Visible Difference Between 1.5* and 0* Base for MFK700?

[alltracman78]

I'm trying to see if there's a visible difference between the 2 horizontal bases for the MFK700.
I know they're supposed to come with a sticker labeling them 1.5* or 0*.
How can you tell if there's no sticker? With just the bare base, no packaging.
Is the angle difference visible to the naked eye?

I have the 0* base, and have held the 1.5* base, but never had a chance to compare them side by side.

Does anyone have both and willing to take a side by side picture?

 

[cpw]

It looks like the 0 degree base might be the 1.5 degree base with some machining to make it actually zero degrees.

 

[PaulMarcel]

Oh the machining difference is pretty obvious in that photo. Another way to tell if you didn't have both and needed to know which you had would be to use calipers inside the throat and see if the thickness is the same everywhere for the 0º base. The 1.5º will taper.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Something looks odd there. I'm 99% sure that the top surface is machined on all of mine.
The confusing thing is that the machining at an angle is on the one marked as Zero?
Plus, as far as I know, the 1.5 degree angled one only relates to the horizonal mounting of the motor.
I'll check into them tomorrow.

 

[alltracman78]

It can't be that machining, the horizontal base mounts at the 2 holes on the end, not on top like the vertical base.
The long axis of the horizontal base is parallel with the cutting edge of the bit.
And, both of the 0* bases in my hand right now have no machining.

*To clarify regarding the machining, I meant that the machining can't be what made it mount at 0* instead of 1.5*, as that's not where the mounting surface of the base is. 
However I was wrong in that I didn't have 2 0* bases, I had 2 1.5* bases.
The machining does seem to signify the base is a 0* base.
More in my post further down.*

View attachment 1

Oh the machining difference is pretty obvious in that photo. Another way to tell if you didn't have both and needed to know which you had would be to use calipers inside the throat and see if the thickness is the same everywhere for the 0º base. The 1.5º will taper.

It depends if the base is tapered or if the mounting angle (surface plus holes) is angled.
Unfortunately I'm trying to figure this before it's shipped to me. I've already received one wrong base.

 

[squall_line]

If nobody else has posted by the time my kids go to bed tonight, I'll take a look at mine.

 

[alltracman78]

I was curious if part number break down would tell me whether it is the base or the support (what Festool calls the piece that actually attaches to the 2 pins on the 700 and holds both adjusting knobs).
Knowing which piece is actually different should help to identify.
I was only able to find part numbers for the 1.5* base (with my limited knowledge of Festools part system).

Festool lists the "support" (491846) as "support, 1.5* (standard equipment)".
While they list the base as just "base" (10226653). Same goes for the "sliding surface".

Just going by this, I would guess the support is what is different between the two?
If anyone is better at digging up part numbers and can confirm?

Interesting side note.
This is saying the 1.5* base is what comes in the kit. I was under the impression the 0* base is what normally came in the kit.

 

[squall_line]

The owner's manual specifically calls out the 1.5* base as part of the -Set, and says that a flush 0* base is an optional accessory.  The 0* base is part number 491427.

I don't think the -B base with the brake is even called out as an accessory in the manual.

Here are all 4 angles of my 1.5* base that came with my -Set.  1.5 degrees is not very obvious when you have it mounted.  There is no part number anywhere on the base.

[attachimg=1]

[attachimg=2]

[attachimg=3]

[attachimg=4]

 

[squall_line]

I suppose if I was feeling squirrely (and had the equipment), I could take apart the adjuster and the table and see whether the plate is machined at 1.5* or if the mounting points are machined at 1.5*, but unfortunately I don't.

If someone has both, it should easier to disassemble and compare.

 

[Cheese]

1.5º base on the left and 0º base on the right...notice the flycutter marks.

[attachimg=1]

1.5º base on the bottom & 0º base on the top...notice the machining marks.

[attachimg=2]

Height differences between the 2 bases.

[attachimg=3]

A different view of both bases but the differences are obvious.

[attachimg=4]

 

[Sparktrician]

Methinks mine are more alike than different, aside from the fly-cutting.  [smile]

 

[squall_line]

One thing I find interesting is how the micro-adjust knob style/markings seem to have no correlation to the model.  I'm sure they have a correlation to the production year, but it's instructive that you can't use those markings to differentiate the models.

 

[Cheese]

One thing I find interesting is how the micro-adjust knob style/markings seem to have no correlation to the model.  I'm sure they have a correlation to the production year, but it's instructive that you can't use those markings to differentiate the models.

I'm thinking the knobs with the mm markings were produced earlier than the ones without any markings. For instance, I purchased my MFK with the standard base in 2013 while I purchased the 0º base around 2020 or 2021. The mm markings on the knobs are nice as a reminder for those folks that don't use the MFK everyday.  [smile]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I was completely wrong on this, last night. I looked at mine today and they are exactly the same as pictured. The machining is on the Zero degree base, so I would assume that they are all made as 1.5 degree in the first place. Then some are pulled out and modified to zero degree.
The machining on top still confuses me though, since you can mount the motor vertically in those holes. I just used one that way a few days ago, which is somewhat rare for me, I use them horizontally mostly.

That is the 1.5 degree base, but the bit isn't angled in the vertical orientation. It has to be the drilling and registration face on the end of the zero degree that changes it.

 

[Coen]

Yeah because they designed it with the top of the 1.5 base being parallel for vertical mount. Then they tilted the whole thing 1.5 degrees to make the 0 base, but had to cut flat the top to allow for vertical use again.

 

[alltracman78]

First off, thank you to everyone that took the time to check their bases and post info, I appreciate it.

I stand corrected, the machining on top of the base does seem to signify the 0* base.
However that machining can't be what makes it attach to the motor at 0*, as that's not the mounting surface for the horizontal position.
Either the 2 dowel holes and the face angle on the end are different between the two, or the lower base is different.
My bet is that top base is what is different.
I also didn't have a difference in the lower base between the 1.5* and 0*.

View attachment 1

View attachment 2

I was completely wrong on this, last night. I looked at mine today and they are exactly the same as pictured. The machining is on the Zero degree base, so I would assume that they are all made as 1.5 degree in the first place. Then some are pulled out and modified to zero degree.
The machining on top still confuses me though, since you can mount the motor vertically in those holes. I just used one that way a few days ago, which is somewhat rare for me, I use them horizontally mostly.

That is the 1.5 degree base, but the bit isn't angled in the vertical orientation. It has to be the drilling and registration face on the end of the zero degree that changes it.

Yeah because they designed it with the top of the 1.5 base being parallel for vertical mount. Then they tilted the whole thing 1.5 degrees to make the 0 base, but had to cut flat the top to allow for vertical use again.

I think they're machined different to begin with. The dowel holes and mating surface on the thin end are what change the angle I think. That has to be machined anyways. Easier to have both bases case the same and then just change the machining I would think?

This morning I was playing with mounting the motor as you have pictured (I've never done it before), and with both of the 1.5* bases I had ( I don't have a 0* base, I made a mistake there).

I didn't spend a lot of time, but I did notice a couple of things.
I tried mounting it vertically on the horizontal base because one of the pictures on the Festool page for the 0* base has it mounted that way, though it seems to have some attachments that aren't available here? I wonder if this has anything to do with the machining on the top? Is/was there a different use for this? Overseas or here?

View attachment 3

I couldn't get the motor to stabilize on the base. It wobbled a little bit. I wonder if that's why the 0* base is machined? To more securely mount? Or maybe it was just me, I didn't try very hard (no time).

One of my bases has slightly less room in the "gap". The area the router bit sits in when the base is mounted horizontally. My router bit was just hitting the end with one of the bases. I'll try to add a picture of that later.

When mounting the motor in the base vertically the sliding steel cover is very very close to the router collet.