Table Widener

[Birdhunter]

I set up my new 1400 router using the rail guide and "foot". The "foot" is meant to support the router as it hangs off the side of the rail.

It wasn't all that stable.

I have read that the Table Widener fills the gap between the router and the material being routed and the "foot" isn't necessary.

Opinions?

 

[peter halle]

I don't believe that the table widener for the 1400 has an offset piece to make up the guiderail thickness. 

Peter

 

[jallen03]

I was wondering this as well when I bought mine.  Paul Marcel showed on one of his blog entries using the widener on his of 1400.  He ran the router off the rail on the side opposite the anti-splinter strip.  Since I thought that was how I would prefer to run it, i bought the widener base.  

I haven't had a chance to use it, but the last time I was routing I was switching between the guide rails and edge guide for rabbets.  The widener won't work with that, the top of the edge guide won't clear the bottom of the base.  And, its pretty cumbersome to switch between the normal base and widener base.  I ended up using the foot and it worked really well.  Because the bottom of the regular base and the guide adaptors are coplanar, the router is nearly fully supported on the guide rail.  The stop feels like its there for more peace of mind.  After using the foot, I really think the widener base will stay in its box unless I have a lot of guided bearing bit routing and dadoes.  

I wish Festool would just make a snap-in 5mm spacer plate.  It would be stupid simple to make and I'm sure (based on queries of this nature) that they would sell quite a lot.

 

[Peter Durand]

I agree. I recently bought it for that purpose and, well, it really doesn't do the job. A $100.00 mistake.

 

[Birdhunter]

Thanks for the input. I'll save the money for my nest Festool item. probably, the 2200 router.

My thought is to rig up a jig the 1400 sits on that rides against the rail and is just thick enough to fill the gap between the router and the wood being routed.

 

[Birdhunter]

I just bought the "small bore sub-base" that is supposed to fill the gap. It snaps in over the standard base. I'll try it tomorrow.

 

[Peter Durand]

Do you have a picture or part number for that?

Thanks.

 

[Birdhunter]

Product No. 492574

Compatibility:
OF 1400 EQ Router

Mine is still in the plastic. Will try it later today.

 

[Birdhunter]

I mounted the small bore sub-plate on my 1400. Using the rail guide and the router OFF the rail, the small bore sub-plate appears to exactly level the router. The foot isn't required. The small bore sub-plate snaps into the router's base. You don't have to remove the standard base. Neat solution and a lot cheaper than the table widener.

 

[tbellemare]

492574 is 3mm thick. The guide rail is about 5mm. If you use the router off the back of the rail, it should work for you.

Tom

 

[mouppe]

I have both the small-bore base and the table widener. I use both regularly. In fact, I wish there was a wide base with a small bore as well! The wide base gives me more confidence when I am edge routing or using large bits, particularly when going around corners. I have no idea why it is so expensive, but I don't regret buying it.

In fact, I think I'll just go and make my own large base with a small-bore the next time I need it. I can use the large base as a template for locating the screws and thicknessing it for use with the guide rail.

 

[Corwin]

492574 is 3mm thick. The guide rail is about 5mm. If you use the router off the back of the rail, it should work for you.

Tom

The small bore snap-in base is not thick enough to level your router when mounted on the rail.  It might work well enough when mounted on the backside of the rail as Tom suggests, but do pay close attention that your router sits flat on your workpiece so that you get the results you want.  This subject has been discussed here several times over the years, and a good solution may be to modify this small bore snap-in base to build up the thickness to the required 5mm.