't totally covered.  The downside to the dovetail jig DC is that it doesn't rotate.  The router must be aligned with the edge the whole time.  You can't just roll around a corner, there has to be a carefully orchestrated 1/4 turn of the router at the same time.  No biggie once you get used to it, and something I am/was already used to with my Bosch router and its similar DC fitting.