Router - OF 2200 vs OF 1400?

[Jimxavier]

It will be my only router for the time being.

I may eventually want to get a nice router table for it with an incra fence. I likely won’t get the Festool router table.

It will be used for routing groves, dove tail joinery, and routing the designs in picture frames. Those are some of the sample tasks.

I don’t have a table saw. I have a TS75 and MFT table.

What do you guys recommend?

I was leaning towards the OF 1400, but thought I’d check in here. I’ve heard great things about both.

 

[ben_r_]

The OF 1400 for sure for those tasks. The OF 2200 is a heavy beast and probably overkill for those tasks listed.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the 3 Festool routers, 1010, 1400, and 2200. The 1400 gets 90% of the usage.

 

[Jimxavier]

[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] can you describe an application the OF 1400 cannot be used for? Does it do ok under a table?

 

[Brian Livingstone]

Hi,

I sold my 1400 and bought a 2200.

The 1400 is great, the 2200 is amazing.

I haven’t regretted it.  The 2200 like the TS75 is just that much better.  It is a big machine but it is easy to handle.

Brian

 

[ben_r_]

And like a lot of people feel the TS 75 is too bulky for everyday use and overkill for many tasks, many feel the same about the OF 2200. Just something to consider. This is why so many of us end up with multiple routers!

 

[Sparktrician]

It will be used for routing groves, dove tail joinery, and routing the designs in picture frames. Those are some of the sample tasks.

For the tasks you mention, the OF 1010 might be the better choice.  It's certainly the best choice for doing dovetails using the Leigh 18" SuperJig in my shop.  It's light enough that it doesn't deflect the guide plates. 

 

[Birdhunter]

You asked what I would not use the 1400 for. I use the 2200 for hogging out pockets, profiling really hard woods like Ipe, and taking deep cuts where it wouldn’t work to take multiple passes. These are tasks I would not ask my 1400 to do. The 2200 is a real beast.

The 1010 is a really fun light duty router. It can’t take the 1/2” shank bits I prefer.

The 1400 is right in the middle between the 1400 and 2200.

 

[epicxt]

You can spin a much larger bit (i.e. panel-raising or large lock-miter bit) in the 2200 and the dust collection system is far superior to the 1400. However, if you won't be using the router in a table, these likely aren't important factors for you. I would lean toward the 1400 or 1010 with an eye on a dedicated motor in a lift down the road.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rst]

I have 13 routers including two 2200s, and the 1010.  I use the 1400 for 90% of my work.

 

[Naildrivingman]

[member=15289]Birdhunter[/member] can you describe an application the OF 1400 cannot be used for? Does it do ok under a table?

I don’t own the 2200, but I do have a table and I chose to invest in a high quality lift and use a PC 7518 as the power head. I have no regrets. I don’t have anything against the 2200, but it does seem like a sizable investment to hang under a table. Plus, removing the router from the table may be quite an undertaking. You may want to have a dedicated motor for the table. Regardless of what motor you choose, I would strongly recommend a high quality lift.

 

[gsdvorak]

Based on the tasks you mentioned, if it were me I would buy the OF1400 first and add to your stock later.  Like [member=25351]rst[/member], I have a lot of routers (PCs from my pre-Festool days and 6 Festool) and use them all.  Some folks here believe you cannot have too many clamps- I feel that way about routers as I leave some setup and dedicated to certain tasks.  However, as others have mentioned, the two OF1400s I have get the majority of the work. 

I have 2 7818 PC motors in Jessem and WP PVL lifts and I also have a CMS with 1400- I don't know if it's because the PCs are older but I get more vibration from them as compared to the Festool setup.  If others have both setups, please chime in if you have the same experience or not.  Otherwise, I've been pleased with both setups.  I have a 2200 but only use for larger bits and haven't used in the CMS- it is heavy but once you have it on the work it is a joy to use.  I really should use it more often.

Good luck with your purchase.

Regards,
Gerald

 

[jtwood]

I have the 1400 and like it very much.  It is very versatile and will handle most jobs, like the ones you are talking about doing.

One thing you said, that you might want to get a router table for whichever you get, and probably won't get the Festool router table.  One of the companies that makes router tables now has a router lift that fits the 1400.  I can't remember which (maybe someone else on the forum does?) but I doubt you would ever find an aftermarket lift for the 2200.  If mounting the router in a table is important to you, I would consider the 1400

Steve

I found the link to the JessEm router lift and plate that fits the O)F1400 and OF1010, as well as others:http://www.jessemdirect.com/product_p/02322.htm

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Jim,
Honestly, I think that the 1400 would be the best bet for the tasks you are doing.

But, if you want to get a 2200, I have one with all the accessories that has had very little use.
I'm thinking about selling it for 50% of current Festool catalog price.  It is in great shape, but
I need to downsize.

PM me if you are interested.

 

[grbmds]

The OF1400 is possibly the best router for all-around use, but would seem to be kind of a waste for mounting in a non-festoon table. While I don't own the OF2200, I have used one and find that it is very large for general use as a plunge router. For mounting under a table, especially if it's an Incra table/fence/lift, I'm not sure that the Festool routers can be mounted with available Incra lifts. I would guess you could mount the either of those with a homemade or purchased plate.

I own a PC7518 router installed in an Incra lift in an Incra table with an Incra fence. It's an extremely accurate and precise setup with great dust collection.

I also find that the OF 1400 router is one of the best routers on the market as a hand-held plunge router and maybe has the best dust collection available.

 

[Birdhunter]

I think it’s a real misuse of a 1400 router to hang it under a table. There are some nice router lifts that work very well with the Porter Cable router motor. For me, having all the positioning controls above or on the table beat having to fiddle with controls under the table.

 

[RC]

I bought the OF1400 and the CMS router table package and I must say that while all parts are high quality as Festools is I find myself way too lazy to move the router between table mode and handheld mode. Most of the time I find myself coming up with any weird jiggy solution to do table operations handheld just to avoid fiddling with the CMS conversion attachments and using the less than stellar Festool CMS fence for the router table.

Since I got the Incra LS Superfence system on my MTF + VL I have stopped using the CMS-GE entirely. (albeit I mostly have my TS55 in the CMS-module permanently in the VL and only occasionally do routing when I can't get away with handheld routing.)

The good news is that the 1400 does about everything and I believe that the OF2200 is actually not supported for most dovetail jigs for its heft and base size. What is the most enticing feature to me on the 2200 would be its dust collection system as that's far superior to the more traditional dust hose placement of the 1400 and 1010.

If I could do this again I would get one of the better aftermarket router lifts and a 2kW+ router motor to permanently have in a table and then pimp it out with digital readouts, motorized lifts and the Incra fence system and then get the 1010 for handheld stuff like the LR32 work (1400 works for this as well, 2200 not).

The above is assuming you have a permanent workshop space available. I don't, so I'm stuck with movable equipment until the kids move out of house and I can re-purpose one of their rooms as a shop space.

 

[nvalinski]

If your grooves are generally not that big, I'm going to echo [member=7493]Sparktrician[/member] in suggesting the 1010. I own the 1010 and 1400, and love using the 1010 in my dovetail jig and for small grooves, edging details, etc. The 1400 comes out for template work. I can't say I've actually used it on my dovetail jig, but I think it would be a bit too heavy for the task. Take a look at any of the tasks you do and just check if there are any that would actually need a 1/2" bit.

 

[Sparktrician]

The 1010 is a really fun light duty router. It can’t take the 1/2” shank bits I prefer.

Quite true, but it CAN take the 8mm shank bits that are commonly used with the Leigh dovetail jigs. 

 

[TXFIVEO]

I use the 1400 for all my handheld stuff and for the router table I have the PC7518...total beast mode there.