New Festool OF 2200 Router, Unreal!!!
Russell
| Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on
If you haven’t seen the video for the new OF 2200 router by Festool, go check it out, it’ll blow your mind!!!
There’s also a couple of other new products that you can check out at www.festoolusa.com
Cheers.
Russ.
www.jensenfinefurniture.com
Edited 3/1/2008 11:34 am ET by Russell
Edited 3/1/2008 11:34 am ET by Russell
Replies
Just as I pay off my visa bill, you had to post that.
*sigh*
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Visa bill? You'll probably need a home refinance :)
Paul
I guess the folks over at Festool took my review of the 2000 to heart ;-)http://www.josephfusco.org/Reviews/Festool%20OF%202000E.htmlThis new router looks like it's ever bit the equal of the 1400 and a bit more. You've got to say one thing for those boys at Festool, their always thinking. . .http://www.josephfusco.org
http://joes-stuff1960.blogspot.com/
Naw..I'm sure its under $5699.99 :-)Actually looking hard at the MFK700
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Edited 3/1/2008 1:36 pm by PeterDurand
Just a couple of weeks ago I got the OF 1400, the router is totally amazing, but when I saw this video I almost started having buyers remorse!!! Then I gave my head a shake and said, hey I have an OF 1400. It's like comparing a Porsche 911, to a 911 turbo. Sure one's a little faster than the other, but it's still a Porsche!!! It's easy to see how people can get carried away though. Cheers.Russ.http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
Great ideas that COULD have been built into American products years ago.
Sorry, I just don’t get this Festool thing. My old Porter Cable’s, all five of them, are just fine and do everything I could ever ask of a router or any other portable power tool for that matter. I just don’t know how Tage Frid, Maloof, Krenov, et al were able to build any fine work without these overpriced wiz-bang robo-tools. I guess they fit in a digital age.
I’ll just go sharpen my bow saw now with a plain old file, maybe cut some dovetails with it and the chisels sharpened on an old oil stone.
Hey Napie,The difference for me anyways, is the amount of time I save with using a Festool router as compared to say a porter cable or a Makita (which is what I had before) and when your running a business, time is money. Until I started using my Festool router I thought the same thing, how can I justify spending about $100 more, and until you try one, you just can't realize the difference in the amount of time you'll save in almost all areas of routing. You multiply the time you've saved over the lifespan of the tool, that $100 dollars doesn't seem like such a big deal anymore. Not to mention the dust collection, the vast amounts of accessories that are available for it and the fact that it's engineered and made in Germany instead of Taiwan are also valid reasons to buy a Festool router instead of one of the others. Just my opinion though. Cheers man.Russ.http://www.jensenfinefurniture.comEdited 3/1/2008 2:54 pm ET by Russell
Edited 3/1/2008 2:55 pm ET by Russell
Ditto. Until I tried the Festool Saw system and the work table I thought a table saw was enough. Now I find it much easier to hack down sheet goods with the Festool saw and Guide rail. Miters across wide surfaces are a breeze with the work table and the miter attachment.
Hey Ted,That's what I'm looking at getting next, probably in a couple of weeks. Do you have the TS-55 or the TS-75. I'm leaning towards the 55 just because I can't really see myself needing the extra cut depth. 2" should be enough I think. I'll probably end up getting the new MFT a little bit later though I think. Better start saving my pennies. Cheers man.Russ.
http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
We have the TS 75. Probably didn't need the extra cut capacity but figured as long as we're spending this much why not go the distance.
That true, I'm not doing it for money anymore so time is less of an issue. I have too many home brewed jigs for the old P-C's to get rid of them, they are old friends.
Russ
Did you use the Makita 3612 variable speed? Is the festool that much better?? Just wondering??
The video is certainly impressive. Somebody did some thinking on that one.
Hey Dan,Yeah I had and still have the 3612. It still is a decent router, but it had come to the point where it was being more of a pain than productive. The plunge was always seizing up and there was quite a bit of run out, so now I have it setup to do half blind dovetails on my jig, and that's the way it's going to stay. If you were impressed by the OF 1400 video, all I can say is using one in real life is ten times more amazing. The first words that came out of my mouth when I turned it on were "WOW". The thing is so quiet, even when it's hooked up to the dust extractor. Trust me, if your thinking of a new router, get this one, you won't be disappointed. Or you could get the new OF 2200 for the bargain basement price of $800.00 : ) Cheers Dan.Russ
http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
Edited 3/1/2008 8:08 pm ET by Russell
Napie,
I think Tage Frid, Maloof, Krenov, et al were able to build any fine work without these overpriced wiz-bang robo-tools becuase they (the tools) did not exist at the time. (;;)Philip Marcou
Frid, Maloof, and Krenov- didn't need the top power tools??
Truth is Philip- Frid did have several of the newest toys at his fingertips. I recall the early articles by TF and his book on joinery. TF has the newest Makita plunge router plugged in and cutting mortises with his jig.
Don't mean to be pickin' at the nits but... I still have a jig from his design and I had to buy a second Makita 3612 recently. He got me to shelf my old sears router and get a useful tool.
Maloof. I recall a whole bunch of power equipment in Maloofs shop and tons of sawdust and scraps from heavy stock milling. Think you might find a couple high end routers in there somewhere??
James Krenov: I can not picture him near a router. I can not picture him helping his mother build a picnic table for the back porch? I've read he worked in a furniture production setting at one point in his life but I just have a hard time seeing JK doing some ... less than artistic type work with hearing protectors on his head.
Never know.
dan
"James Krenov: I can not picture him near a router."
See The Fine Art of Cabinetmaking, p. 69.
-Steve
I'll have to take your word Steve my copy has never been returned. At one time I had 4 hard covered books. Maybe 3??? I guess you can understand how I forgot that router photo.
Really enjoyed reading his books they were an inspiration to me. If you didn't pop my bubble Steve I would still be thinking Krenov was back in Sweden checking lumber yards for exotic tropical woods or some figured maple with the wooden plane in his back pocket. darn
dan
Edited 3/2/2008 8:26 pm ET by danmart
It's not a photo--he just mentions it as one of the tools he uses for certain tasks.
I went to a talk that Krenov gave in New York City many, many years ago (1980 or thereabouts). There weren't very many people there, so it was an up-close-and-personal kind of experience. That will always be my mental image of him.
-Steve
I know what you're saying. Sometimes I feel so bad I open up one of my shop windows and throw out some money until I get my thoughts back in order....then continue on.
I have been reading Krenov's fine cabinet book and now feel almost guilty using power tools. Pretty amazing what talent and years of experience leads to.
Brad
Krenov uses power tools, too. (Or used to--I guess he isn't building much anymore.) He even goes so far as to say that some of his stuff, such as the chessboard table, aren't really practical to make without power tools.
-Steve
True, he does, but not quite festool level nor some of the others on the market these days. The old table saw/jointer setup he has in this book is very basic compared to current machines. He seems to have a real passion for woodwork and really enjoys watching the pieces slowly come to life as he works with it.
It doesn't come with a 1/4" collet. :p--------------------------------------------------------
Cheap Tools at MyToolbox.netSee some of my work at AWorkOfWood.com
Napie:"Sorry, I just don’t get this Festool thing."Don't worry about it! If, however, a little Festool envy should creep in to your life, just go to a dark, quiet room, stay on your medication, and lie down for a bit.Your heirs will thank you - for they will surely buy Festool (or the equivalent for their respective interests).Regards,HastingsEdited for spelling 3/2/2008 9:05 am ET by Hastings Edited 3/2/2008 9:06 am ET by Hastings
Edited 3/2/2008 9:07 am ET by Hastings
They have enough to worry about what with all the L-N planes, Colt 1911’s and variants, and various double barrel shotguns in all configurations; their inheritances are pretty much spent…
I have to agree that it looks like a pretty nice tool for some applications -- especially for out-of-table work. You would have to need those special applications to justify the cost (or just go the "most toys" route). Most of my work is in a router table and I spent a lot of time looking for the most practical router for this finally deciding on the Freud 3hp. After hours of use, I only have small nit-picks. Anyone have any idea if this Festool might be a good table router? (Not that I'm going to buy, just always looking for the next steps :<).
I'd say all the festool routers are pretty much designed for hand held applications. I hear that the Triton router is the best on the market for router table applications. http://www.triton.com.au/product.php?id=27CheersRuss.
http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
Thanks for this reply, Russ. I do enough hand held to understand how this new Festool could really help efficiency.
As far as table work, the Triton was the main competitor in my comparison (basically, I looked at all the 3+ hp majors for their in-table functionality and design features), but I decided to believe the Freud hype over the Triton hype. ( FT3000VCEK 3-1/4HP Variable Speed Plunge Router ) I also read all the reviews and comments I could find. From what I can tell, Freud took the criticisms of the its similar 2 1/2 hp router and fixed them (replacing key plastic parts with metal, for example). Anyway, don't mean to hog your thread, but would encourage anyone to look at the Freud if your use is primarily in a router table.
I'm a bit disappointed that they still haven't done anything to imiprove the depth stop mechanism. I really like my OF1400 in all other aspects except that. IMHO it totally blows in comparison to my old DW621. But I'll live with it as it's hands down superior in every other way.
If you build it he will come.
What was it that you didn't like about the depth stop? Mine seems to work fine.Russ.http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
A couple things non of which is insurmountable but things I feel make it not very easy to use.
1) It's metric. Sorry, but if you're going to sell tools in the US you need to at least offer a different scale. I feel compelled at times to go fish out my old HP calculator to convert in order to set a certain depth - or use my digital calipers to onvert it.
2) Even if I were comfortable working in metric I dont get a warm fuzzy feeling that setting to a depth on the scale markings is very accurate.
3) The fine adjust knob I also dont find all that useful primarily because it's also in metric.
4) It seems like the turret stops and/or depth rod are in a slightly awkward location. I dont find it as easy to slip a small scrap of wood in between to set a depth as I did on the DW621.
I dont know if you've used a DW621 but now that I had to retire mine after about 20 years I really miss the ease of using that feature. I'm sure part of it is just that I was used to it. But setting a depth on it was very intuitive and easy. Zero the bit, and zero the scale ring on the depth adjust knob. Then turn the knob to line it up with the reading on the scale ring that you want the depth at. Maybe it's that the 621 is geared and moves accurately up/down with knob turns?? Other than that, the Festool is hands-down a nicer router. But if you took the depth adjust mechanism off the DW621 and grafted it on, it would be even better. If you build it he will come.
I use feeler gages on the stop and that is quite fast and easy.
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
Those are valid points Douglas, I don't find it to be a big deal because I've never used the scale on any router I've owned, so no worries there. As far as the micro adjustment goes, I would never start cutting without making sure I was cutting in the right place to begin with. Even though I'm not using the metric system either, I usually measure things in hairs anyways, turn the knob one notch is one hair, two notches, two hairs and so on. I do wish they made a imperial version though, who knows maybe one day. CheersRuss.
http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
Edited 3/3/2008 1:15 pm ET by Russell
Just when you thought your miter saw was safe, Festool had to go out and make one!!! http://www.festooljunkie.com/blog/festool-saw-reviews/festool-kapex-nearly-on-shore-of-the-north-american-continent/http://www.jensenfinefurniture.com
The built-in angle-measuring jig is very nice. And the height of the bed is exactly the same as the height of a Systainer, naturally. And, of course, almost no dust.
-Steve
I've lived my life ignorant of that website; it would have been best had I remained so. ;-)
Oh man, wouldn't it be nice if the regular took makers put as much thought into the design as theses folks?Thanks for the link.Peter
Better life through Zoodles and poutine...
I noticed that the depth gauge is in millimeters. Does anyone know if it's also availible in imperial?
That's a pretty sweet ratcheting system for tightening and loosening the collet.
Chris @ flairwoodworks
- Success is not the key to happines. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer
Edited 3/2/2008 6:25 pm by flairwoodworks
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