Within six months rust on the tracks of the OF1010

[Guus Flater]

I'm sorry when i write something stupid, i'm dutch and me english is not as good as i wish.
But i have a problem with rust on me all the tracks of my OF1010.
I had the router 6 months and the tracks began to rust. I informed "Toolnation" and "Festool Nederland" about this and i could sent it to them for repair. I also could send one of the two chargers of my TSC 55 REB-Plus/XL-FS Li who began to make a high sound when charging an empty battery.
Some time later i got both in return and both looked as new. I felt happy and glad because i could go on with me woodworking.
A few ( 2 or 3) months later the tracks began to rust again and that was not all, the "new" charger begon to make that irritating sound (colewine ?) again.
I will be honest and say that i always clean me tools with a brush and vacuum cleaner before i put the tools in the systainers. I never use oil or something like that. And it is in me workshop not as warm as in me livingroom.
But rust on an important section of the router is not good.
What may i expect from Festool when it comes to quality?
[attachimg=1]
Thanks for reading.

 

[Gwerner]

Personally I don't think this would really be a Festool quality issue. It's more of a "what happens to steel in humid or non-climate controlled environments". If it's stored in a humid area or a shop where the temperature changes considerably, condensation is going to form and cause rust.

If you can't store it in the house, I would recommend getting some desiccant packs to put in the systainer. Might not completely eliminate the chance of rust, but it should help reduce the moisture and cut back on how bad it gets.

 

[Kev]

I live in Australia on Sydney's northern beaches, quite close to the ocean. The air is very corrosive and any bare metal rusts quickly. The legs on my Festool routers haven't been a problem over a period of years now.

You certainly have something "interesting" going on in the atmosphere of your workshop .. I'd be looking into something to assess and deal with it personally. You may even be putting your health at risk [sad]

[member=43644]Gwerner[/member]

 

[Mavrik]

The same thing happened to my OF1010.
Then it got stolen; was replaced by insurance and same thing has happened to new one.

I eventually figured out that lubricating wax is a really good idea on all ferrous based surfaces.

This includes my bandsaw table, drill press, pliers, vernier ...

Keeps away rust and makes them work smoother.

We've probably been spoiled by Festool where so much is made from rust free aluminum.
We get out of the habit of doing iron maintenance.

 

[Cheese]

As [member=43644]Gwerner[/member] stated, dessicant packs are your friend. Lee Valley sells a variant that can be placed in the oven to dry out when it needs to be recharged. You could also try applying Boeshield to the guide rails of the 1010.

If I was faced with this issue, I'd opt for a couple of dessicant packs inside a closed Systainer with the 1010 and I'd apply an anti corrosion treatment to the guide rails such as Boeshield or its equivalent. Better yet...just bring the 1010 indoors to a dry environment.

 

[AlexThePalex]

Maybe it's the Dutch climate, but this happened to every OF1010 I had in my hands. And not just the OF1010, but other tools, bits and drills also, everything where a bit of metal is exposed. Festool metal rusts like crazy here.

In comparison, the DeWalt router I have is spotless, after 17 years. I once by accident left a Festool screw bit on a roof along with a Bosch bit. After a week of heavy rain I returned to discover the Bosch was squeeky clean and the Festool a horror story.

Festool definitely needs to work on its rust protection.

 

[joiner1970]

Here's a good tip... I keep the silica sachets that come with cameras, etc and put them in with routers and cutters. They absorb the moisture and stop things rusting.

It worked for my 1010 in our damp climate

 

[Brent Taylor]

I'm on the  Gulf of Mexico, same thing happens to me,  I use a  little rust remover on a rag, than lube the rods every time I use the router.  Very frustrating.

 

[Distinctive Interiors]

My OF1010 has exactly the same problem, and I've only used it a handful of times.

I think its your fingerprints that cause the problem.
My OF1010 is always stored in its Systainer in a dry environment, but I do also have packs of Silica in ALL my Systainers (Domino's Systainer as well !!!!)

Dry Silicone Lubricant Spray has helped to prevent the rust from getting too bad on the Router pillars, but its still there.  :'(

I also have a few Dewalt routers that are years old,.......no rust marks on any of their pillars....!!!!!!

 

[Guus Flater]

Thanks to all for reading and the advice. But i don't like rust on my tools. Me other tools from another brand that i'm using for at least 10 years (without saving them into systainers), have no rust on them.
I mean it when i say that i'm sorry for Festool, but if they use not better material, i will buy new / other (rust-free) tools from another brand (and those are also a little bit cheaper).
"Festool, come on", make good products that i can show to my friends and family.

 

[Timtool]

I was looking for why they didn't plate these rods with hard chrome plating like most brands do or like what you see on hydrolic or pneumatic pistons, turns out that type of chrome plating is extremely bad for the environment, the chrome itself is harmless to the user but the production process creates large quantities of toxic waste and exposes the people working there and the surroundings to carcinogens.

There are healthier but not as effective alternatives, but this could also explain why cheaper tools and tools made in the far east in general have the nice chrome rods, if the customer demands it then they deliver.
Festool is part of a program "REACH" that does this:

REACH is a regulation of the European Union, adopted to improve the protection of human health and the environment from the risks that can be posed by chemicals, while enhancing the competitiveness of the EU chemicals industry. It also promotes alternative methods for the hazard assessment of substances in order to reduce the number of tests on animals.

which may explain why they avoid hard chrome plating.

 

[ear3]

[member=44099]Cheese[/member] Is this the Lee Valley product you're talking about?

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=59367&cat=1,43456

As [member=43644]Gwerner[/member] stated, dessicant packs are your friend. Lee Valley sells a variant that can be placed in the oven to dry out when it needs to be recharged. You could also try applying Boeshield to the guide rails of the 1010.

If I was faced with this issue, I'd opt for a couple of dessicant packs inside a closed Systainer with the 1010 and I'd apply an anti corrosion treatment to the guide rails such as Boeshield or its equivalent. Better yet...just bring the 1010 indoors to a dry environment.

 

[Sparktrician]

I frequently go over the rods of my OF 1010 with #0000 steel wool, then follow that with a good wipe of Militec-1. 

 

[Cheese]

[member=37411]Edward A Reno III[/member]
No not exactly...but they look interesting and would probably do the job. They produce a vapor that retards rusting, kind of like the paper that Lie Nielsen planes are wrapped in. Silica packs on the other hand, absorb the moisture in the air in an area.

This is what I was referring to. Typical silica packs absorb moisture and need to be "recharged", dried out from time to time.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=53828&cat=1,43456

 

[Guus Flater]

Thanks to all for reading and trying to help.

@ Timtool, I can understand why they don't use chrome anymore. Please look at my added photo with the so called "pivoted turret stop" ? What kind of metal is that, looks to me as if it is chrome ?

I have bought my OF1010 on the 09-13-2014 . And yesterday i had cleaned it and have made some pictures so all of you can see what my problem is. NON of my other tools looks like this. Uh sorry, some of my spanners are more rusted, but they are more than 30 years in use.
Please, what must i do? I feel scammed (google translation) an i'm angry.

 

[bkharman]

I also have rust on my 1400 posts. I have it on a few tools and really don't like to look at it as well. My shop has some humidity issues and I have other things with a bit of rust on it as well. I am not sure I blame Festool or other companies for it. I have done what I can to suppress it but I still see things on occasion and can't see myself getting a whole shop dehumidifier.

I feel your pain and suggest getting a hold of some of the Festool reps to see if they have any advice.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[Timtool]

@ Timtool, I can understand why they don't use chrome anymore. Please look at my added photo with the so called "pivoted turret stop" ? What kind of metal is that, looks to me as if it is chrome ?

Parts that aren't subject to friction (like the columns are) can be coated with chrome using different less polluting techniques.
It's not as resistant to friction and i think it doesn't give an even layer, so it can't work on anything requiring precision.

Looks like it's not only the columns that rust on yours, it must have been exposed to some extremely corrosive air at some point.
If it rusted again at your place then the problem could be in your air, do you have something to measure air humidity?

 

[Holmz]

One generally uses stainless or some other material less prone to rust, or coats he parts with chrome or nickel, or some dry film lubricant.

If they are removable you could get them nickel plated, which can be a very thin layer. You may need to have them ground a bit, but a gun smith might know for sure??

 

[mike_aa]

[member=58660]Guus Flater[/member]

Not sure if this would be available in the OP's location, but I used this MetalGuard over a year ago on some unpainted steel legs and so far no rust.  The same company also makes a Metal Tool Wax, but I haven't tried it.

Hope this helps, Mike A.