Video Review of Festool OF-2200 and Demo (OF-1400 Compared) (574277)

[PaulMarcel]

Somebody (that would be you, USPcompact ) asked to see a video review of the OF-2200.  Thought I'd get to it over the weekend, but didn't.  So here it is on day one of the new prices; hopefully neither router changed prices too much.

The review is of the OF-2200, but I have the OF-1400 on hand to compare as I go and show key differences.  I thought this format would be useful since many of us have used the OF-1400 and can use it as reference.  That's the first two clips of this playlist.  The last clip is a demo where I use the OF-1400 and OF-2200 to route a side profile on 6/4 hard maple and plow a 1" deep by 1/2" groove near the edge.  Dust collection is featured.

 

[USPcompact]

Paul - 

Many, many, many thanks!  That was, again, a fantastic review and comparison.  I'm officially sold on going with the 2200 instead of the 1400.  [cool] 

As to the difference in dust collection, do you think the captured cut + drop down dust sleeve prevented the 2200 from getting air flow into the dado sufficient to pull the chips up and out? 

Shane -

Are the 2200's shipping in with the T-Loc's yet?  ;D

 

[Brice Burrell]

Another great set of videos Paul! [thumbs up]  I was surprised at how well the 1400 handled the 25mm cut, ugly sound but it did it.  As for the weight, like you said it works for you in some instances.  However, I can tell you at the end of a long day that sucker get mighty heavy just lifting to and from the work piece.  The locking depth stop rod  is a feature I happen to really like, it essentially make the 2200 a fixed base router with a flip of latch.  Another thing I like about the locking depth stop rod is being able to lock your depth setting so you don't accidentally change it during use or have that slight difference in height if you don't completely take out the slop in the turret column.  The only downside to leaving the thing locked is you can't release the column lock to withdraw the bit up into the router for safety.

....I'm officially sold on going with the 2200 instead of the 1400....  [cool] 

I think Paul touched on a very good point about choosing the 1400 or 2200, that's accessories.  With the 1400 you be able to LR32 and edging accessories.  While the 2200 will work with plexiglass template, MFS and other accessories, it's base accessories are nearly as much as the 1400.  That said you find a more refined router than the 2200, period. 

......As to the difference in dust collection, do you think the captured cut + drop down dust sleeve prevented the 2200 from getting air flow into the dado sufficient to pull the chips up and out?..... 

 

Nahh, that's just the nature of routing dados.

   

 

[USPcompact]

....I'm officially sold on going with the 2200 instead of the 1400....   [cool] 

I think Paul touched on a very good point about choosing the 1400 or 2200, that's accessories.  With the 1400 you be able to LR32 and edging accessories.  While the 2200 will work with plexiglass template, MFS and other accessories, it's base accessories are nearly as much as the 1400.  That said you find a more refined router than the 2200, period.  

I've already got the 1010 and all the LR32 accoutrements, so I'm looking at getting the 2200 instead of the 1400 to form a pair of routers - one for the small stuff, one for everything else.  If I were to get one router only, it'd definitely be the 1400.  As a set, though, I'm inclined to go with the already owned (and loved) 1010 and the 2200. 

......As to the difference in dust collection, do you think the captured cut + drop down dust sleeve prevented the 2200 from getting air flow into the dado sufficient to pull the chips up and out?..... 

 

Nahh, that's just the nature of routing dados.

While dado routing typically produces tons of waste, it's odd that the 1400 did such a better job of collecting the big stuff than did the 2200.  To move stuff up and out of the dado, you need to replace the air that's being drawn out.  It seems that because the 1400's dust collection attachment is much more open to free air close to the bit, it did a better job of replacing that air and thus evacuating the larger chips that the 2200 left in the dado.  It's not a big deal either way, as both seemed to do a great job picking up the fine stuff which is more annoying to me, anyway. 

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Are the 2200's shipping in with the T-Loc's yet?  ;D

No. If I had to guess, the OF 2200 will be one of the last tools to see the T-Loc conversion.

 

[Brice Burrell]

....While dado routing typically produces tons of waste, it's odd that the 1400 did such a better job of collecting the big stuff than did the 2200.  To move stuff up and out of the dado, you need to replace the air that's being drawn out.  It seems that because the 1400's dust collection attachment is much more open to free air close to the bit, it did a better job of replacing that air and thus evacuating the larger chips that the 2200 left in the dado.  It's not a big deal either way, as both seemed to do a great job picking up the fine stuff which is more annoying to me, anyway. 

I think Paul routed a little more slowly with the 1400 and that probably helped.  One pass back over with the bit retracted generally cleans out the dado pretty well.

 

[USPcompact]

....While dado routing typically produces tons of waste, it's odd that the 1400 did such a better job of collecting the big stuff than did the 2200.  To move stuff up and out of the dado, you need to replace the air that's being drawn out.  It seems that because the 1400's dust collection attachment is much more open to free air close to the bit, it did a better job of replacing that air and thus evacuating the larger chips that the 2200 left in the dado.  It's not a big deal either way, as both seemed to do a great job picking up the fine stuff which is more annoying to me, anyway. 

I think Paul routed a little more slowly with the 1400 and that probably helped.  One pass back over with the bit retracted generally cleans out the dado pretty well.

Oh yeah, that could very well be the reason.  I didn't pay much attention to the speeds - I was too busy thinking about where the new systainer was going to fit.  [big grin]

 

[USPcompact]

Are the 2200's shipping in with the T-Loc's yet?   ;D

No. If I had to guess, the OF 2200 will be one of the last tools to see the T-Loc conversion.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Thanks, all, for the compliments.

Brice is correct that I was routing slower with the OF-1400.  I wasn't intentionally going slower, just trying to push it as fast as I could for a good cut.  The 1400 was definitely working harder than the 2200.  Frankly, I could have gone faster with the 2200.  I wouldn't push the OF-1400 that hard normally.

I'm sure the cleaner 1400 dado is due to both reasons: I was going slower with the 1400 (though I don't think that much slower...) but moreso, you need airflow.  The open top of the 1400 allowed air to flow in, stir up the bits, and carry them off.  On the 2200, for the most part, there was only a little air getting in from the dado (so a 1"x1/2" opening).  I agree, though, usually my dados have curlies in them like the 2200 demo showed.  It would have been interesting to do the 2200 dado a second time with the drop-down shroud left up.  "Exercise for the reader"

I will say, though, neither dado had chatter and both had dead-smooth bottoms (don't go there...)

The bit for reference was a Freud 4" OL 1/2" D carbide upspiral.  The linen-fold is a Whiteside bit, 1.75" CL carbide... a clearance lucky browse that I use a lot.

 

[PaulMarcel]

I couldn't find the thread this morning... here's a link to a post by Nigel where he posted a video of him using the 1400 in a CMS table to plow a big tongue.

 

[pjunger]

Are the 2200's shipping in with the T-Loc's yet?   ;D

I can see in Denmark they hav started to deliver the OF2200 in  T-LOC

/Per

 

[b_m_hart]

I couldn't find the thread this morning... here's a link to a post by Nigel where he posted a video of him using the 1400 in a CMS table to plow a big tongue.

His link in his sig doesn't work - here's a direct link: OF 1400 power

 

[Sparktrician]

Another great review, P-M.  

[smile]

 

[flair woodworks]

Ha ha.  Bondo!  Good comparison.  I was surprised with the power and dust collection of the OF1400.