Which do you prefer? OF1400 or 2000?

[ArtFrank]

Getting ready to buy one or the other
I've seen many posts discussing the OF 1400. Has anyone purchased or worked with the 2000?. It appears that the 1400 will cover the run-of-the-mill stuff quite favorably. The 2000 has more power, and weighs more. Are there shortcomings (power/versatility) of the 1400 that the 2000 addresses?

 

[Frank Pellow]

The 2000 is from an older generation of Festool tools and I don't think many people buy it anymore.  I like my 1400 and I find that it has plenty of power, but if I were looking for something more powerful, I certainly would not pick the 2000 -I would pick the Triton 3.25 hp.  As far as I can tell, the big Triton is a better router than the big Festool -and for a whole lot less money.

 

[Brian 57]

Frank,
As regards the the remark about the Festool 2000 being from an older generation, is this just that it's been out for a while, or do you perceive some generational shortcomings?
I absolutely don't want to start a Festool v Triton debate, (especially of the heated variety); I'm aware that the Triton has been designed for the table; the Triton is considerably cheaper. However, you seem to be rating the Triton above the Festool in absolute terms or am I misreading what is in fact a "points  decision"?
Regards

 

[EdL]

I have the of2000 router, I purchased it when they were first introduced.
First it is not made by Festool, they are made by Mafell. IMHO there is no quality difference between it and any other Festool product.
If I had to do it over again, I would have waited and got the of1400, it's a much more managable sized router for handheld use. The of20000 has it's place in the shop, but I really don't have a lot of need for a 3hp handheld router. In the future I will probably table mount it, with a Woodpeckers unilift.

Ed

 

[Dave Rudy]

I have both, but find that I rarely use the 2000.  The 1400 is my router of choice for "topside" operations.

Dave

 

[Frank Pellow]

Frank,
As regards the the remark about the Festool 2000 being from an older generation, is this just that it's been out for a while, or do you perceive some generational shortcomings?
I absolutely don't want to start a Festool v Triton debate, (especially of the heated variety); I'm aware that the Triton has been designed for the table; the Triton is considerably cheaper. However, you seem to be rating the Triton above the Festool in absolute terms or am I misreading what is in fact a "points  decision"?
Regards

The generation in which the Festool 2000 resides is so old that it is not even made by Festool -it is made by Maffle.  There are lot of new features on the Festool-made 1400 that are not on the 2000.

I am rating the Triton 3.25 hp above the Festool 2000 in absolute terms -but that is from reading, not from actual use.  I own both both their small brothers (that is, the Festool 1400 and the Triton 2.25 hp) and I would rate those routers about equal.

 

[ArtFrank]

What a valuable resource this FOG is...
I was at first, hesitant to post this, because I had seen very little discussion on either site, re the 2000.

Thanks to those that weighed in.  
I'm going for the 1400...

 

[Bob Marino]

  Art,

You have gotten great info! This is a wondeful resource that Matt has provide for us.

Regarding the 2000 vs 1400. The 2000 is an older design, made by Mafell to Festool's specs. It is a production style router, a true workhorse. It has double sealed bearings, which is very important (especially when routing solid surface with it's abrasive dust) in eliminating chatter. Also, the handle configuartion is more traditional and that helps  those solid surface guys makin' the sink cutouts.
The 1400 is totally Festool and among other things is way better suited for use on the rails.

BTW, Festool manufactures (or at least did manufacture) a 1010 style router for Mafell.

Bob

 

[Jerry Work]

From actual ownership of both and hard professional use I put the Festool 1400 quite ahead of the Triton.  The design of the Triton is good, but the manufacturing execution is not.  Too many weak parts, too much gear lash in the raising/lowering mechanism, it gets stiff with age and use even to the point of breaking gears and knobs/shafts, great collet and lock, switch and internal motor parts are vulnerable to dust infiltration, too much vibration, etc.  The Triton simply lacks the Festool build quality and sound engineering.

Jerry

Frank,
As regards the the remark about the Festool 2000 being from an older generation, is this just that it's been out for a while, or do you perceive some generational shortcomings?
I absolutely don't want to start a Festool v Triton debate, (especially of the heated variety); I'm aware that the Triton has been designed for the table; the Triton is considerably cheaper. However, you seem to be rating the Triton above the Festool in absolute terms or am I misreading what is in fact a "points  decision"?
Regards

The generation in which the Festool 2000 resides is so old that it is not even made by Festool -it is made by Maffle.  There are lot of new features on the Festool-made 1400 that are not on the 2000.

I am rating the Triton 3.25 hp above the Festool 2000 in absolute terms -but that is from reading, not from actual use.  I own both both their small brothers (that is, the Festool 1400 and the Triton 2.25 hp) and I would rate those routers about equal.

 

[MarkusS]

The OF 2000 is almost the same machine as the Mafell LE 65, some details are different.

It's quite normal for german tool-manufacturers to cooperate, especially for products which have a relatively small market. In Germany, we distuingish woodworkers in "Schreiner" und "Zimmermänner". The "Schreiner" is the cabinetmaker which usually does the "small" stuff and the "Zimmermann" usually does the "big" stuff like trusses, framehouses or stairs. Mafell makes machines for the "Zimmermann" and Festool makes machines for "Schreiner". So, if you need a circular saw with a 640 mm blade or a high powered router you go usually for Mafell 

Mafell has absolutely the same high quality standard as Festool - both make machines without compromise, both don't trade quality for money (price).

Many tools Festool offers today have their ancestors in tools which were build by "Holz-Her" - a german tool-company Festool acquired in 2000.

On the other hand, the Festool dust extractors are made by Kränzlehttp://www.kraenzle.com/en/ the Systainers come from Tanoshttp://www.tanos.de/ and the Festool router bits (as far as I know) are made by Leitzhttp://www.leitz.org/leitz_english/produkte/index_produkte.html

Regards
Markus

 

[mb]

I read Mr. Marino's helpful post this morning.  Can someone tell a new festool amateur hobbyist if the TS-75 and the 1010 router can cut and shape solid surface materials like corian, maybe silestone or natural stone.    Thanks.    mb

  Art,

You have gotten great info! This is a wondeful resource that Matt has provide for us.

Regarding the 2000 vs 1400. The 2000 is an older design, made by Mafell to Festool's specs. It is a production style router, a true workhorse. It has double sealed bearings, which is very important (especially when routing solid surface with it's abrasive dust) in eliminating chatter. Also, the handle configuartion is more traditional and that helps  those solid surface guys makin' the sink cutouts.
The 1400 is totally Festool and among other things is way better suited for use on the rails.

BTW, Festool manufactures (or at least did manufacture) a 1010 style router for Mafell.

Bob

 

[counterfix]

i use all these tools all most exclusively in my solidsurface business from the 75 to 1400 2000 2200 they have been an exceptional inprovement in the last 12 yrs here as specially the rotex and ct's [big grin]

 

[Brice Burrell]

I read Mr. Marino's helpful post this morning.  Can someone tell a new festool amateur hobbyist if the TS-75 and the 1010 router can cut and shape solid surface materials like corian, maybe silestone or natural stone.    Thanks.    mb

Welcome MB. I don't have experience with solid surface but I know the TS75 will work beautifully.  This TS75 blade is specifically made for laminate and solid surface.

The OF1010, on the other hand, might be a little underpowered for this type of work. I think you'd be much farther ahead with the OF1400 or better yet, the OF2200.  The 2200 was largely designed for the solid surface industry.    

 

[mb]

Thanks fellas.  Found the saw blade and will take a look at the 1400.  mb