Virtues of the OF 1400 EQ

[Jim Becker]

I happen to really like my OF1400...so much so, I also bought an OF1010 later on. I still do prefer my DW618 in the fixed base for dovetail jig work due to the lower center of gravity, but the majority of the hand-held router work I do goes to the Festool routers at this point. They are very comfortable to me and that counts for a lot. Lower in noise, too, at least to my senses. (hardly objective...)

 

[Premium Millwork Install]

I just finished this project all the cutting work with the 1400. This is mainly 3/4" mahogany. i wish my bosch 3 1/2 was this good with the same wait. The router was set up in an elipitacl jig to cut the templates for this. Then I used my pattern cuttting bits to finish shaping everything. My bosch would have killed me with the weight. I feel the router has more than enough power to tackle most jobs my bosch does. I own about 9 different routers/trimmers the 1400 hands down beats all of them. I also have most of the bangs and whistles 32mm system is awesome for doors and drilling shelve pins.

Just my opinion

 

[maxtool]

Well, I've had my 1400 for about a week now. So far, I'm VERY happy. It is very smooth, very quiet. For some jobs the dust collection is astonishing (e.g. chamfering). In fact, the dust collection on my Rotex is what sold me on the TS55. Well the collection on the saw is much better than any comparable tool but there's still some clean up. With many jobs using the 1400, there's no clean up. Others (dado) let some escape.
Changing bits is very easy, adjusting depth is delightful.
I've had only cheap routers till now and I'm glad I spend the extra bucks on this.

 

[Les]

I'm not a huge fan of using the 1400 with the guide rail and footie.  I prefer to make my own guide jigs.  Over the years I've made some pretty nice ones that work well.  More recently I made one for the MFT that I really like.  Everyone winds up with their preferred methods that work for them.  For most of the work I've done, I haven't seen an advantage to the guide rails with a router but have seen some disadvantages.  The exception is when I had to make two 7' long grooves.  It was easier to just use the rails than waste a bunch of long material to make 2 grooves.  The rails are nicer than just pushing the router against a straight edge.

Jay,

Can you share your technique maybe with some pic's? If someone has a better mousetrap, I'm sure lot's of folks would be interested.

 

[alanz]

As I mentioned earlier, I'm delighted with my Triton 2.25HP router for use in a CMT table.

However... while perusing Craigslist today, I came across an OF1400 that I couldn't refuse.

It had never been used, and in the systainer along with the router was the Festool bushing guide, the adapter for PC bushings, the adjustable edge guide and adjustable guide stop (so I can use it on the rails for my TS55).

The only thing missing was the owner's manual, so I downloaded it from the Festool USA site.

Now I can leave the Triton in the table and use this VERY sweet OF1400 for handheld work.  The best of both worlds.

I'm impressed with the build quality and feel of this router.

Oh, and I wound up paying roughly 50% of the cost of everything new... so permit me my rare equipment gloat

 

[Eli]

I love it. I wouldn't go back. I'm thinking seriously about a table mounted 2200, but only to spin big panel bits. I love using the 1400 handheld, and only a slot cutter bit has made too big of a mess for the DC to contain it. I used to have a layer of crap all over the front of my clothes every single time I used a router. Not anymore. I use  the 'spring turret' exactly as Jerry described. exact repeatability. I haven't even done much rail guided, but it's good to have in the quiver if the need pops up.

The only thing I'm not wild about is the little rotating window part on top of the DC fitting. Mine's been snapped off, I forgot to open it/remove it and released the plunge lock. But I use it without having fixed it, and have better view of the bit and still most of the DC capacity.

 

[Sparky977]

Chris,
I have the OF1400 and I wouldn't part with it for anything.  I use it with the guide rails to cut my dados and rabbets.  Think about the ability to clamp both LH and RH cabinet sides together and cut the dados together.  Absolute accuracy.  If I planned better, I'd cut the dados out of a sheet of plywood before ripping down the sheets.  I've also used it to make shelf pin holes, but I've subsequently bought a line boring machine.  I'll probably sell off the Festool line boring stuff, but I'll still hang onto the router.  I also have the big Milwaukee in my router table, a PC dedicated to my dovetail jig, and a Bosch Colt for trim work.  Don't overlook the value of using the router with the guide rail.  It opens up new doors.

If you were to sell off the Festool line boring equipment, I am very interested in it.