What's with the OF1400 frosted plastic dust attach?

[Julian Tracy]

Totally inhibits being able to see what the heck you are routing.  If it was a polished clear plastic, it'd be MUCH better.  Trying to do a free-hand mortice routing operation is an exercise in frustration with this router...

Julian

 

[jonny round boy]

Totally inhibits being able to see what the heck you are routing.  If it was a polished clear plastic, it'd be MUCH better.  Trying to do a free-hand mortice routing operation is an exercise in frustration with this router...

Julian

I don't know what happened to yours, but both of mine were clear when new...

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

You can just take it off....

 

[mishle]

I would not call mine clear either. I find my of1400 view hard to see for free hand work also. It really needs a light also for free hand work. The Rigid that I was ok for free hand work but th.e quality was crap

 

[davee]

Mine is clear round the arbor and frosted at the hose connection.  I can see the blade fine.  Actually, since I accidently raised the bit while still spinning I have a larger opening than desired for best dust collection.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Well, clear must be a subjective word, cause there is some slight texuring to the plastic, which makes is decidedly not plexi-clear.  This is not a case of mine being scuffed up, as the frosted part is inside the molded contours.

Just seems odd that they'd make the choice that resulted in less visibility.

And as to using it without - isn't that the entire point with Festool stuff?  Wish it was like the OF1010, where it was part of the steel base, and choosing not to use the sight-inhibiting plastic ring wouldn't totally eliminate dust collection.  Poor design making it a clip-on deal.

Julian

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Then leave it in place and use the center marks on the tool base. 

It is a router and yes, I do like being able to have pretty good dust/chip collection but, sometimes it is not feasible for the task at hand.

 

[JJ Wavra]

Well, clear must be a subjective word, cause there is some slight texuring to the plastic, which makes is decidedly not plexi-clear.  This is not a case of mine being scuffed up, as the frosted part is inside the molded contours.

Just seems odd that they'd make the choice that resulted in less visibility.

And as to using it without - isn't that the entire point with Festool stuff?  Wish it was like the OF1010, where it was part of the steel base, and choosing not to use the sight-inhibiting plastic ring wouldn't totally eliminate dust collection.  Poor design making it a clip-on deal.

Julian

I have to agree poor design on the shroud.  My 1400 has sat unused for about a year and a half or more since I got the 1010.  About using the marks on the base that is fine if they line up but why should I need to make line if I could just see the bit.  The 1010 has dust collection built in so does the 2200 why the 1400 does not is beyond me.  If I am going to take the shroud of to see the bit and lose dust collection I mind as well have a porter cable router.

Rant over... [scared]

JJ

 

[Julian Tracy]

Thank you!  That's my point.  I see folks here saying the 1400 is THE router to have, but I like the 1010 much better.  The 1400 is heavier than any other 2 1/4HP (it's class) router than I own.

Benefits of dust collection are of course iffy.  Great router, but if the 1010 would handle 1/2 bits, I'd be happy.  (Within it's capabilities, like edge rounding, etc.)

That 1010 is sweet!  Perfectly balanced, effortless in use.

I start reading some of these posts and it's obvious the green koolaid has taken over.  They make some great stuff, but some of the design choices are like "what the heck?".

Reminds me of the video folks here link to of some guy making drawers using Festools - takes like 45minutes to make a drawer, when EVERY single task would be better and easier and more efficient with a router table and table saw...

I'm all for using great tools, and my Festools are the best I have, but the idea that I have to use them for everything, or to try and make my whole shop color-matched, regardless of price or efficiency, is not too smart.

Forgive me, I'm still upset my RS400 systainer doesn't have ANY decent storage for the sandpaper that goes to the sander... ridiculous!

Julian

Julian

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

it's like the official piss and moan club.

So use the 1010 and forget the 1400.  

All over a piece of plastic that is not totally clear.

You can't fit enough sandpaper in any of the sander cases anyways.  Plus they turn to a mess.

Did my old lady sign up here?

 

[Jesse Cloud]

it's like the official piss and moan club.

So use the 1010 and forget the 1400.  

All over a piece of plastic that is not totally clear.

You can't fit enough sandpaper in any of the sander cases anyways.  Plus they turn to a mess.

Did my old lady sign up here?

[big grin]

 

[mouppe]

The 1400 is heavier than any other 2 1/4HP (it's class) router than I own.

The heavier the better, no? Unless, of course, you are using it on the ceiling.

 

[greg mann]

Every solution to a problem has its trade-offs. We want perfect DC but we want to see everything better than on a router with NO DC. Festool gives us alternatives that, when used, often make it unnecessary to have great visibility. The 1010 has a dust port built in but it is just adequate for the 1010. It would be way too small for a 1400. Those folks who love their 1400s have obviously weighed the pros and cons of the visibility versus DC issue and decided which one is most important, and probably on a case by case basis.

Wanting the best of everything in every application is unrealistic. Having the option to do things in a way that enhances the things that are most important for you for a specific application is reasonable as long as you understand you may have to give up something else, or that it at least will need to be less than optimum.

I think even Festool would agree that the 1400 attachment has some limitations. That is probably why they made the 2200 with a drop down shroud and thru-the-tube DC. If they had thought of it they might have designed the drop down shroud into the 1400, but then if he had thought of it, Henry Ford might have started with the Taurus.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

Started with the Terminator Taurus or the newest Taurus? [big grin]

 

[BigHonu]

Agreed that it makes the bit harder to see, though I just take the shroud off and live with the dust if seeing the bit is critical. 

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

I just wanted to weigh in on this. I meant to check my OF 1400 at home and forgot to so I checked the one here in the office. The dust shroud is clear around the bit area and the port going out for the dust collection hose is "frosted" for lack of a better word. I suspect that it's like because the "frosted" is stronger and made to withstand the torsion of the hose connection. Clear plastic is more brittle as I understand it. So, I believe there's a legitimate reason for the way it's designed.

The curved surface does distort the area around the bit depending on your perspective.

Visibility is subjective so I don't mean to discredit the original poster's observation, only to clarify and add context.

 

[vkumar]

I just wanted to weigh in on this. I meant to check my OF 1400 at home and forgot to so I checked the one here in the office. The dust shroud is clear around the bit area and the port going out for the dust collection hose is "frosted" for lack of a better word. I suspect that it's like because the "frosted" is stronger and made to withstand the torsion of the hose connection. Clear plastic is more brittle as I understand it. So, I believe there's a legitimate reason for the way it's designed.

The curved surface does distort the area around the bit depending on your perspective.

Visibility is subjective so I don't mean to discredit the original poster's observation, only to clarify and add context.

Shane I hate to disagree with you, but I design plastic parts for a living.  The frosting (called texturing) is purely a subjective decision, it does not improve strength--but does hide visual defects in molding.  The only thing that can improve strength would be wall thickness or ribbing.  Of course increased wall thickness would enhance the transparency defects which is why the texturing may have been chosen.  Just my 2 cents.

Vijay

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Fair enough, Vijay. I am definitely no expert on the matter and realize my limitations on the knowledge of such things. Thanks for correcting my misunderstanding of plastics, sir.  [wink]

I guess my point was that the texturing is not around the bit area, in my opinion, and shouldn't impair the visibility.

 

[nickao]

Well, really the visibility on the the Festool routers is not very good, irregardless of the plastic being clear.

When I free hand route to a line it is just a pain, so I pull out another router or I just take the entire plastic piece off the Festool and deal with a bit of dust..

The OF 1400 is usually guided by something  so seeing the bit on them is not really a big issue while the router is turned on for me.

 

[fdengel]

I would not call mine clear either. I find my of1400 view hard to see for free hand work also. It really needs a light also for free hand work. The Rigid that I was ok for free hand work but th.e quality was crap

I have a Ridgid router, and I love it.  I've used it both "freehand" and in a table, plus have used it up against one of those generic guides you can clamp down and push the tool against.

The only reason I even have a Festool router in the back of my mind as a possible future purchase (ignoring the dust collection for the moment) is the ability to use it with the guide rails, which I have no doubt would be desirable in a large number of situations.

Of course, every Festool tool I've bought so far has gone so far beyond my expectations...