Reviews of the OF2200 anyone?

[Jesus Aleman]

Hi, I have been reading some thread from last Spring about the OF2200.  It appears that a few people were going to review the product later in the year.  Has anyone done any kind of review on this router?

 

[Warrior]

There are some really good reviews linked on the consolidated list of festool links. It is a stickiew thread at the top of the Festool Tools and Accessories page here.

 

[Jesus Aleman]

Thanks.  There was only one review for the OF2200 that I could find and it was a magazine article.  I was looking more for the user type review.

 

[Chris Hughes]

   What are you going to use it for?  I bought one this summer because the price was right and I'm tooling up to do solid surface.  At the regular retail price and its massive size, this router is not a casual purchase.  I've used mine a few times and it is the workhorse it is supposed to be.  I want to incorporate solid surface material into my furniture design so as far as dust control goes it kicks butt.  I also bought the accessory kit for it and I would concider that must have for this router. 
                                                                               C Hughes

 

[nickao]

Hey Chris if you work with solid surface Eagle has some good solid surface bits that normally go for 110.00 for 20.00!

Here is one:

http://eagleamerica.com/solid-surface-ogee-bowl-bit/p/43910/

Here is another.  88.00 for 10.00:

http://eagleamerica.com/solid-surface-topmount-bowl-cutout-bit/p/43936/

I have used these Porter Cable bits and I like them a lot!

They had more but it looks like they may have sold them, sometimes Eagle hides the good stuff so poke around a little.

 

[Bill in seattle]

Hey Chris if you work with solid surface Eagle has some good solid surface bits that normally go for 110.00 for 20.00!

Here is one:

http://eagleamerica.com/solid-surface-ogee-bowl-bit/p/43910/

Here is another.  88.00 for 10.00:

http://eagleamerica.com/solid-surface-topmount-bowl-cutout-bit/p/43936/

I have used these Porter Cable bits and I like them a lot!

They had more but it looks like they may have sold them, sometimes Eagle hides the good stuff so poke around a little.

These bit are a great deal if you have a use,  but these bits are discontinued because the bevel mount bowls have been discontinued in the US. not a popular style here for many years and difficult for most S.S. shops to do at best. But if you are going to have to do repair work( arrrrghh) then the 10 degree bit is great for this with the proper collets to make repair plugs.

The bowl bit is a great deal but the relief angle cut on these bit makes you do a lot more sanding to remove the bead line after you cut the bowl. Once again if you are doing a bowl removal and replacement ( a PIA job at best, and best left for the warranty specialist) then this would be a bit to have if you screwed up a bowl or had to replace a damaged one.

 

[Bill in seattle]

The of 2200 router is the beefiest router on the market today, Hands down. It does have a beefy price to go with it though. It is the most versatile for heavy duty operation and the quick change base plates are a dream come true for multiple operations.

The dust collection really rocks and gets the job done in some tough situations.  Even running 1'' bullnose bits without the lower dust guard it still gets 95% of the crud throw off.

I dropped a brand new huge $375 custom router bit while taking the goo off. After it bounced off the concrete and took a big chunk of carbide off of one wing(Youuuch),  I had no choice but to run the bit as there was no time to have another made or have it repaired. ( I do not recommend or advise anyone to run a damaged bit for safety's sake) but the 2200 had enough heft and so balanced that it absorbed the vibrations of the off balanced bit and was able to get the job done with out a hiccup and get the job out on time. I would not even considered this with any other router, but I said this things got beef, WTH.  I did not having to make that proverbial phone call saying there is a problem and I'm going to be late. Therefore I was able to  keep this demanding contractors schedule and not be backcharged.

For production and heavy duty long runs it can't be beat. I've seen many other H.D. routers burn up (literally, FLAME ON!!!!) and this router just purrs through these tasks effortlessly
.
The only drawbacks I have seen so far is how to mount it in a router table with easy hieght changes.

Otherwise this a more akin to a hand held shaper that can run large bits with ease and effortlessly.

A must have for anyone doing solid surface or running big bits.

Thats my Opinion so far, this is one seriously H.D. router in its own class.

 

[Jesus Aleman]

Chris, certainly is not the cheapest tool out there.  Woodworking is a hobby for me, but I have a few projects in the house that will require larger bits (doors and kitchen cabinets).  I have narrowed down to the OF1400 or OF2200.  I can get a used OF2200 (mint condition) which makes the purchase price a bit more attractive (although it is still a lot of dough).  I only want one router that can be used primarily as hand held, but can work under a table in a pinch.  I know there are other alternatives (brands) out there, but I'm pretty set on the Festool thingy due to space, dust and time constraints.  The OF1400 will cover most of my needs, except for two of the larger projects that I would do the interior doors and the raised panels for the kitchen cabinet doors (>2" diameter bits).  I would hate to have to buy an extra router (3 HP) to do the job and then have it collecting dust (I could sell it I guess).  Plus buying another router will likely pay for the difference between the OF1400 and the used OF2200.

JGA.

 

[nickao]

Why put an OF 2200 in a router table anyway? It is NOT a draw back at all. It is designed to be a stable large hand held router, not a table mounted router.

What current does it pull? I imagine it pulls 15 amps, or it would pop the breaker. Many routers pull 15 amps meaning it is not more powerful than them, simple electronics. Now PC make industrial routers that are 240V and actually are more powerful than the regular consumer models and would run at 20 amps if it were in a 110V circuit, so really there are more powerful routers made, just not for hand held use and not for 110V systems.

The benefit is that this router can run huge bits and be stable as a hand held, something no other 15 amp router can do. So the entire point of this monster router is to run huge bits  in a hand held position, in a table it just  becomes another 15 amp router. Any 15 amp router can swing a 3 or 4 inch bit IN A TABLE.

Actually, my old Hitachi was measured at 17 amps and blew many 15 amp circuits years ago when they first came out, so they reduced the routers strength and the newer ones did not pop the 15 amp circuits very often.

Now if someone says this Festool router runs at more than 15 amps and a 20 amp circuit is required than it would be a little more powerful than most routers in a table, but I have seen the thing run on a 15 amp circuit so that is not the case. So I do not care what the watts are or the calculations if the thing does not pop a 15 amp circuit, it is a 15 amp unit and pulls the same current as my 625 DeWalt. 15 amps is 15 amps no matter the efficiency of the unit.

So do not waste this thing in a table it defeats the entire purpose of it. There are just as powerful routers made, just not any yet that can run HUGE bits hand held. Again a table is a waste for this router.

That's why it is tough to put this router in a table, it never was designed nor intended for that.

One heck of a gorgeous machine! I would not want to hide it any way! I would show it off!       

Nickao

 

[Chris Hughes]

  I have a couple of PC 3 1/4 hpthat I use.  One of these routers is dedicated to a lift under the table and the other I used primarily for the heavy lifting (raised panels, rail and style).  At about $300.00 a piece they are about 1/3 the price of the of2200.  I would not switch PC's out at that price.  The of1400 IMHO is a great router for general use due to its array of accessories, power to weight and its dust collection.  In other words "its Festoolness".  The 2200 is maybe a little too substantial for general use.  It is a great router however and if you can justify the expense then jump on it, I did.
                                                                       C Hughes

 

[nickao]

I say if you need a hand held router that can run the biggest bits, the OF2200 is for you! I can see it come in handy for stair making, big railings, some exterior deck and gazebo work and some other things like solid surface, etc. I would love to make a railing cap in one pass instead of three, if they designed the bit I needed to do it, like some shaper cutters are designed to!

 

[Jesus Aleman]

Thanks guys.  I primarily want it for hand held use, but with the ability to go under a table (briefly) if the need arises.  I certainly see the advantages of running some larger bits hand held, but I'm not sure I want to try routing a raised panel hand held.  Chris, based on your experience with the router can this be done?  I would think this would be safer and easier on a table.

 

[Chris Hughes]

    I have never routed a panel from the top and don't think I ever would.  It is so easy to mount a router under a table and by the way I see it conciderably safer.  Not to mention tenon on rail and style.
                                                                                C Hughes

 

[nickao]

A raised panel should be done in a table for sure, even if the OF 2200 could do it, why? The way you need to switch in and out templates for each door a table is made to order for that operation.

 

[sw1211]

Safety is key, anytime you're spinning a bit the size needed for a raised panel, use a table.  Most catalogs will guide you as to which bits are designed for table use only.  If it doesn't "feel" right don't do it.

 

[nickao]

     I have never routed a panel from the top and don't think I ever would.  It is so easy to mount a router under a table and by the way I see it conciderably safer.  Not to mention tenon on rail and style.
                                                                                 C Hughes

Well I have cut a panel from the top on a shaper table many times. The cutter itself actually cuts the panel face up and it is wild seeing the shaper cut that raised panel as you go. Still that is in a table not free hand.

 

[richard.selwyn]

The OF 2200 IS designed to run in a router table - as are the other two Festool routers - but it's the Festool router table insert (I know everyone will say its NAINA...)  I only have the old model table, but I believe the new one can be height adjusted from above.  They are expensive though and maybe Festool feel there is too much router table competition in the US.  I don't know how the OF2200 attaches, but my 1010 Festool router takes a couple of minutes to fit to the table.  If someone could get a drawing of the Festool setup it should be easy to see how.  Having said that, those of you who know more than I do on this thread are saying it's a waste to put it in a table.  I want to get one to do just that as my small Festool router is a bit TOO small to be in a table in my view.  I've "ogled" the 2200, but as I'm in the process of spending a fortune on a horizontal slot mortiser (a sort of giant horizontal router in a way?) it will have to wait.

 

[Matthew Schenker]

Good Morning,
No one here has yet done a single, comprehensive review of the OF2200.  However, there are comments about it scattered throughout the FOG.  Put them together, and you can start to get a better picture.

Here are some links containing useful information about the OF2200 that might help you:
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=2663.0
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=3323.0
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=3574.0
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=3264.0
http://festoolownersgroup.com/index.php?topic=4235.msg47144#msg47144

There are probably several other references.

Beyond that, I guess we need someone who owns the router to write up a full review of the tool for us.

Stay in touch,
Matthew

 

[tbellemare]

The OF 2200 draws 2200 watts maximum. That's about 19 amps.

Due to the MMC electronics with the soft start, it is highly unlikely that you will ever do anything to cause that much current draw unless you have done something where you would want it to stop anyway.

The OF 1400 is a 1400 watt machine, the OF 1010 is 1010 watts.

Being the latest plunge router introduction by Festool, the OF 2200 has all of the latest and greatest Festool features. Just like the OF 1400 improved on the features of the OF 1010, the OF 2200 improved on them both.

I agree, Nick. It is like a hand-held shaper. It can also be a mounted shaper, though.

It is a good idea to get the accessory kit, either the Metric Accessory Kit for OF 2200 or the Imperial Accessory Kit for OF 2200.

Tom

 

[Jesus Aleman]

Does anyone know if the version 2 of the OF1400 is in the making and when it will be released?  It would be nice to have the OF2200 features in the OF1400 package.