those that have the 1400 and the 2200 or just the 2200 question

[honeydoman]

what do you usually use the 2200 for?  I have the other 3 routers and I am thinking of buying the 2200.. I want to make cabinet doors on site, as brice's video shows and was wondering what else it would be good for over the 1400..

thanks for help

 

[Guy Ashley]

Kreg

I have the OF2200 and it is used for the "heavy duty" applications in hardwood joinery, routing door locks, stair stringers & rebating panels and could see it's use for making raised panels etc in your line of work.

It is an absolute monster in terms of power but is amazingly easy to handle, probably because of the sheer weight of it. Someone on here described it as "a hand held shaper" and it has the raw power to do things I would never try with a hand held router before!

I also have the 1010 for light applications and so have no need of the 1400 and have never used one, so cannot comment on its "fit all" possibilities.

I know Woodguy does a lot of hardwood joinery and he has the 1400 so it must have some guts to it also.

Hope that helps

Guy 

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I bought the 2200 after being wowed in the router class we took together.  It's a great tool, but frankly I don't use it much.  I can see it for solid surface work and raising panels on site.  I've used it for a couple of big ass roundovers and some mortising, but personally I find its size often gets in the way of joinery work which is usually in pretty tight spaces.

A big part of this is that I just haven't made a real concerted effort to use the 2200.  My 1400 does everything I have asked of it gracefully so I only pull out the 2200 when I am not rushed, which isn't often.  Hope to set aside some time to get acquainted with it this year (sounds like a good new year's resolution!).

 

[Brice Burrell]

what do you usually use the 2200 for?  I have the other 3 routers and I am thinking of buying the 2200.. I want to make cabinet doors on site, as brice's video shows and was wondering what else it would be good for over the 1400..

thanks for help

Kreg, this is a great question and I'm not sure I have a good answer.  I know Paul has a video showing both routers and he shows that the 1400 has some serious muscle.  There is one drawback with the 1400 with larger bits and that's some degree of inconvenience and reduced dust collection compared to the 2200.  You have to be careful with the 1400 with a larger bit and the dust collection shroud, that's not the case with the 2200.  Now specifically to your cabinet doors application, when the occasion calls for it, the 2200 will allow you to rout with a (much) larger raised panel bit with good dust collection.

Now, here's the cold hard truth, there is a lot of overlap in capabilities between the 1400 and 2200 as far as everyday routing is concerned.  Sure there might be a few routing projects that you would need the power of the 2200 for.  But honestly that might only be a handful of times in a year (or maybe even a decade).  However, if you have the 2200 I think you'll use it for a fair number of projects each year since it's the most refined router on the market today.  So I'd agree with Jesse, I think you might have to make a concerted effort to find other uses for the 2200.           

 

[honeydoman]

thanks, and that makes sense.. yes I used it in class with jesse and it was awesome and I can find several uses for it and add some to it... it will last for years so overall will get a good return on investment... mostly I think i could make my cabinet doors on site and get the jobs done sooner... as of now I have to make them in my shop at night usually, since my days are filled up so it gets to be a pain, even though a router table is quicker for doors I am thinking of doing them on site with out having to carry a router table with me... ekkks !  no room in van..

brice your video was helpful and once I make up the jigs then away I go.

 

[rxe]

I have the 1010 and the 2200, which is a pretty good combo.  The 1010 can do dovetails and small rebates all day - nice and light.  For everything that needs a 1/2" bit, there's the 2200.

 

[deepcreek]

Kreg,

I use the 1400 for most of my handheld routing needs because of its light weight particularly with the edge guide.  I occasionally use the little Dewalt plunge router for small inlays because the LED lights make it easier to see.

The 2200 is like a good defensive lineman - nothing will slow it down and it's surprisingly nimble despite the large size.  I primarily use it for larger profiles and completing certain operations in one pass that would otherwise require three.

I have a router table in my shop for making raised panels but I'm sure the 2200 would be capable of it on a jobsite.

Hope this helps.

Joe

 

[PeterK]

Not a pro - just a weekend wood whacker.
I have the 1010, 1400 and 2200. If I am going to use a large diameter bit hand held, I always use the 2200 over the 1400. The extra mass - weight of it makes it far less likely to jerk if the bit hits a knot or something hard. To me, it is a safer tool to use for that. Every time I use the 2200. I question whether to keep the 1400 as I just love the design, comfort, convenience, the excellent changable bases, the fantastic dust collection of the 2200. It would be a poor choice to use with something like a dovetail jig due to it's size but for most everything else, the weight and power are definite advantages to me.

 

[Wonderwino]

Hey, Peter!  The only time I used one was in class at Lebanon, but it is on my short list of future must haves.  We did 1" roundovers on soft maple in one pass!  No chips flying either.  It was as smooth as soft-serve ice cream.  I am going to go for it with the metric base kit over a 1400.

 

[Brice Burrell]

Kreg,

I use the 1400 for most of my handheld routing needs because of its light weight particularly with the edge guide.  I occasionally use the little Dewalt plunge router for small inlays because the LED lights make it easier to see.

The 2200 is like a good defensive lineman - nothing will slow it down and it's surprisingly nimble despite the large size.  I primarily use it for larger profiles and completing certain operations in one pass that would otherwise require three.

I have a router table in my shop for making raised panels but I'm sure the 2200 would be capable of it on a jobsite.

Hope this helps.

Joe

It most certainly will.  I stuck the biggest raised panel bit in it that will fit in the opening.  It didn't complain at all routing the panels in one pass in MDF, and that was handheld by the way.

 

[mastercabman]

Kreg,

I use the 1400 for most of my handheld routing needs because of its light weight particularly with the edge guide.  I occasionally use the little Dewalt plunge router for small inlays because the LED lights make it easier to see.

The 2200 is like a good defensive lineman - nothing will slow it down and it's surprisingly nimble despite the large size.  I primarily use it for larger profiles and completing certain operations in one pass that would otherwise require three.

I have a router table in my shop for making raised panels but I'm sure the 2200 would be capable of it on a jobsite.

Hope this helps.

Joe

It most certainly will.  I stuck the biggest raised panel bit in it that will fit in the opening.  It didn't complain at all routing the panels in one pass in MDF, and that was handheld by the way.

That's good to know and maybe i will be interested to get the 2200.I have a Milwaukee 3.5hp and i can't run a raise panel bit without shutting off by the overload protection switch.It doesn't even get hot,it just shuts off.My 2.25 Bosch did better,much better but i do need something with power to do those heavy jobs.

 

[Guy Ashley]

[/quote]
That's good to know and maybe i will be interested to get the 2200.I have a Milwaukee 3.5hp and i can't run a raise panel bit without shutting off by the overload protection switch.It doesn't even get hot,it just shuts off.My 2.25 Bosch did better,much better but i do need something with power to do those heavy jobs.
[/quote]

Its the GSD of the router world! ;D

 

[PeterK]

Hey Alex!
Yea my purchasing of a 2200 with the full kit was a pure luxury and definitely not justifiable. Yet, I quickly forgot the price after using it. The multiple bases come in very handy and I love the engineering.
You just need to cut back on the wine consumption to save up!!  [wink]

 

[plouf]

Hi everybody,

I have the 1010 and the 2200, which is a pretty good combo.  The 1010 can do dovetails and small rebates all day - nice and light.   For everything that needs a 1/2" bit, there's the 2200.

I'd like to come back on this point with a question. If you decide for the of 2200 over the 1400, are there many things you won't be able to do (or do easily) with a OF 1010?

Wouldn't a trim router (a MFK, possibly) be a better complement to the OF 2200? Or do I miss some points?

And to add to the reflexion, I read here and there that the OF1010 is an end of life product which may be replaced  in the foreseeable future by festool.

Some hints would be welcome to make up my mind

- plouf -

 

[Wonderwino]

The OF1010 Plunges; the MFK does not.  I have them both and each is the better tool for different jobs.  The MFK is great for edge trimming, drawer grooves and other fixed-depth applications.  The OF1010 does LR32, mulit pass edge treatments and everything else a plunge router can do with 8mm or 1/4" bits.  (The 8mm bits are everybit as good as 1/2" bits until you get to about 1-1/4" diameters.

 

[plouf]

Hello Wonderwino,

The OF1010 does LR32, mulit pass edge treatments and everything else a plunge router can do with 8mm or 1/4" bits.

Thanks for the precisions about the MFK.

And apart of the fact that OF 2200 is not compatible with LR-32,  do you think there are many thinks this big router can't do, comparing to the OF 1010?

- plouf -

 

[honeydoman]

Plouf.  I already have the 1400. And the 1010. And the 700. I want the 2200 for cabinet door making on job site and was just interested  in other applications for it.

I just ordered 2 router bits from whiteside that are  for making mdf raised panel doors. Will have them in a few days.  And thout it would work for that also

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Hi Kreg,

I use my 2200 all the time for heavy mortising and grooving, panel cuts and just about everything I can do with a handheld router -- it is so powerful and fast that you can move through your cuts pretty quickly and I find the cuts are even smoother with less chatter than cuts using other routers with the same bits. There is no slowing it down, no matter how hard you push and it is so well balanced that it moves around the work pretty easily. You have the other routers for when you need a smaller, lighter machine.  I have said this numerous times before and I will say it again, IMHO this is the best tool Festool makes and I would even argue that it is the best handheld power tool on the market, certainly the best router on the market today. Others might not agree with me on this statement, but it is my opinion for what it is worth. Nothing I have used compares to the the balance, vibration-free and overall power that the 2200 offers and the ease of swapping bases for the best one for the job is a real plus -- a 5-7 second job to unclick and click in the right base for the application at hand. The DC is second to none and the brake stops the spinning bit in seconds -- a real plus when swinging larger bits and it speeds your overall workflow.  

This thing is a pleasure to use in all regards and it is simply an engineering marvel.  I think if you have one you will find uses for it just to have an excuse to experience router nirvana. Pair it up with the Plexiglas Router Template and you can rout your mortises on the side and bottom of your doors with ease as well as cut grooves and slots on edge with ease. Get another edge guide for it too in addition to the one that comes in the accessory kit so that you can center the router on the side of stock that it too narrow for the Plexiglas Template -- one edge guide stores in the bottom of the Systainer the router comes in and the other goes with the Accessory kit. Worth every penny in my book and this would be the one Festool I would hold on to if I had to get rid of all my other Festool tools.    

Another plus -- just think how quickly you could mill up your own customized bead board with this thing? Zip. zip and you would be done.   [poke]

Scot

 

[honeydoman]

Thanks Scott.  Very helpful info

 

[plouf]

Hi,

Thanks Scott.  Very helpful info

Yes indeed Scot! And I will consider the Plexiglass jig even if the price is fairly threatening...

Just wanted to be sure, after reading your post: is there two kinds of edge guide for the OF 2200? Maybe, with my poor English, I misunderstood your point on this...

- plouf -