Silly question - using Guide Stop with the OF 1400 router

[irvin00]

I have used the (OF1400 router) Guide Stop for at least a couple of years now, always keeping the whole thing INSIDE the guide rail. Festool's own site has it OUTSIDEOUTSIDE.

Wondering if I had been making a mistake all this time, I checked a video on Youtube, and it seems 'inside' is right.  I know it's a silly question, but I'm really curious. Is Festool's pic wrong or is it just another way of using it?

 

[tbellemare]

There are lots of ways to skin a cat.

Tom

 

[Julian Tracy]

Certainly doesn't help they call it a guide stop.  The single most confusing name up there with Photoshop's "Unsharp Mask" filter.

I'm sure in German, it makes a lot of sense....

JT

 

[PaulMarcel]

You can use it on either side of the guide rail.  If you use it on the outside, you should use the 'table widener' replacement base as it is thicker and makes the guide stops sit flush on the rail (if you are relatively far from the rail, though, the normal base works).  If you use it on the inside with the stock base, you need the router half on the rail and half on the little foot you attach to the far side to balance it out.  You can put it further 'inside' the track so the base is completely off the guide rail in which case it is the same case as using it outside: use the table widener.

 

[irvin00]

The most confusing thing is that the pic on Festool's own site has the router half-inside the rail and the guide half-outside!!!!!

I guess it's just an error on their part.

You can use it on either side of the guide rail.  If you use it on the outside, you should use the 'table widener' replacement base as it is thicker and makes the guide stops sit flush on the rail (if you are relatively far from the rail, though, the normal base works).  If you use it on the inside with the stock base, you need the router half on the rail and half on the little foot you attach to the far side to balance it out.  You can put it further 'inside' the track so the base is completely off the guide rail in which case it is the same case as using it outside: use the table widener.

 

[Alan m]

which replacment base are you refering to paul [blink]

 

[PaulMarcel]

Okay, so the guide stop being outside was the relevant part of the question.  Sorry, I shouldn't be in forums before my coffee.  You can easily use it that way, too.  Either stop has the slot for the hump in the rail.  True, I like to put the pads both on the rail since it gives you a monster handle to guide, but it works that way.

The 'table widener' base (#493233) is the other base I'm talking about.  It is thicker than the other base so you can use the router on the outside of the rail.  While it isn't useful to use on the outside of the rail on an MFT (unless you remove the fence...), it is very useful and I think nicer when doing mid-field stuff.  When I did a French knot of Walnut inlaid into a cork floor, I used this technique a lot.  Blogged about it here where you'll get more details if you like.

 

[Sparktrician]

There are lots of ways to skin a cat.

Tom

Well, using the OF1400 to skin a cat is a new trick.  You'd have to get it to hold still for a bit, I'd think, and the cat might be a tad cross... 

[big grin]  [scared]  [big grin]

 

[tbellemare]

What I meant was that there are several ways to set up using the Guide Stop. Let your imagination be the guide.

What Paul was saying about a thicker base applies if the router is completely off the Guide Rail. Also, as he mentioned, the foot (that comes with the Guide Stop) is useful if part of the router base is on the Guide Rail and part is off.

Well, using the OF1400 to skin a cat is a new trick.  You'd have to get it to hold still for a bit, I'd think, and the cat might be a tad cross...

With a wok full of oil and some almond powder, we could be talking delicacies...

Tom

 

[Alan m]

now now anytime anyone ever mentions cats the cat people come out and start givving off about creulty.

+1 with a side of chips

 

[TomGadwa1]

Why not try skinning a non-stop barking dog or two?

 

[James Watriss]

Well, yeah... but that's what cats are good for. One hand on the collar, and one hand on the tail, give a twist, and it's like a cordless belt sander: Noisy as hell, and sure to skin that little yapper in no time.

 

[bonesbr549]

I have used the (OF1400 router) Guide Stop for at least a couple of years now, always keeping the whole thing INSIDE the guide rail. Festool's own site has it OUTSIDEOUTSIDE.

Wondering if I had been making a mistake all this time, I checked a video on Youtube, and it seems 'inside' is right.  I know it's a silly question, but I'm really curious. Is Festool's pic wrong or is it just another way of using it?

I use mine all the time.  That little tab is a pain in the rear though if you want to used the router outside.  Mostly if I have to use that attachement it's to do a dado or groove and I utilize to tracks and let it ride between.  For a project I did recently I needed a dado in exact the same spots in multiple locations on oposing panels.  The MFT with stop set it up perfect and I used the second rail to float it.  The primary was the mft and the second would just ride loose.  I'd  put the panel down up against the mft stop and lower the rail and then add the second and one pass up to just align the two rails.  It just pulled it in nicely and then power it up and cut the groove.  Man it was easy and repeatable.   

 

[PaulMarcel]

I like that idea of using the other track in place of the foot.  Not sure if I'd actually put the guide stop on it since you'd have to get the rails dead parallel, but sure beats that foot.  Now that I have an FS800, it's a little easier to fit the rail on the MFT.

 

[irvin00]

Wouldn't it be much easier to cut a dado with one rail only?

I have used the (OF1400 router) Guide Stop for at least a couple of years now, always keeping the whole thing INSIDE the guide rail. Festool's own site has it OUTSIDEOUTSIDE.

Wondering if I had been making a mistake all this time, I checked a video on Youtube, and it seems 'inside' is right.  I know it's a silly question, but I'm really curious. Is Festool's pic wrong or is it just another way of using it?

I use mine all the time.  That little tab is a pain in the rear though if you want to used the router outside.  Mostly if I have to use that attachement it's to do a dado or groove and I utilize to tracks and let it ride between.   For a project I did recently I needed a dado in exact the same spots in multiple locations on oposing panels.  The MFT with stop set it up perfect and I used the second rail to float it.  The primary was the mft and the second would just ride loose.  I'd  put the panel down up against the mft stop and lower the rail and then add the second and one pass up to just align the two rails.  It just pulled it in nicely and then power it up and cut the groove.  Man it was easy and repeatable.   

 

[TomGadwa1]

Most cats do not sport collars LOL. Regarding dados one can use the table widener on the OF1400 and the guide stop and get very nice dados. Square the guide rail to the workpiece then adjust the guide stop on the rods for a length that provides stability. The table widener on the OF1400 levels and smooths the sliding of the router on the workpiece as has been pointed out by Paul Marcel on prior posts.