Festool OF 1400 Plunge Router
VerifiedMPNs: OF1400EB and OF1400EBQ4 reviews
Great mid size router – I just bought this 1400.. Originally I thought I only needed a small 1010 and large 2200. Though can do with out the mid size So I put of in buying the 1400. Now I have it for few weeks. Its so great. It's the main one I use.. it's so.well balanced and steady. Plenty of grunt.. Bit of $$$ but we'll worth it.
Purchased in at TDK for $1,449.
It is perfect – I used the router for the first time and it was great, make sure you are using a good router bit and follow the instructions, which i didn't but after reading the instructions page to page, it was perfect
Hi Samuel Thanks for your comment and a great tip for other users, Yes! read the instruction manual, good idea to get the best from your tools! Cheers! Michael: Festool
Extremely bad design – I love Festool. I have more than 20 Festool power tools & they are wonderful, long lasting & well engineered. My first one dates back to Festo days in the 1970's & I still use it today. Never had a hiccup, never had a repair. But this Of 1400 is an ergonomic disaster. The centre of gravity is way too high. For right handed tradesmen, the handles are reverse to what is comfortable. The fence is on the wrong side of the router. If reversed so as to be comfortable & accurate, the blade runs reverse & pulls the fence away from the job edge.
I have OF 2000, OF 2200, MFK 700 routers, all wonderful & I would write glowing reviews about them. None of the above mentioned issues with any of these. Also use Makita & Hitachi routers & have no complaints.
The OF 1400 needs total redesign in my opinion. If I could return it, I would.
Purchased in at Sydney Tools for $1,299.
Hey Mahogany, Sorry to hear about your experience with the OF1400 router.
Festool routers have been designed to be ergonomic for many applications, and to enable safe and efficient work with our router system. We also acknowledge that not every tool is suited to all applications.
Festool have a choice of different designs to meet end user requirements that is explained in our system videos but ultimately ,the end choice we leave up to the individual user.
We have a dual handle router (OF2200) or the pistol grip routers (OF1010 & OF1400) that have a system of accessories that in certain situations, are safer and easier to use with a pistol grip design. These accessories include but is not limited to, the LR32 hole drilling system, guiderail adaptor and MFS routing templates.
When working in these applications ,the design is due to being able to work efficiently and safely with the pistol grip router, whereas a dual handed design, may not give the user these advantages.
Please reach out if you need any further explanation or help with the tool.
Cheers
It works well, simple controls, easy and accurate to use – As usual I wondered why I needed to spend so much for a commonly available power tool, once used it all becomes clear. I can finish routing projects so quickly, my other router would still be getting set up most of the time. I own a few Festool power tools and they all perform simply, efficiently and effectively. My one downside with this machine was when I went to insert my first 1/2" router bit from my existing bit set I found Festool had supplied a 12mm collet as standard and I hadn't realised (it is a made in Germany). As usual Festool accessories are as not cheap as the main tool, I bought the the 1/2" collet and all is now good.
Everything and a bit more fits neatly in its Systainer which makes it very portable. When used with a good quality dust vac there is almost no dust escapes so can be used inside with a good level of confidence.
Another outstanding quality of all Festool gear is the plethora of video based tool use, hints and tips available online as well as the Festool Users Group (FUG) which is a great source of information (not all of it favourable to Festool).
I've owned and used this router for about 3 years or more and is rapidly becoming my hand router of choice for the bigger work (I have an excellent Makita 1/4" cordless router for the small stuff). The way it works has taught me a lot about router settings, so much so that I get better use from my other routers although they see less and less use these days.
Not sure how it would go in a table mount set up, I have a Triton in my table as it is designed to work well under the table top.
Purchased at Sydney Tools ACT, Fyshwick for $1,200.
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Hi Blades The OF 1400 Plunge Router is a very versatile machine with a great balance of size, weight and performance and it's always good to hear that customers appreciate it as much as we do. Happy routing! Cheers!