Which Router to buy ?

[Danielharrison]

Hi,
This is my first post on a forum, I am seeking some advice on which router would best suit the tasks I perform. I cover all aspect of carpentry work from first fix through to finish carpentry, I will mainly be using the router with worktop jigs, door hinge and lock jigs and general use for example rebating stock.

I would like to know if any users have found that the 1400 is underpowered or struggles to complete any tasks or whether it would be best having two routers for example the 2200 and 1400 each dedicating to separate tasks.

I hope this thread is okay, and look forward to your replies
Many thanks.

 

[Runhard]

If you could only have one router it should be the OF1400. The best combination for two routers would be the OF2200 and OF1010. I started off with the OF1400 because I thought that I would only need/want one Festool router, I had two other Porter Cable routers. I now have the OF 2200 and MFK700 to go along with the OF1400. I have not found the OF1400 to be underpowered for any of the task I have used it for. I have thought about buying the OF1010 as well, but I will probably wait until it gets updated and that may be a while.

 

[KescoNY]

Hi everyone.  Sal from New York.
Been lurking on this great site for a while and finally joined.

I own the 1010, 1400 and 2200. I would say 95% of the time i use the 1400 because of its size power combination. I very rarely find it underpowered. I think its very important to be familiar with the type of species of wood you are working with and matching that with proper speed and bit but that goes for any router.

If we are doing production work we mount the 2200 in the cms but if i was the only one using it, i think i can survive just on the 1400 alone

 

[Danielharrison]

Thanks for you feedback, as you both have the 2200 would you advice buying the complete  accessory pack when purchasing  this router, or buying induvidual components whether this be guide rail adaptors or the side fence separately?.

Thanks.

 

[KescoNY]

One thing i hate the most is not having something when i need it so i always get the accessory kit when available for any tool i buy.

    If you already need the guide rail adaptor and the side fence, i would think buying the accessory kit is a good value . I think once you have the other accessories in the kit at your disposal, you will find a way to use them.  I have used everything in the kit even tho during my purchase i did not have much use for some of the items. 

 

[Runhard]

Thanks for you feedback, as you both have the 2200 would you advice buying the complete  accessory pack when purchasing  this router, or buying induvidual components whether this be guide rail adaptors or the side fence separately?.

Thanks.

Yes, I have the accessory kit and would advise to purchase one. I bought the metric version. 

 

[Danielharrison]

I think I am moving towards having two routers each for induvidual task, the 2200 and 1400 should cover all aspects of work which I cover. I will be looking to get the accessory kits as well, like you said I hate being without something which will make my life easier.

 

[KescoNY]

Its funny i said earlier i don't use the 2200 often yet i will have it mounted on cms today for some deck railing work 

 

[Kev]

a double  [welcome] !!

Festool price their accessory kits in a way that makes it crazy not to buy them - OF2200 and CARVEX kits are "relatively" bargains.

The 2200 is a beautiful machine, but it is BIG and you won't like using it to do small tasks. The 1010 excels at small tasks, but is limited as it doesn't take half inch bits.

The 1400 is a perfect all rounder if you only want one router ... but with Festool the "only one" thinking doesn't last very long!

If you fancy yourself using the LR32 system and also think you may use your router in a dovetail jig, the 1010 becomes very attractive.

 

[KescoNY]

a double  [welcome] !!

Festool price their accessory kits in a way that makes it crazy not to buy them - OF2200 and CARVEX kits are "relatively" bargains.

The 2200 is a beautiful machine, but it is BIG and you won't like using it to do small tasks. The 1010 excels at small tasks, but is limited as it doesn't take half inch bits.

The 1400 is a perfect all rounder if you only want one router ... but with Festool the "only one" thinking doesn't last very long!

If you fancy yourself using the LR32 system and also think you may use your router in a dovetail jig, the 1010 becomes very attractive.

Not to get off topic but has anyone had a chance to use the 1010 for edge band trimming?  I still do it the old school way with either a razor in pine or fastcap trimmer.

  I have not used the 1010 for this purpose but wondering if its worth the setup especially on larger projects 

 

[Danielharrison]

My collection is slowly building I currently have the PSB 300 eq jigsaw, EHL 65 eq planer, TS 55 track saw and CTL 26 dust extractor. I have really brought into the Festool system and have seen my work and efficiency improve.

I know what you mean about the "only one thinking" haha I find myself continually looking at the next tool I can purchase.

The only thing stopping me buying the 1010 opposed to the 1400 is simply all my router bits are 1/2 inch cutters.

 

[Kev]

a double  [welcome] !!

Festool price their accessory kits in a way that makes it crazy not to buy them - OF2200 and CARVEX kits are "relatively" bargains.

The 2200 is a beautiful machine, but it is BIG and you won't like using it to do small tasks. The 1010 excels at small tasks, but is limited as it doesn't take half inch bits.

The 1400 is a perfect all rounder if you only want one router ... but with Festool the "only one" thinking doesn't last very long!

If you fancy yourself using the LR32 system and also think you may use your router in a dovetail jig, the 1010 becomes very attractive.

Not to get off topic but has anyone had a chance to use the 1010 for edge band trimming?  I still do it the old school way with either a razor in pine or fastcap trimmer.

  I have not used the 1010 for this purpose but wondering if its worth the setup especially on larger projects

I'm of the opinion that a dedicated router as a trimmer is the way to go. Once set up you know it's going to achieve the same result. You can certainly do this with the 1010, but a plunge router is a bulky unit for such a task.

 

[Wuffles]

I think I am moving towards having two routers each for induvidual task, the 2200 and 1400 should cover all aspects of work which I cover. I will be looking to get the accessory kits as well, like you said I hate being without something which will make my life easier.

Seriously you should be going 2200 & 1010 if you are intent on having two. Speaking as someone who started with a 1400 and moved onto the other two.

 

[Danielharrison]

I think I am moving towards having two routers each for induvidual task, the 2200 and 1400 should cover all aspects of work which I cover. I will be looking to get the accessory kits as well, like you said I hate being without something which will make my life easier.

Seriously you should be going 2200 & 1010 if you are intent on having two. Speaking as someone who started with a 1400 and moved onto the other two.

If you don't mind me asking what jobs do you perform with your 2200, which you can't do with the 1400?

 

[tiralie]

I would like to know if any users have found that the 1400 is underpowered or struggles to complete any tasks or whether it would be best having two routers for example the 2200 and 1400 each dedicating to separate tasks.

1400 for sure. The 2200 is too much machine for your intended purposes. The 1400 does not struggle in pine or soft wood rebate, door or lock jigs.
I think the 1010 is a better second router, particularly for jigs.
The advantage of the 2200 is the accessories and the system, but for site work the 1400 is a great all round machine. I could complain about the vacuum hose attachment, as I like the 1010 and 2200 better but it still picks up all of the chips when you are routing deep mortises for doors etc.

For shallow rebates I like the 850. It sets up fast.
Tim

 

[jt073]

The 1400 is a neat machine with a decent amount of oomph.  But you cannot beat the 2200 fi you are doing a decent run of rebating for example. 

Your normal hinge and lock rebates etc would be fine with the 1400, but for a deep recess with a bigger cutter, the 2200 is so much more powerful.  I recall doing a lot of cut-outs for some largish Soss hinges which needed to be very precise - I guess the 1400 would have done it, but the 2200 laughed through it - the added heft provides much greater directional stability.

at the other end of the scale, the 1010 is a dream to use - eg small vertical hinge rebates etc, as it is so much lighter than the 1400.

So the answer is all three (admittedly from someone who has all three....).

I was going to say "hope that helps", but I suspect it doesn't very much.

Cheers

 

[Wuffles]

Seriously you should be going 2200 & 1010 if you are intent on having two. Speaking as someone who started with a 1400 and moved onto the other two.

If you don't mind me asking what jobs do you perform with your 2200, which you can't do with the 1400?

Nothing, just do things quicker with a 2200 as in you can remove more material in one go. I never bound up the 1400 or bogged it down, but you could hear the struggle sometimes if you tried to take out too much oak worktop on a particular pass.

Nowt wrong with the 1400, but I'm just saying, if you're getting two, don't get a 1400 and a 2200 (too much crossover), go for the 1010 and the 2200. If you're intent on one only, go for the 1400.

You won't regret either decision, just one path costs you a lot more money, and I think most would agree with that statement.

 

[Holmz]

a double  [welcome] !!

Festool price their accessory kits in a way that makes it crazy not to buy them - OF2200 and CARVEX kits are "relatively" bargains.
...

[eek] 1/2 say they are a bargain, and 1/2 say otherwise.

Back to the question.
If you are using a Router table then maybe a different router?

I have a 8-mm router (1000W) and it does not struggle.
I can do all the hinge and template stuff with no drama.

The 1100 sounds like it is probably in the direction, and a table with a beast like a Triton maybe worthwhile for the bigger stuff..

 

[MrToolJunkie]

Seriously you should be going 2200 & 1010 if you are intent on having two. Speaking as someone who started with a 1400 and moved onto the other two.

If you don't mind me asking what jobs do you perform with your 2200, which you can't do with the 1400?

Nothing, just do things quicker with a 2200 as in you can remove more material in one go. I never bound up the 1400 or bogged it down, but you could hear the struggle sometimes if you tried to take out too much oak worktop on a particular pass.

Nowt wrong with the 1400, but I'm just saying, if you're getting two, don't get a 1400 and a 2200 (too much crossover), go for the 1010 and the 2200. If you're intent on one only, go for the 1400.

You won't regret either decision, just one path costs you a lot more money, and I think most would agree with that statement.

I agree with Wuffles - the 1010 and 2200 is the ultimate combination and more costly than the 1400. But, the 2200 is an engineering marvel.

 

[MrToolJunkie]

a double  [welcome] !!

Festool price their accessory kits in a way that makes it crazy not to buy them - OF2200 and CARVEX kits are "relatively" bargains.

The 2200 is a beautiful machine, but it is BIG and you won't like using it to do small tasks. The 1010 excels at small tasks, but is limited as it doesn't take half inch bits.

The 1400 is a perfect all rounder if you only want one router ... but with Festool the "only one" thinking doesn't last very long!

If you fancy yourself using the LR32 system and also think you may use your router in a dovetail jig, the 1010 becomes very attractive.

Not to get off topic but has anyone had a chance to use the 1010 for edge band trimming?  I still do it the old school way with either a razor in pine or fastcap trimmer.

  I have not used the 1010 for this purpose but wondering if its worth the setup especially on larger projects

Yes - I use it for this purpose and it does a great job. Probably not as easy as the MFK, but no limits on bit length either and more versatile of a machine.