Talk me into or out of a 1400 EQ router

[johnbro]

Ok, I currently have a PC 690, a PC 7518 I use for table stuff, a Triton 2hp plunge, a Bosch 1613 plunge, and a Festool MFK 700. I've got edge guides for all the routers except the PC 7518, and templates for the Bosch, Triton, and PCs.

The Triton is probably my favorite, although it's a little top heavy. It actually has some dust collection and bit changes are pretty simple with their auto-lock feature. It has a crap edge guide, however.

The MFK is my least favorite, and every time I use it (infrequently since it only handles 1/4" or 8mm bits) I wonder why I don't sell it. I think a $79 Grizzly trim router would me as useful or maybe more useful.

But I don't really love any of my hand-held routers. So for years I've looked at the 1400 and wondered if I should get one. But jeez, the router and some accessories is a buncha bucks.

Ok, those of you with opinions, let 'em rip. Talk me into or out of this router. Is it going to change my life? Will I dump all my other hand-held routers for the One True Router? or is it just an over-priced thing to spin bits which I've already got covered.

 

[ear3]

Since you have a pretty decent router stable already, I'm not sure the 1400 will provide you with anything truly revolutionary that you can't do with the others, except better dust collection, ergonomics, performance under load and the ability for rail guided routing.  For that you might have to step up to the 2200, which I do consider in a class by itself as a router.  The 1400 is a great router, and it was the first festool router I purchased.  But at this point, it is also my least used, unless there is a specific application where I have to run a 1/2" bit and the 2200 is too big to maneouver in the place I'm routing (which is rare).   

 

[Poindexter]

Edward - I've been torn between the 1400 and 2200.  Like johnbro, my non-Festool router stable is well balanced.  But I am a huge fan of utilizing my rails and dust collection.  What sets the 2200 apart in your opinion?  How it is to hold over the 1400?

Apologies if I'm taking this thread in the wrong direction johnbro. 

 

[Llap Goch]

Why don't you just go and buy one and if you don't like it, return it.

No amount of 'its wonderful/its crap' responses will ever replace using the router for 15/30 days and then either keeping it or returning it.

As it happens I have all 3 Festool routers and the 'Made in Switzerland' Elu MOF96E and MOF177E routers and they all have their place and use. The OF1400 is, in my humble opinion, the very best of a rather excellent fleet of expensive sawdust producers.

 

[ear3]

In a nutshell -- it has all of the features one associates with Festool routers, but dialed up to 11.  EDIT: If you don't already know about it, [member=11196]Peter Parfitt[/member] did a nice introductory video going over the basics of which router to choose:http://festoolownersgroup.com/festool-tool-reviews/whick-festool-router-video/

For dust collection, it has this plastic cylinder that drops in around the base creating a sealed compartment around the collet that lets you do essentially dustless routing (unless you're doing really deep channels, in which case, as is true on all routers, some chips will remain at the bottom of the channel) -- I have no worries working with the 2200 in an indoor environment.  The DC on the edge guide is great as well -- which is not always the case with the 1400.

The microadjust is super precise, and you can also adjust it when the router is fully plunged, which helps if you're trying to match an existing profile -- I'm not aware of another router that can do this.  I had a job over the summer where I blew someone's mind by routing the spec-ed 3/8 deep dadoes to within a few thousands of an inch on all the approximately three dozen units that were ordered (I watched him measure with digital calipers).  I got that level of precision after just one turn of the microadjuster, and did not have to waste valuable setup time.

The base change is tool-less -- you just swap them in and out by depressing the green lever.  The 2200 also has a dedicated base for rail guided routing, unlike the 1400 and 1100, which use that plastic leveling foot.

The ergonomics of the router are also well thought out, with the handles positioned at an angle relative to the rod/edge guide, which makes it easy for the machine to hug the edge when working with the guide or edge profiling.  Having the dust port come straight through the top, as opposed to the base, was also a smart choice, and it really helps when routing long pieces to keep the hose out of the way.  Despite its size, the 2200 actually feels like a delicate machine in operation.

You may not always need the power of the 2200, but it's nice to be able to do things in a single pass that you might relegate to two even on the 1400.  The large opening on the base also means you can (within reason and safety) run bits that you might otherwise only use on a table.  Half Inch shy has a good head to head video of the power differences between the 1400 and 2200:

But there's obviously a cost associated with this, and you need to add the base accessory kit to get all the features.  I'm not sure I would have gotten the 2200 had I not come across a lightly used model for a really good price on the 2nd hand market.  But I'm really glad I did.

 

[Poindexter]

Pat - Although Festool has a 30 day return program I have yet to use it because every tool I've bought is amazing.  In the case of the router, if I started with the "lesser" of the two I'd end up with both

Thanks Edward!  Very very very helpful.  The micro adjust might be the tipping point.

 

[Job and Knock]

Well I'm going to play devil's advocate here because I had an OF1400 and sold it - to be replaced by a deWalt DW622 (also 1400 watts). I found that I simply couldn't live with the back handle arrangement on the OF1400, especially when using a side fence. To me it was just plain awkward to use. I've had Porter-Cable 691s (D-handle base) in the past, but they were never used with a fence, so it wasn't an issue. I still have an old Festo OF1000 (back handle) which I'm very happy with, but that is a much smaller tool than the OF1400 and I can use that single handed which I could never do with the OF1400. In the end I decided that I didn't need the guide rail "runner", but that I did need good dust extraction and that I wanted a small, light router which could take 1/2in shank cutters and which would work with various jigs I own (e.g. Trend hinge jig, Trend letterbox jig, kitchen worktop jigs, draining board jigs, etc). That meant having to have 16, 24 and 30mm guide bushes available. The DW622 (basically an updated Elu OF97e) fitted the bill for me. It's no Festool, but it is small, portable and powerful enough for general use whilst have better than average dust extraction (and allows me to leave my MOF177e and OF2200EB at home most days). The fence can even take a dust hose (as well as the router). The only thing it could do with is a dust shield to go onto the base when bearing routing edges - and I'm working on that

I understand that in NA the deWalt DW622 is not available and that instead they sell the DW621. I don't know about the power or the NA DW622 (I suspect that it's an 1100 watt motor), but the DW621 we have in Europe is an 1100 watt router with the same 8mm collet as the old MOF96. The DW621 in NA is a 1/2in collet machine with the same collet design as the DW618 and DW626 (as well as the DW622). Not sure that 1100 watts would have been enough for my needs, but as our DW621 has only the 8mm collet that was definitely not suitable. iN Europe I'd also take a look at the Bosch GOF1250CE router, a relatively new tool on the market which apes some of the style of the OF1400. the problem with that tool is that it's an 8mm collet design again

 

[Llap Goch]

Pat - Although Festool has a 30 day return program I have yet to use it because every tool I've bought is amazing.  In the case of the router, if I started with the "lesser" of the two I'd end up with both

Naturlich! I have only ever returned one Festool, the little CT17 vacuum. It is a cracking machine but when Herr Festool sent me a £50 off voucher I bought a Midi with the difference. I digress.

The OF2200 is a delightful router and as you gaze upon what is a rather large lump of electrickery and knobs you could be forgiven for being a tad intimidated. But looks deceive, it is as nimble as Nureyev. It is ergonomically superb and has the power to transform and shape wood at an alarming rate. However, even its best friend would never call it cheap and once you have added all the bits, it does become an expensive, and considered, purchase.

The OF1400 fits me like a glove and whilst not perfect, it is a true jack of all trades and master of all. It is superb on a Leigh dovetail jig and having just bought the MFS 700 router template, a delight to move around that outrageously expensive quartet of aluminum profiles. I thought nothing would supplant the Elu MOF177E as a truly great router but the OF1400 has because it is such a beautifully designed yet totally practical bit of kit.

I wouldn't even have to think for a nano-second if it died on me, (having been used constantly for over 13 years without a stutter). It would be a like for like replacement.

 

[ear3]

I understand what you mean with the pistol grip -- you have to go left-handed on the handle when paired with the edge guide, which can feel a bit awkward.  One addition you can use for stabilizing the 1400 in this situation, provided the stock is sufficiently wide, is to have the rods inserted further through the router and come out far enough so you can hook up the guide rail attachment.  That way you are two fisting the knobs -- left hand on the guide rail attachment knob and right hand on the edge guide knob -- and so there is no danger of tipping the router. 

Well I'm going to play devil's advocate here because I had an OF1400 and sold it - to be replaced by a deWalt DW622 (also 1400 watts). I found that I simply couldn't live with the back handle arrangement on the OF1400, especially when using a side fence. T me it was just awkward. I've had Porter-Cable 691s (D-handle base) in the past, but they were never used with a fence, so it wasn't an issue, and I have an old OF1000 (back handle) which I'm very happy with, but that is a much smaller tool than the OF1400 and I can use that single handed which I could never do with the OF1400. In the end I decided that I didn't need the guide rail "runner", that I did need good dust extraction and that I wanted a small, light router which could take a 1/2in shank cutter and which would work with various jigs (e.g. Trend hinge jig, Trend letterbox jig, kitchen worktop jigs, draining board jigs, etc) which means having to have 16, 24 and 30mm guide bushes available. The DW622 (basically an updated Elu OF97e) fitted the bill for me. It's no Festool, but it is small, portable and powerful enoiugh for general use (and allows me to leave my MOF177e and OF2200eB at home most days).

I understand that in NA the DW622 is not available and that instead they sell the DW621. I don't know about the power, but the DW621 we have in Europe is an 1100 watt router with the same 8mm collet as the old MOF96 whereas the DW621 in NA is a 1/2in collet machine with  the same collet design as the DW618 and DW626 (as well as the DW622). Not sure that 1100 watts would have been enough for my needs, but as our DW621 has only the 8mm collet that was definitely not suitable.

 

[Birdhunter]

I have the 1010, 1400, and 2200. The 1400 is the most used by far. The 2200 is better designed, but is very heavy. The 1400 is very easy to hand hold and the ergonomics, although not as good as the 2200, are very good.

 

[Len R]

The best advice is buy and try, if you don't love it, return within 30 days.  That said, I have the 1400, and it is incredibly smooth, solid and powerful, more so than any other router I've tried (Including DeWalt, Makita, Bosch, Porter Cable, Elu).  BUT.  It is very top heavy, I find it difficult to control, and I usually end up reaching for my DeWalt 621 plunge router, which is well made, has plenty of power, and most importantly, just as good dust collection as the 1400.  Also really good sight lines. 

 

[Grakat]

Hi there

The OF1400 router is the general duties router. It takes both collet sizes here in AU, fits the LR32 system, and isn't a big monster like the OF2200. When I buy my Festool router it will be an OF1400

 

[obdoor]

I have 8 professional routers and the 1400 is one I reach for first, I have Festool jigs and templates and the system is a moneymaker

 

[johnbro]

Thanks for all the input. The reason I asked was there was a lightly used one on CL that I had seen for awhile. Wound up pulling trigger today so I will see if this is The One. If so I will probably dump by Bosch 1613 because I can't imagine a case where I would need 3 plunge routers at the same time

Now to find out if SWMBO will notice another systainer in the shop...

 

[Cheese]

I saw this post the other day and decided to pass...but with it resurfacing again I thought I'd add my  [2cents] .

I own a 1010 and a 1400, but my favorite non-plunge router is a Milwaukee 5616. It's a one handed router that is a joy to use, you have so much control, it's amazing. However when using the bastardized plunge base they developed for this router it's a nightmare. A real POS.

For non plunge situations this router is a charm, 2 1/4 HP and one handed operation. Sweet...I like the 1010 but it's kind of cumbersome to use one handed. Then again, that's not what it was intended to be used for.

 

[johnbro]

Well I brought this home and ran a couple of passes with a round-over bit. First impression is that while the ergonomics are a bit, well, odd and I was a little puzzled by the depth control, the smoothness of the router is really amazing. Except for the sound, which is not nearly as irritating as my other routers, it's actually a little hard to tell it's running in my hands. Dust control using the chip guard and shroud with my 36mm hose was also quite impressive. I think I'm gonna like this little guy.

 

[Scorpion]

I have a crap-ton of PC routers (before I ever got a Festool router).  All work forever and ever.  Got a Festool for the LR32 kit and love it.  Experienced the D.C. of a Festool router and love it.  Don't seem to need the ability to attach to the track...maybe just haven't needed to.  In my opinion, don't need one other than the LR32 and the PC's are completely acceptable especially in a router table and much less expensive.  That being said, had The Festool router not been an afterthought (meaning it was the first), I'd like not need as many as I have.

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[Kevin D.]

I have nine or ten routers - lost count - and the 1400 is by far my favorite. 

I also have the MFK 700, but I solely use it for trimming edge banding.  It does a superb job at that with it's offset base.

 

[Scorpion]

I have nine or ten routers - lost count - and the 1400 is by far my favorite. 

Do you have an 1100 too?  I have an 1100 and I'm pondering a 1400 but haven experienced a need for one since the 1100 has done the job this far.  Curious if you have both and prefer the 1400 for specific reason(s)

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[HarveyWildes]

Well I am not one to talk anyone out of a 1400 - I'm off to add one to my stable of routers this morning .

I got a 2200 a while back and the engineering is incredible.  The number of small details of setup and operation, and the smoothness of operation blew me away.  So hopefully the 1400 shares all of that in a lighter package.