Best Router for LR32 system

[Muttley000]

As the title says, which router and why?  While we are at or what other accessories would you suggest with the system?

 

[bwehman]

I find the 1010 to be ideal. Just good proportion to the rail and flow of the whole process.

 

[Sparktrician]

Add my vote for the OF 1010.  It's the right tool for the job with the LR 32.  It just seems to flow. 

 

[rmwarren]

You might already have a router that works with it, using one of [member=60461]Bob D.[/member] adapters for trim routers.

FWIW, I had an OF1010 dedicated to the LR32, kind of a waste for me. Switched it out for a DW611 plunge base (~$75) and now I can just drop in any one of several DW trim routers I have in the shop. The 1010 is sitting in the house waiting for me to get up the mojo to sell it.

Works great for me.

RMW

Edit: Bob has adapters for:

DeWalt 611 & 600b or Porter-Cable 450PK with plunge base

Makita RT0701C or XTR01C with 196094-2 plunge base

Porter-Cable 690 Series mid-size routers with 6931 plunge base

Milwaukee 5615/5616 series mid-size routers with plunge base

Porter-Cable 890 series router with model 8931 plunge base

 

[Cheese]

3rd vote for the 1010

 

[Adamsse]

OF1010 works great.  Just used it with the LR32 system for the first time to do several projects in the last month.  Very happy with the results.

 

[Coen]

The 1010 works just great. You don't need anything more powerfull for LR32 anyway.

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks for the plug Richard.

I use my DeWalt cordless compact router for everything I do with the LR32 now.

My OF1400 sits in the Systainer patiently waiting for me. I may sell it too as I have
not used it since I made my first LR32 adapter a couple years ago for my PC690.

 

[Muttley000]

Appreciate all the input so far guys!  My current handheld router is an old PC 692 with different bases, so I’m good with adding another to the arsenal, and I’ve become fond of green and black in a short amount of time!

 

[Christopher Fitch]

I used my 1400 with my LR 32 recently. Works great...but the 1010 is really what Festool recommends.

 

[jonnyrocket]

I use my OF1010 as well.

A question for those using a non-festool router via adapter, does the adapter have something for dust collection?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Another for the OF1010, it's a fabulous little machine. The OF1400 would work, but it is way overkill for drilling such small holes.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

I know this will be a minority opinion - but to me, the entire LR32 system is a ludicrously expensive way of making a bunch of equally-spaced holes. One-fifth of the cost buys you an exquisitely-machined 32mm Sautershop jig with will work with any router on the planet which is available with a 17mm guide bush. Here’s mine, doing a fine job with a 5mm double-flute cutter on the end of a behemoth OF2200, used because the accessory kit just happened to have a 17mm guide bush already sitting in it;

[attachimg=1]

They ship worldwide.
https://www.sautershop.com/system-32-router-template-laminate-sa-mfs3202-1.0

 

[Coen]

I know this will be a minority opinion - but to me, the entire LR32 system is a ludicrously expensive way of making a bunch of equally-spaced holes. One-fifth of the cost buys you an exquisitely-machined 32mm Sautershop jig with will work with any router on the planet which is available with a 17mm guide bush. Here’s mine, doing a fine job with a 5mm double-flute cutter on the end of a behemoth OF2200, used because the accessory kit just happened to have a 17mm guide bush already sitting in it;

[attachimg=1]

They ship worldwide.
https://www.sautershop.com/system-32-router-template-laminate-sa-mfs3202-1.0

I think Festool LR 32 system + OF 1010 comes out cheaper than Sautershop jig with OF 2200 + accessory kit  [tongue]

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I know this will be a minority opinion - but to me, the entire LR32 system is a ludicrously expensive way of making a bunch of equally-spaced holes. One-fifth of the cost buys you an exquisitely-machined 32mm Sautershop jig with will work with any router on the planet which is available with a 17mm guide bush. Here’s mine, doing a fine job with a 5mm double-flute cutter on the end of a behemoth OF2200, used because the accessory kit just happened to have a 17mm guide bush already sitting in it;

[attachimg=1]

They ship worldwide.
https://www.sautershop.com/system-32-router-template-laminate-sa-mfs3202-1.0

I think Festool LR 32 system + OF 1010 comes out cheaper than Sautershop jig with OF 2200 + accessory kit  [tongue]

I'm fairly sure you're right... [big grin] probably less than the OF2200 alone

 

[luvmytoolz]

I know this will be a minority opinion - but to me, the entire LR32 system is a ludicrously expensive way of making a bunch of equally-spaced holes.

For normal home or hobby use I would agree, but if you made your living from it the Festool would win hands down in my book. It's a precise system that dramatically reduces the chances of screw-ups. With the Sauntershop jig it would be very trivial to have the router slip on that last hole in the beautiful red oak bookshelf you're working on and ruin the project.

I made a shelf drilling jig for a friend, and made it so there is no sideways movement, the guide bush fits firmly in and you just plunge the router, job done. No need to think about it, no possibility of errant movement. This is the assurance that buying into the LR32 system, as expensive as it is, gets you.

If I didn't have a CNC so I could make these jigs, I'd probably buy the LR32 set if I had to even do one or two cases a year. The time it would save, minimal effort and brainpower required, and the almost non-existent risk of accidental screwup would make it worthwhile in my opinion.

Thinking about it further, the only way I would be happy using a jig like the Sauntershop one, is if I clamped a piece of material along the top of it on the far side, butting against the side of the router so it left just enough room for the template guide to fit inside the jig edge, eliminating all sideways movement. I'm surprised they didn't actually design a pair of grooves into it for this purpose, it would greatly enhance the workflow if you didn't have to concentrate on not screwing it up while handling and plunging a router.

And before people chime in with yes, routers are easily controlled, the difference between using a bullet proof jig where you simply plunge, move, plunge move, as opposed to having to be keenly aware of controlling the router to avoid a mishap can be very time consuming when it all adds up.

 

[woodbutcherbower]

[member=8955]Coen[/member] [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] My point was that the jig can also be used with a $99 Chinese Makita knockoff trim router. As explained, I use the 2200 because I have it. Makita don’t make a 17mm guide bush for my quarter-inch RP1110.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=8955]Coen[/member] [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] My point was that the jig can also be used with a $99 Chinese Makita knockoff trim router. As explained, I use the 2200 because I have it. Makita don’t make a 17mm guide bush for my quarter-inch RP1110.

I know, it was just a joke.

As far as doing it as cheaply as possible, a simple acrylic jig and a self-centering bit with a drill would do it. I actually have a set-up like that for a quicky retrofit type situation, where someone decided later that they wanted a shelf somewhere that wasn't planned in the first place.
I do the occasional concealed hinge plate that way too. (little hand-held jig)

 

[Coen]

[member=8955]Coen[/member] [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member] My point was that the jig can also be used with a $99 Chinese Makita knockoff trim router. As explained, I use the 2200 because I have it. Makita don’t make a 17mm guide bush for my quarter-inch RP1110.

I know, I was just trolling you. That was made easy because you first started about a lower cost jig, then showed you using it with a quite expensive OF-2200.

With some luck, that $99 Makita will fit the Festool LR-32 systeem too. Either way; the Festool system does not a produce a hole 1mm off when there is some dirt somewhere.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=8955]Coen[/member] [member=58857]Crazyraceguy[/member]  Makita don’t make a 17mm guide bush for my quarter-inch RP1110.

Ya know, that just seems silly to me? Why wouldn't they make bushes in every size, 1mm increments, seems simple enough and quite handy for changing the fit of things with the off-set.