Thread: Used the 1400 EQ router today

It is a great router. I have used mine a lot. Only issue is the copy rings do not center on the router. Now Festool will be fixing it for free even with it being just over 5 years old. I pointed them to a fix that is being done in the USA (found on FOG). I need exact centering for some inlay work coming up soon. It is a minor irritation that will now be fixed.
Les

Hi Carry Pine - Cool story.

Reading the manual is always important, also important for the OF-1400 is to check this out - OF-1400 guide (US version). This manual is written by Rick Christopherson for Festool US and is excellent. You will note the US version of this router does not have the Electronic Brake like we get here in AUS.

Originally Posted by lesmeyer

It is a great router. I have used mine a lot. Only issue is the copy rings do not center on the router. Now Festool will be fixing it for free even with it being just over 5 years old. I pointed them to a fix that is being done in the USA (found on FOG). I need exact centering for some inlay work coming up soon. It is a minor irritation that will now be fixed.
Les

Hey Les, could you point me to that FOG thread.
I just discovered that off centre problem just last Wednesday with my OF1400 while trying to do some template work. (ducks down as Template Tom comes flying in )
Cheers

I found the thread Les.
Seeing as I'm not a machinist, I will contact my Festy dealer Monday and see what they may suggest.
Cheers

Originally Posted by lesmeyer

It is a great router. I have used mine a lot. Only issue is the copy rings do not center on the router. Now Festool will be fixing it for free even with it being just over 5 years old. I pointed them to a fix that is being done in the USA (found on FOG). I need exact centering for some inlay work coming up soon. It is a minor irritation that will now be fixed.
Les

Thanks for bringing this to our attention Les ,I have the copy rings however have not used them to date, will have to check it out and get onto Festool if there is an issue with it .
Have to also check the FOG site for the quotation!

Cheers

Checked out my OF1400 today pleased to say that the copy rings were spot on must have been lucky getting one that was true with the copy rings in place.

One guy on FOG had his off set by 11thou most unusual knowing Festools application to engineered detail.

Cheers

Johnno, my copy rings (3 different rings) out by 27 thou = 0.7mm. I will accept 4 thou = 0.1mm as this will be negligible.
So it is not the copy rings at fault but the centering adjustment. A very fine router let down by this one small issue. A few years back there was a lot of commentary on this forum about this problem, so the person involved took the router back to the dealer and got his money back. It did not bother me at the time but now I need this functionality with accuracy.
Regards
Les
PS. What process did you follow to test. What I did was rout an edge and rotate the router 90 deg to show the steps in the routed edge.

Originally Posted by lesmeyer

Johnno, my copy rings (3 different rings) out by 27 thou = 0.7mm. I will accept 4 thou = 0.1mm as this will be negligible.
So it is not the copy rings at fault but the centering adjustment. A very fine router let down by this one small issue. A few years back there was a lot of commentary on this forum about this problem, so the person involved took the router back to the dealer and got his money back. It did not bother me at the time but now I need this functionality with accuracy.
Regards
Les
PS. What process did you follow to test. What I did was rout an edge and rotate the router 90 deg to show the steps in the routed edge.

Les, initially I measured with a straight bit mounted in and all appeared concentric from the outside of my 30mm copy ring to the centre or the router bit.
I then did a straight cut then rotated the router 180deg whereby I found an anomaly of .003 thou /0.08mm .
I reckoned that this I could live with the tolerance being low.I only have the 30mm copy ring with which I measured.I have a 16mm guide bush which mounts in a copy ring type set up for the Leigh Jig ,I did not measure this one.
You may need to send your router into Festool for a reconditioning,27 thou is a little too much to have work with.

Cheers

Johnno, when I turn it 180 deg I am out by only 2 thou. That is great, BUT when I turn it 90 deg it is out by 27 thou.
The router is already on the way to Tooltechnic in Melbourne for calibration.
Les

I'll be seeing a Festool tech tomorrow at C&L Tools Festool day about the copy ring problem.

I did 2 runs per Les's method and the copy ring was out by .5mm and .7mm

Originally Posted by lesmeyer

Johnno, when I turn it 180 deg I am out by only 2 thou. That is great, BUT when I turn it 90 deg it is out by 27 thou.
The router is already on the way to Tooltechnic in Melbourne for calibration.
Les

Ok Les, I did not do this but it may need further investigation i.e your suggestion of 90 deg.
I am wondering where this copy ring issue is coming into issue unless the mounting lugs for the copy rings are allowing this offset to occur when the router is in play 90 deg than usual.Must also check for being concentric at 90 degrees before doing test cuts.

Cheers

Spoke to and shown a Festool rep my OF1400 with a test cut. He had never heard of this problem and rang Melbourne straight away.
The tech guy in Melbourne already had a jig made up to rectify this and commented he was waiting for a router from Perth (Lesmeyer)
Mine should be back by next Friday.

My router is on its way back to Perth. Should get it by next Wed/Thu. They said that I should be pretty pleased with the result. Once I test it I will report back.
Les