What Are Your Thoughts On A Used OF2200?

[onocoffee]

If you might have seen my diatribe in another thread about the used DF500, you may have noticed I mentioned this used OF2200 that I came across on Marketplace for $550. It's just the router. No systainer, no accessories - no nothing but the router. In that thread, I estimated that the additional cost to purchase all the kit items in the current SKU, including the M337 and insert, would be about $300 - bringing the total expense to $850. I even noted that this is the lowest overall price for a used OF2200 I have seen in the past year.

But why am I hesitant to get it? I know from the different threads that pretty much everyone agrees that it is a fantastic router with ample power, capabilities, noise reduction, dust collection and handling that is superb. It also seems to be a router that, historically, has had few issues. Is the lack of accessories a real concern? Does it matter that the tool was built in February 2012?

I'm seeking to know whether this is a Go or No Go situation because I wonder if I'm over-thinking it.

I'm planning on going to check it out tomorrow. What should I test and what should I be on the lookout for?

Some things I'm thinking I should be testing: Powers On, Runs, Speed changes, plunge action, locking action, ratchet lock, adjuster movement - anything else?

I've included the sellers pics. I like that he included a pic of the manufacturers plate and the tool overall looks clean. Though there's a little plating pitting on the depth stop rod and some rust on the lock threads.

Thanks!

 

[Jim_in_PA]

If it runs...it's a steal, even without any accessories

 

[Coen]

I don't know what is applicable in the USA, but for the European OF2200's... if you want to use them in the CMS... you want one pre-dating the 2018 (?) revision that includes the NVR.

Oh wait... OF2200 use wasn't ever sanctioned by Festool USA, right? Even though the hardware to use it was still included with the CMS?

Is the lack of accessories a real concern?

What lack?
Included in the sale? Adjust price evaluation accordingly
Or general in the catalog? I think there is quite a bunch of OF2200 accessories?

 

[peter halle]

Just as a heads up, I believe that for a time the 2200 was offered in the US without a systainer.

Peter

 

[luvmytoolz]

As Jim notes, it's a helluva bargain! And there's a guy on ebay that sells the different size collets cheap. No nut though, just the collet.

I'd jump at it myself, you'll be astounded at just how good it is!

 

[Stevenski]

Some things I'm thinking I should be testing: Powers On, Runs, Speed changes, plunge action, locking action, ratchet lock, adjuster movement - anything else?

Just a thought out loud and not sure if it is relevant or even an issue for a router but would concentricity/run out on the spindle be something to check for?

I mention only because of a recent experience when buying a drill press - there was quite a lot of wobble/runout in the chuck which meant that a 3mm hole was coming out at 3,15mm
I had to change the spindle bearings. Fortunately not a too hard or expensive fix.

 

[luvmytoolz]

Just a thought out loud and not sure if it is relevant or even an issue for a router but would concentricity/run out on the spindle be something to check for?

I mention only because of a recent experience when buying a drill press - there was quite a lot of wobble/runout in the chuck which meant that a 3mm hole was coming out at 3,15mm
I had to change the spindle bearings. Fortunately not a too hard or expensive fix.

The OF1400 and the OF2200 do have a concentricity issue most have found. In my case it was play in the fit of the template guide ring, so I did some "percussion maintenance" around the edge and have it pretty well perfect now.

 

[Stevenski]

I did some "percussion maintenance" around the edge

I had to think about that one for a couple of seconds but I got there!


PS is it legal to take a hammer to a Festool?? Isn't there some kind of hell for doing that??

 

[luvmytoolz]

I had to think about that one for a couple of seconds but I got there!


PS is it legal to take a hammer to a Festool?? Isn't there some kind of hell for doing that??

The first rule of percussion maintenance is that we don't talk about percussion maintenance! ;-)

 

[Coen]

The OF1400 and the OF2200 do have a concentricity issue most have found. In my case it was play in the fit of the template guide ring, so I did some "percussion maintenance" around the edge and have it pretty well perfect now.

That is related to how the copy rings are fitted, not wear on the spindle.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That is related to how the copy rings are fitted, not wear on the spindle.

Yeah that's why I mentioned specifically in my case it was the guides at issue, so that to anyone unaware that was maybe testing with a guide ring they might end up thinking it was a spindle issue.

I did recently see a video though where someone put a dial indicator on the spindle of Festool and some other brands routers, and the needle didn't budge at all on the Festools.

 

[smorgasbord]

I want me a metric OF 2200, but live in the US

 

[onocoffee]

Thank you all for your thoughts on this. Sometimes I get mired in the details and have difficulty seeing the bigger picture. I ended up making the drive to see the OF2200 and had a most interesting experience.

The seller works during the day and we arranged to meet around noon. He had his daughter meet me at their house and she showed me the router. While no Systainer, spanner or dust collar, it did have the base plate, guide bushing plate and a four prong 3" slab flattening bit with carbide cutters from a company called Newdeli (not New Delhi or New Dell) installed in the router. Since the bit was installed and there was no spanner - and I spied a slab flattening sled in the garage, I didn't question whether or not the bit was secured in the router.

As I went to test it out and pulled the trigger, the 2200 made a terrible noise as it started up and spun up to speed (it was on the 2 speed setting). If you think of the growl at the brushed motored TS55/75 makes - imagine it being far worse. Like: I'm a bit concerned/scared and shut it down.

Did I just drive two hours for this? Maybe I'm missing something? Looked over the functions of the router, checked the depth stop, checked the speed setting and increased it to 6, pulled the dust shroud down to enclose the routing area. Couldn't think of anything else that I could check and pulled the trigger.

Again, that terrible growl. Holding the trigger, I'm trying to listen and figure out what is going on when it all breaks loose. That router bit wasn't fully secured because it must have worked its way down the collet and made the leap for freedom - at 20,000rpm. As I thought about it later, the lower part of the dust shield helped keep the bit under control as it broke free. The lower dust shield and base plate were blown from the router, with parts of the lower dust shield shattering and flying everywhere - even lacerating the underside of my right wrist. Luckily, I had the bottom of the router pointed away towards some boxes and was able to keep my wits and maintain grip on the router.

You guys are right: it's a Beast.

After that, the daughter called her father and told him we had a problem, so he left work to come down to see what was up. Turns out, the entire family moved to rural Virginia two years ago from the Ukraine (I didn't ask why) and were finding their groove in America but hoped to return to Kyiv.

I admit, I was a bit shaken. Never had a router explode on me like that. Thinking about it now, cranking up the 2200 was probably a bad idea. When the seller arrived, I let him inspect the router and give it a go. With no bit, the router spun up nice and smooth and worked as I expected. I wasn't sure if there was an actual issue, I caused an issue or it was just a loose bit. But I decided to move forward with our deal and accepted the 2200.

Evidently, he had purchased a number of tools to make an walnut epoxy table. His English is a little better than my Russian so the fine details are missing, but I think he bought everything, made the table and then hasn't needed it since. He offered me his SpeTool router sled for $40. I don't really have a pressing need for a sled but at $40, I figured it's a good bet (turns out they are $240 new).

That's my 2200 story. Thanks again for your thoughts and guidance. I always appreciate your insight and expertise.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I want me a metric OF 2200, but live in the US

Like everything else Festool, they are all technically Metric. It's just the scales that are marked inImperial. The steps in the turret stops are still Metric, as are all of the fasteners, copy rings etc. (though there are imperial alternatives now too)
As far as available accessories, there's an entire Systainer set, full of bases, template guides, edge guides, etc.
At that price, I would buy it on the spot, assuming no obvious damage, and that it powers up properly.

 

[luvmytoolz]

@onocoffee That's such a shame about the damage caused by the loose bit, sounds like maybe it was finger tightened?

But getting the router and the sled, well done! You'll greatly enjoy your new beast!

 

[Vondawg]

Ya that sled for 40 bucks is a steal…as a lover of the 2200 I need not say another word about that deal

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I kinda wonder how a guy, who has only been here 2 years, has a 13 year old router, but ok.
You're lucky to have not caught that thing, while flying. I had a guy nearly take out my kneecap, on a jobsite with a 1 1/2" dia, 2" cut length pattern bit. I whizzed past me so fast and stuck in the wall.
From the pic, I would be very skeptical of that bit now. It has obvious spinning/galling marks and the end is deformed.
I would go at it with a stone, at bare minimum, and be very careful spinning it up the first time. Anything sketchy and ditch it immediately. Don't hurt yourself with free tools, just because it was free.

 

[Jim_in_PA]

I want me a metric OF 2200, but live in the US

Like everything else Festool, they are all technically Metric.

I believe that smorgasbord wants a lot of OF 2200s..."a metric ton" of them, as it were.

 

[smorgasbord]

smorgasbord wants a lot of OF 2200s

That's a good one!

But, I'd be content with just one, though.

 

[luvmytoolz]

That's a good one!

But, I'd be content with just one, though.

But if that one OF2200 had some mates, that wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing hey?