48 – New Festool Tools

Video - May 2, 2008

Festool recently released two new routers, the MFK700 and the OF2200, and a new multi-function table, the MFT3. Judging from the emails I’ve received, there is a lot of interest in seeing these items on the show. So this one is for you guys!

And perhaps the most exciting part of the video is at the end when I announce the Fescool Giveaway Prize for May, a brand new MFK700 Trim Router.

Discussion

Denis Rezendes (Teen Age Woodworker) May 2, 2008 5:11 pm

Thanks for the info marc, these look like some wonderful projects. lets see if i start saving now i probably can have all 3 by the time I’m 20. lol. great video!

Reply
wilbur May 2, 2008 7:42 pm

Nice overview of the new Festool routers!

Quick question on the offset of the OF2200: if you’re left handed, does it make it more difficult to use?

Reply
thewoodwhisperer May 2, 2008 8:11 pm

Hey Wilbur. Good question. But I doubt it makes much difference. I think most of us address a workpiece in the same ways since in most cases, there is only one “right” way to run the router. Maybe a southpaw can correct me if I am wrong here.

Reply
Ron May 2, 2008 8:26 pm

Bugger! I don’t need more Festool tools to drool over. The smaller router looks like a keeper and I’ll have to take a good long hard look at it. Smaller means easier to handle which means less risk to the body and the work piece.

Guess I won’t be able to retire when I want….. :^(

Reply
Quiglag May 2, 2008 9:08 pm

Nice run through.

I got an email yesterday from Festool announcing the price of their new miter saw. It will be $1300, and it goes on sale July 1st. Will we be seeing a video of this in the near future?

or better yet… in the FesCool giveaway :D

Reply
Germain May 2, 2008 9:48 pm

I’m a southpaw. I do just about everything left-handed. When I use a router, I don’t think which paw I prefer makes much of a difference, if any. Of course, I’d sure like to try that new router to see for myself!

Reply
alexander May 3, 2008 7:28 am

That Of 2200 is a keeper. It is very nice. Not much use for the MF3, but for someone with a small space; it will SAVE you money for sure.

THanks for the Details. Beleive it or not, at festool USA HQ, they call the OF2200 “OLAF”. Don’t know why!

Lates

Reply
Daniel May 3, 2008 8:06 am

Marc,

I took the time ,after watching your show, to see all the videos that Festool has on their site.
I can tell the MFT and the Kapex will be my next purchase.

Thanks for the product demo. Your honest approach to testing out tools and giving the things you like and don’t like are really the most helpful.

Maybe in future shows you can show us cool features of tools while building a project.

Daniel

Reply
Bob May 3, 2008 1:14 pm

Marc,
The festool work table is just what I have been looking for. I just haven’t been able to find the worktable that fills all my wood working needs.

Thanks so much for the info.

Bob

Reply
Vic May 4, 2008 7:29 am

Cool Marc! I hope I win that MFK700, cuz otherwise I’m out the money.
That is definitely a router I’m adding to my arsenal. I’ve been drooling over it since I found it on their site a month or so ago.

Reply
Paul-Marcel ST-ONGE May 4, 2008 8:32 pm

Couple questions I still have about the routers: could the MFK be used to route decent sized grooves or maybe a sliding dovetail? On the FOG, some people were concerned about its power and, hmm, reach of the bit. Speaking of dovetails, could you use the MFK on the Leigh D4R jig? Powerwise, you could use the OF2200, but I wonder if the Leigh could hold the 20lb beast? People say it is pretty nimble for a big router, but what’s your take on it?

Reply
thewoodwhisperer May 5, 2008 5:13 pm

Hey Paul. I do think the MFK could handle a good sized groove and a sliding dovetail or two. Its a powerful little unit. But honestly, if you are going for full 3/4 dados for casework or a nice wide sliding dovetail, the MFK probably wouldn’t be my first choice. That’s where your standard plunge router really shines (OF1010 or OF1400).

And I do not think you could use the MFK on the Leigh jig. The jig requires that you use a guide bushing that is meant for a normal router. The vertical MFK base does NOT allow for that bushing. So I am going to say negatory on the dovetails.

You sure could use the OF2200. I doubt the leigh jig would have any trouble handing the weight of that unit. Its big and heavy, but like most people say, it wears it well. :)

Reply
BarryO May 5, 2008 7:38 pm

Warning – nick picky, anal retentive comment ahead. ;)

A tenth of a millimeter is 1/254th of and inch, not 1/256th!

Reply
thewoodwhisperer May 5, 2008 8:36 pm

Well here’s the question, is it actually 1/10mm increments or 1/256″ increments? Festool documentation usually states “1/256″ (1/10mm)”. But we know Festool is metric so chances are, they just use the 1/256″ approximations since that’s a much more meaningful number to Imperial system-users than 1/254″. Either way, this an unacceptable amount of error and heads will roll for this one!!!!!! lol

Reply
Jeff October 1, 2010 7:36 pm

Marc,
I would love to own the OF2200 Festool router. One thing I was wondering about is do you use it in a router table?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 1, 2010 9:01 pm
  
  Unfortunately, not that I am aware of. As far as I know, the only table that router will fit in is the Festool router table, which is not for sale in the US.
  
  Reply
Kodi Crescent November 26, 2010 12:37 pm

Hi Marc,

What sorts of tasks do you use the MFK 700 for? I see that Festool has the MFK 700 on sale, and it is a pretty neat looking tool. I have an OF1400, but it is pretty cumbersome for the small pieces I work on. I was hoping that the MFK 700 would be easier to use on small pieces. Most things about this tool reference edge trimming. There has to be more to this tool than edge trimming. What other uses have you found for this?

Thanks!

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer November 26, 2010 12:48 pm
  
  Hey Kodi. The MFK700 will indeed be easier to use on smaller pieces. The lighter weight and smaller base are great for those tasks when a full-sized router would be a pain in the butt. But the coolest tricks are the edge trimming, the easy micro-adjust, and the dust collection.
  
  That being said, the tool has a severe limitation in my opinion. You can’t see the bit. I use my small trim routers for things like inlays, one-off hinge mortises, and things where seeing the bit is absolutely essential to my success. So for all the cool things this router does, its Achilles heel is something that pretty much every other trim router on the market has: visibility. So unless you plan on using its edge-trimming feature, you might find something like the Bosch Colt or the new DeWalt unit a more practical buy.
  
  Reply
Scott Sandine December 27, 2010 9:29 pm

Hi Marc,
Just got the MFK700, what is the best flush trimming bit to use for wide edge banding. So far easy to use.

Thanks

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer December 27, 2010 11:52 pm
  
  Hey Scott. I am hesitant to make a recommendation for you since I don’t use the tool all that often. I would suggest contacting Festool directly to get their recommendation. If I am not mistaken, the unit can’t handle really wide edge-banding.
  
  Reply
Richard October 11, 2011 4:04 pm

Hey Marc,
Just found ur site it’s really good! just wondering do u think the mft 3 and a festool skill saw will be able to preform most tasks of a panel saw and chop saw? mainly is it accurate at cutting angles with the fence on the mft table?

Reply
- thewoodwhisperer October 11, 2011 4:44 pm
  
  Most, but not all. For flat workpieces and sheetgoods, you’re good to go. But for things like moulding, you might miss your miter saw.
  
  Reply
Richard October 12, 2011 1:51 am

Thanks for the advice really looking for a saw to cut accurate straight lines and angles. While being portable bought a site table taw waste of money :(

Reply
Ed Brady December 4, 2012 6:04 pm

Have you thought about feature/testing and of the Euekazone products? I really rely on several of the capabilities offered by Eurekazone and they are particularly useful in a (very) small shop.

Thanks

Ed

Reply
Mad Hungarian January 24, 2019 4:18 pm

I ended up buying the Festool OF 1010 myself (for a second router), along with the optional edgeband trimming attachments and such. It was such a cute little router, i just couldn’t resist! The 1010 does the edgeband trimming of the MFK700 (though maybe a little clunkier), and a lot more. One caveat about the OF1010 though is that it doesn’t take 1/2″ collets, just 1/4″ and 8mm. So i ended up buying a couple 8mm bits from LeeValley also.

Reply

Cookie	Duration	Description
cookielawinfo-checbox-analytics	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checbox-functional	11 months	The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checbox-others	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance	11 months	This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy	11 months	The cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.

48 – New Festool Tools

Advertisers