Festool promises “near-total dust extraction” from the new OF 1400 EQ router. They’re not exaggerating. Unlike other manufacturers who merely add some sort of suction port to their routers, Festool surrounds the bit on all sides. The primary dust-collection device is a removable, clear plastic extractor hood that encircles the bit from above; but for edge-routing applications, the manufacturer also provides a rotating chip catcher that clips into the bottom of the baseplate. All Festool tools are designed to use with an integrated vacuum system, but you can hook this router up to a standard shop vac. The extractor hood works for cutters up to 1-1/4 in. dia. I found both the extractor hood and the chip catcher remarkably effective at capturing fine dust.  Even if the Festool OF 1400 didn’t suck up dust so well, it still would be impressive because it offers many of the benefits of a medium-duty plunge router (running at just under 12 amps on a 120v circuit), without the clunkiness. It’s well-balanced, with an ergonomic trigger handle and an ingenious ratcheting spindle lock that makes for the easiest bit change of any router I’ve used. The depth-adjustment gauge reads in millimeters, rather than inches.

—Tom O’Brien is a carpenter in New Milford, Conn., and a former associate editor at Fine Homebuilding.

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