I had been looking for a new router for some time to replace my twenty two year old Bosch. I have over a dozen 1/4" bits. Some of the things I was looking for in a new machine was the ability to have dust extraction and as I occasionally fit door locks while they are hung, be light enough to use vertically. I do not have a router table. I did however earlier this year buy a Festool saw and dust extractor.

I decided to purchase the Festool OF 1010 router (see thread "Why buy local" in the Festool forum) and have now had the chance to try it out.

One of the first things I did was make a longer guide for the parallel guide as with most routers there is a gap in the middle which causes problems when working on small pieces.

I have used it to trim laminate edges with the chip deflector, make grooves, (see image) and rebates. I have made a small box for a work colleague and made mortices for hinges and a lock on a door.

How have I found it.

Good points only one tool is required to change bits. The tool is light and has a soft start. Dust extraction is good, the only time I had lots of chips on the floor was when taking big bites rebating. The fine depth adjustment works well, very easy to change from 2mm depth for hinges to 3mm for lock. The systainer has room for all the essentials and a few extra things.

Average visability of the bit due to shrouds and other things to help dust extraction. Festool in their catalogue suggests you can use the machine with one hand but in the instruction manual recommends two hands on the machine. The switch can be locked on. This can be good to prevent fatigue but also possibly a safety risk.

Poor points it is not easy to put the dust extraction hose on the machine due to its flat oval shape. Due to the direction of dust extraction placement of the hose and dust extractor needs to be planned. The chip deflector needs to have two screws removed and replaced to put it on. The screws are a Torx15 but the appropriate tool is not included. A flat screwdriver can also be used but again is not provided. The bottom of the router is not flat, it has a step where the chip deflector fits, which caused problems when working on small pieces. The spanner to change the bits fits in the systainer under the chip deflector and the parallel guide. This is a pity as the spanner will be used every time the router is used. The chip deflector and parallel guide may not.

Summary It is a great tool. Like any tool it is also a matter of learning how to get the best out of it. Having dust extraction is a big plus, it is light and everything is in the one systainer which stacks on top of the saw and dust extractor when stored.
I am yet to use it with the Festool guide rail so this is not assessed.

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Festool are undoubtedly good tools and when I win several million dollars in the Lotto I might by some. The price they charge puts them outside my budget. But you have gotten what you paid for: a well designed and very good quality piece of gear.

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Anyway children you may all pack up your books, push in your chairs and quietly go to bed.

I used to have the older model of yours, the 0F900 and it was a great mid size router.

I own 3 routers a makita trimmer, this festool 1/4" and a makita 1/2", for 90% of jobs I choose to use my festool, such a pleasure to use. I have had it for nearly 6 years and it still is like new. (I use it a lot)

The way you can operate it with one hand is great when flush-trimming or profiling since you have one hand free to hold your workpiece so you don't need to clamp it down. For other kind of routing jobs of course two hand are better.

I understand that for many woodworkers festool is out of their budget but if you are using it professionally, I can not think of an excuse to not get this quality of tools.

Thank you all for your comments.

I did buy a Makita trimmer but have found it difficult to set up and use. There is also the dust issue. Will probably sell it.

Yes I am in the position where my work as a handyman allows me to afford tools that I otherwise would not buy. Now that I have them, my work has increased in accuracy, improved working conditions and cut down the clean up time.

Installing another door this weekend. Another chance to use my Festools.

I bought a used OF900 a few years ago and its a brilliant router.

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