Why use a festool router?

[Loren Woirhaye]

I've had a Festool 1000 router for a few years.  It's
a favorite but since it's a small router I only use it
here and there where it is appropriate.

A couple of days ago I used this tool to trim an exposed
piece of wood with a flush trimming bit - a vertical cut
where I would be lifting the router over my head. It was
in a clean area in a home so I didn't want to make
a mess.

I figured the Festool would grab maybe 80% of the dust
so I put down plastic.  I set the fence and dust shroud as
close as possible so I would have a good chance of getting
the dust.

2 minutes later - virtually no dust.

The little Festool router with the CT33 made a very messy
cut into a non-problem. 

This router definitely has some other charming features...
but the dust collection is, now I realize, phenomenal.

 

[Brad Evans]

>>>  Why use a festool router?

One word:  Guiderails!

Though in my case, I haven't found dust collection with my OF1000 to be particularly great.  But I haven't used it above my head, yet.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Festool routers, in my experience, the OF1400 are great if you are in a hurry or value your time.

- The copy ring (template guide) snaps in.  no screws, no centering cone, but well centered.  no tools needed

- The dust shroud snaps on and there's a lever to allow it to come off - no tools, no screws.

- The collett assembly/ motor ratchets in both directions - one wrench and you leave it in place instead of turning, replacing , turning, etc.

- The router uses the same guiderail, power cord, and vac hose that my saw does.

  - The dust collection is so good, that I seldom have anything to clean up at the end of the project, again saving time.

I find that I can have the job finished with Festool while I would still be hunting for wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. with my Bosch router.

 

[Brice Burrell]

To me the real value in the Festool routers is the complete line of accessories Festool offers. No other company is even close to providing the options Festool does.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Festool routers, in my experience, the OF1400 are great if you are in a hurry or value your time.

- The copy ring (template guide) snaps in.  no screws, no centering cone, but well centered.  no tools needed

- The dust shroud snaps on and there's a lever to allow it to come off - no tools, no screws.

- The collett assembly/ motor ratchets in both directions - one wrench and you leave it in place instead of turning, replacing , turning, etc.

- The router uses the same guiderail, power cord, and vac hose that my saw does.

  - The dust collection is so good, that I seldom have anything to clean up at the end of the project, again saving time.

I find that I can have the job finished with Festool while I would still be hunting for wrenches, screwdrivers, etc. with my Bosch router.

I like my OF 1400 which I purchased new, but the snap-in bushings are not well centered on my unit.  I had to hand file the PC style brass bushings that came with my Whiteside inlay kit in order to be able to move it enough toward center to allow the centering mandrel supplied with the kit to pass through the bushing.  Rotating the snap-in bushing made no difference in the amount of direction of the offset, nor did rotating the PC style busihing supplied by Whiteside which was a very tight fit into the Festool PC bushing adapter.  This means that the location of the aluminum ring fixed in postion into the base of my OF 1400 with little metal dowel pins was originally assembled and the dowel pins set with this mounting ring off center.  I have informed several Festool representatives about this issue and they won't do anything about it.  To make it reasonably near center and thus useful to me for precise work, I had to spend a good bit of time judiciously filing away the outside of the PC style bushing supplied by Whiteside after marking all of the components so they can always be inserted in the same relative position to achieve the best centering.  Even after my efforts, it is still off center, but at leat the centering mandrel will pass through the bushing while rubbing on one side.  When delivered, the mandrel could not be passed through the bushing.  Anyone who follows router bit tooling knows that Whiteside produces top quality products.  Otherwise I am quite pleased with my OF 1400.

Dave R.

 

[honeydoman]

I have both the 1400 and the 1100 and I use the 1400 most of the time.  it works great for cabinet holes for shelves, fluting trim pieces and using an ogee bit for edging.  it is lightweight, easy to change bit or set up for holes or fluting. 

I originally bought the 1100 for the shelf holes, but I found the guide would slip a little bit and if you did not check it it would get lose and move a tad.  where the 1400 the guide screws underneath and to the plate no movement.

and when I use the vac it sucks it up great.

 

[nickao]

Dave same experience here, the main reason why my DeWalt routers are used the most for template guide work and my Festool routers are virtually new.

 

[Ken Milhinch]

To me the real value in the Festool routers is the complete line of accessories Festool offers. No other company is even close to providing the options Festool does.

I agree completely, and the excellent dust collection is a bonus.

 

[Markus K.]

I got the OF 1010 and the OF 1400. 

- great handling
- use with the guardrail
- copy ring mounting on the OF 1400
- dust collection

I'm using a dust collection hose from Festool with integrated Cable, so it's easy to change the routers, sanders and the Domino.
Router on the rail with dust-collection

 

[bill-e]

Good answers but I think the original question was rhetorical