Usefullness of the Festy Router Table Widener

[jnug]

I had asked about the Festy Router Table Widener in a thread that I really started regarding the Quick clamps vs the Threaded clamps. One poster suggested that I should start a separate thread asking about the Table Widener as that question might have been lost in the shuffle.

Anyway purchasing a number of accessories for my Festy router because it is just time. But I have spent a good deal on woodworking stuff the last 30-45 days and I need to invest wisely in these accessories at this point.

The Festy Table Widener is apparently designed to help stabilize the router when there is little material on the surface facing the base of the router. I am guessing that having a subbase with a wider footprint spreads the weight of the router over more area thus providing more stability. It looks a good deal like the subbases that Pat Warner makes for Dewalt routers and some others as well. Pat's has a handle out there on what is an acrylic subbase that is wider than the standard subbase. The Festy does not have a handle but it surely must add some stability in the right situations.

I am just wondering if in part there may be little interest in it because the base is held on by six screws for one thing. So you probably have to really be thinking you need it for a particular job to want to thread the six screws out to remove the standard base and then thread them back in to install the "Table Widener" base in its place. Then you will likely remove it as soon as the job is done not wanting to have this one ear hung out there if it is not going to do anything further for you.

So do you guys think the Table Widener is an accessory purchase that can be avoided or is it a valued accessory that one really does need after all. Concerned that however many are out there are gathering dust in tool cabinets everywhere.

Thanks guys.

 

[PA floor guy]

Jnug,
  What router do you plan on installing in it

 

[jnug]

I am getting a smaller Festy that will be my carry with me Router. This part is going to go on my older router....an OF2000 which will be staying home now but still used mainly handheld.

 

[mouppe]

For what it's worth I use mine a lot with my OF1400- perhaps as much as the regular base- but also because it is my preferred base to use with the guide rail.

 

[builderbob]

I saw this solution previously on FOG years ago. This is a great way to utilize the rods and guide rail parts as a table widener. It's great because it's not a separate plate that you have to screw on/unscrew. It all takes too much time in my opinion.

 

[peter halle]

I am like Bob and use the guide rail adaptor instead. 

Peter

 

[builderbob]

Peter, I think it was you who showed that idea a bit back! 

 

[jnug]

That is a GREAT idea. You hit the nail on the head about the time element. I guessed that was an issue right from the start and would prevent people from using the dedicated Widener even when it looked like the right thing to do.

I am gonna' have to try that...looks to good to be true but I am sure it works. You guys have already done it!

 

[hrrb]

I also use the guide rail adaptor.

The only problem is that the underside of the adaptor is not as smooth as you could wish. So when needed I put masking tape on the underside of the adaptor or place a piece of thin fabric between the adaptor and the surface I'm working on.

Kind regards
Henrik

 

[Wuffles]

I just figured this out today, and THEN found the thread describing it. In fact I was just responding to [member=46154]jnug[/member] as an idea in his other thread about the base widener and realised he'd split it into this one - here's what I had written:

I've just used (can't believe I didn't realise this before) the rail adaptor and the bars as an out-rigger whilst performing a bit of flush trimming where I have normally balanced less than half the base on the edge of the work and breathed slowly throughout.

Let's just say that this time I won't have to get the sander out to repair the dips and accidents I normally get during my balancing act.

I bet everyone does it and I'm the last person to figure it out.

Turns out I am in fact the last person to figure it out. Years! Years of sanding mistakes out thinking, "there must be a better way". Idiot.

 

[jnug]

Although it does not solve the time element issue I have to believe at some point Festy will just hold a big inventory clearance sale and try to get rid of those Wideners. They have to be stacked up like cord wood in some warehouse someplace. At some point even Festy, prone not to discount, will want to get their money out of them somehow.

 

[fastbike]

I also use to rods and guide rail adaptor. Works well and IMO makes the "table widener" unnecessary. As stated earlier, a bit of masking tape makes it slide a bit easier.