1400W Routers: Festool vs Triton?

[strangerep]

Probably asking for trouble posing such a question
in the Festool forum, but here goes...

I recently bought the smaller Triton router (1400W)
and am very happy with it so far. It cost (AUD) $288,
and has a good reputation, afaict.

In contrast, Festool's 1400W router costs around $900
(also AUD). Looking at the basic information on Festool's
website, I can't see anything to explain why theirs
is 3 times as good as the Triton, or is 3 times as
reliable, or has 3 times the features...

So Festool users: can someone with experience of *both*
please tell me where/how the Festool 1400W router is
worth 3 times the price of the Triton?

[Apologies in advance if this question offends anyone.
My real reason for asking is that I'll probably be in the
market for some other good-quality tools soon, and I'm
wondering whether Festool stuff is "really" that much better,
or is just very good but overpriced.]

[riri]

hi,

Why is a Mercedes sometimes 3x more expensive than an Opel or a Ford, it also got 4 wheels!

regards,

riri

[Greg Q]

The Triton router is a reasonable sort of $250.00 tool, only slightly overpriced. The OF 1400 is a very nice $575.00* router, grossly overpriced here.

I know this becasuse that's what I paid for mine, shipped from America. $Aud.

To do this economically it helps to already have a big 120v transformer, and not plan on doing any offsite jobs.

I try not to buy Festool products here, as I am an unwilling accomplice in their alleged price fixing scheme.

[Flowboy]

Hi Strangerep,

I don't have the small routers you mention, but I have a Triton #1, 2.5HP Router (Pre GMC) and two Festool OF2000E's. The Triton is almost two years old and hasn't missed a beat, but I'd expect that from that model particularly in a table.
I've also had a Bosch POF 1100 1/4 inch collet router, which I used for hand routing, particularly dovetails.
The thing I like about the OFs is the ease of use, with all contols exactly where they are easly reached without comprimising the rout, the feeling of power and precision when using them and the flexibility with 6.35, 8, 12 and 12.7mm collets available. Also, the knowledge that I have a 3 year warranty, with a turnaround time of 48 hrs from notification of fault to delivery of repaired item (including nocharge pickup from me in the first place), to be very reassuring. (Can you get that from GMC?). I would not like to be waiting for a tool I rely on heavily which is in the hands of an organisation that has a proven record of ignoring their customers.

As far as other Festool products go, you could buy US and use a stepdown transformer, but every time you buy something else from the States, you have to review the capacity of the transformer. Take it from someone who bought a lot of 220V stuff back after living in the US for 5 years. Also you need to think of spares and warranties.
I have a C12 cordless drill, Domino and FEQ150 ROS. All I would recommend without hesitation (even if I did do some "final QC" on a couple of them. They are indeed high ticket items, but are robust, powerful, precise and do exactly what they say they will do. Not somewhere close, but exactly. In another thread domeone said the most expensive tool is the one that falls apart when you need it and won't get up again.

Thats my logic behind buying Festool and believe me I had to be made to see the true value of their package.

Regards,

Rob