Customer Reviews

Festool OF 1010 EQ Router

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I was split between getting this routing and the Festool 1400 and here are the pro and cons.

Advantages of 1010

Weight ( 5.9 Lbs versus 9.9)
Dust Catcher integrated into base (1400 dust catcher is plastic add on that works fine)

Pros of 1400

Collet Support (adds 1/2 Collet)
Wattage (1400 versus 1010)
Depth (2 3/4" versus 2 1/8)

Both routers are smooth starting, quiet (for a router at least), easy to adjust, and precise with festool accessories, so both choices are great routers if you can afford them.

Now if this is going to be your only router. The Festool 1400 is best option because it has the most range and that is what I bought.

But if you have a table router (or plan to), the Festool 1010 is a better choice for handheld as it has plenty of power, easier to handle, and cheaper.

Festool does carry a rather complete range of 8mm bits for handheld use, so the 1/2" collet limitations isn't as a bad sounds for handheld use.

And because I will soon get a table router, I regret now not getting the Festool 1010 as my handheld router.

I bought this after first purchasing another brands 2 1/2 horse power that weighed 20 lbs. and blew the plunge base out while it was running. Luckily I was sent a check for my troubles (and almost loosing life and body parts) and quickly bought the 1010 EQ (throwing in another $200)and am kicking myself for not do it originally. This is the router to own especially if you can spend the $125 for 2 1/2hp green monster for your router table. This thing blows all the other manufactures away when it comes to accuracy, weight, and quality. I cried the first time I bought the rail saw, got cloudy eyes with the Rotex 125, and shook only a little this purchase but believe me there tools are not hype or hyped, not only that they do not advertise their tools anywhere. Word of mouth such as with a quality craftsman. Good old boy rednecks can go by the Chinese junk and clamed how great and powerful (but yet inaccurate) it is. I on the other hand I will continue to do quality work with precise tools and let BuBa slap together junk that I will latter fix at larger profit because the redneck saying " No one will ever notice" is just not true unless you are Dewalt, Ridgid, PC, and so on.

The Festool OF1010 Plunge Router is not too big, not too small. It can handle 1/4 and 1/2" collets as well as the European 8mm shanks. This router is compatible with the MFT1080 table system Festool sells and thus, can be used to make dadoes and grooves repetitively that are extremely accurate. The trigger switch and handle ensure control and the router has a soft-start function to avoid kickback. The dust-control system is very good and 90% of the dust goes straight into the dust collector. Anyone who has operated a router knows how much dust they generate and this is minimized with the Festool dust collector. The router is compatible with any length guide rail Festool sells. There is also a guide rail available for drilling repetitive shelf holes in bookcases. This is a versatile little machine that is equally at home being used freehand or in a dovetail jig. I have been able to route rabbets as required in 3/4" oak plywood without difficulty and the machine has enough power for any reasonable feed rate. I'm just beginning to scratch the surface of what this router can accomplish. It's definitely not your father's router!