Blum or CMT

[mastercabman]

The 8m drill bits look like they can be adjusted indepentatly. Don't see it coming in use with me but could be handy for other branded hinges maybe.

Jmb
[/quote]
Be careful,because this has happen to me before.I went to replace some hinges(blum)on some older cabinets and the 8mm holes didn't  line up very well.

 

[Michael_MA]

I use hettich's version:

It works well, only thing I don't like about it, is getting the waste out, I always feel like a trompetist when moving the pistons up and down trying to get the stuff out of the jig after drilling the holes.
Würth's version is the same, but I think that one's more expensive (I'm not sure, I haven't asked for the price, but every time I got something from them, it turned out to be something they rebranded and and put a hefty markup on the price of the original)

That looks like a beast! Again don't think I can get that in the uk. The 8m drill bits look like they can be adjusted indepentatly. Don't see it coming in use with me but could be handy for other branded hinges maybe.

Jmb

you should get it here, or at least get a dealer contact:
Heetich UK website

here is the manual of the complete Hettich mounting jig system:
http://www.hettich.com/images/media_hg/ffa08_g02_en.pdf  --> The jig is starting on Page 2.3.34

btw.. i'm using the Hettich hinges and jigs since 2004 and besides the waste removal, its the most usable and affordable solution.
I paid around 130 € for the jig set (2 pieces) for the hinges.

kind regards, Mike

 

[ThomasC]

I have the CMT hinge boring system. It bores all three holes at the same time. I generally use it connected to my C12 or T15. It can also be used with a drill press, but that's not required. Different boring heads can be used with the modular base. The standard issue is applicable to Blum, Salice, Hettich, and Hafele hinges. I just ordered another head from Tom B. that bores the hole pattern for Grass hinges. I have not used it, but you can also purchase a head that is similar to a short line-boring machine with 5 bits 32 mm OC. You can adjust the the distance from the cup to the edge of the door. There is an adjustable depth stop. Beyond that, you're pretty much on your own regarding stops, etc. I have been happy with this system. I've probably used it on about 200 doors so far (poplar, maple, oak, birch, cherry, beech, mdf). For something so portable, it is extremely accurate and reliable. It does not come with bits, but the set I bought from CMT have been very durable, and bore clean holes in all the materials I have tried so far. I'd buy it again. No complaints.

TC

 

[tbellemare]

I thought you might offer your input on this one, Tom...

In an earlier post, there was some indication that a cordless drill couldn't be used with a system that made multiple bores simultaneously. Festool's cordless drills apparently are powerful enough for the task.

Tom

 

[Mark]

OK, I am in the same dilemma... LR32 vs. Blum Ecodrill vs. Drill press... all are about the same price but I'm leaning towards the drill press as it does a whole lot that the other dedicated (and excellent) devices do. I'm only building furniture for my house and a kitchen and some vanities but in the end I will be using all Blum hardware in all applications. I like the Blum Ecodrill, but it really only does one thing with one brand versus the LR32 which will enable me to do true32 construction AND includes the 35mm hinge boring bit that fits into my OF1000. The drill press however is one of those basic shop tools that will pay back in the long run but honestly, all I need it for is to drill stuff at a perfect and repeatable 90º. This is really a place where Festool can create the equivalent of its LR32 but for their range of drills to accurately drill holes at a reasonable range of angles.

Bring the tool to the work is the heart of Festool but if you cannot accurately bore a hole it makes tools like the T12+3, CXS about all as useful as a POS BW drill or worse.

Drill press, LR32, Ecodrill...  yes, the answer is probably ALL but I need to make my pennies into dollars right now.

Thanks

 

[jmbfestool]

I use hettich's version:

It works well, only thing I don't like about it, is getting the waste out, I always feel like a trompetist when moving the pistons up and down trying to get the stuff out of the jig after drilling the holes.
Würth's version is the same, but I think that one's more expensive (I'm not sure, I haven't asked for the price, but every time I got something from them, it turned out to be something they rebranded and and put a hefty markup on the price of the original)

That looks like a beast! Again don't think I can get that in the uk. The 8m drill bits look like they can be adjusted indepentatly. Don't see it coming in use with me but could be handy for other branded hinges maybe.

Jmb

you should get it here, or at least get a dealer contact:
Heetich UK website

here is the manual of the complete Hettich mounting jig system:
http://www.hettich.com/images/media_hg/ffa08_g02_en.pdf   --> The jig is starting on Page 2.3.34

btw.. i'm using the Hettich hinges and jigs since 2004 and besides the waste removal, its the most usable and affordable solution.
I paid around 130 € for the jig set (2 pieces) for the hinges.

kind regards, Mike

Thank you!

I have been looking at the Hettich PDF and the Curra drilling jig looks like a perfect tool which not only will be helpful building my kitchen but also helpfull for me when I'm just doing my normal kitching fitting for clients.  It has been made for the 32mm system. PDF page 36  I'm going to think and look into it more but I think to save money /make money that Accure setup suites me best.  I'll properly buy the plum or Hettich or CMT in the end aswell but the accure will still be of great use to me after my self kitchen build.

As uk members know howdens draw runners you have to Mark out your self so this system will help with that!  Also sometimes with tall units whith cooker and or micro wave fitted Howdens have given me  1 or 2 or 3 three fillers to make up the rest. Well I been able to get rid of the fillers in the past and installed another draw which I do not understand why that wasn't in the original design such a waist of space. Any way the Accura would aid in drilling new holes for the draw runner and shelves.

Look at the handle jig it even has pins on the end to align the jig to the handle brilliant would be very help full for fitting handles.

Jmb

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

Just saves looking through the PDF  I found a PDF just with the Accura Jig I am talking about!

http://www.hettichamerica.com/hus/PDF/Catalog/chp1/HUS_012_017.pdf

 

[Mettes]

Blum makes something like this aswell.

I have the Hettich setup, the whole set, and partly regret not buying the Blum set.  It's more versatile and cheaper.  For instance when your building shallow cabinets you can adjust the dept with the Blum unit something you cannot with the Hettich version.  On the other hand, with Blum you don't have the handle jig.  At the firm where I used to work, I decided to get the Blum version, worked great.  Changed work and needed a set of my own, decided on Hettich because there hardware is more readably available to a home-worker. In Belgium Blum delivers straight to firms, they don't have a large dealer network.  Have regretted that decision often, the Hettich harware is not up to the standards of Blum, not nearly.  There jigs are nice and are usable for the Blum hardware.  At my current job i decided again to go for Blum.

I also bought their planning software, Dynaplan, it's a dream to work with.  It's cheaper, €100, than Hettich's, €250, it has fewer possibilities, but works much faster for custom cabinet making.  The Hettich version uses Autocad to draw your cabinets in 3D so you can present for instance a whole kitchen with light and shadows in 3D, but its much more time consuming if you just need the dimensions for your jigs.  On that note, if you invest in the jigs, the software is the icing on the cake.  If you use it this really speeds up your whole cabinet preparation process, from cutting dimensions to adjusting the position of drawers, shelfs and hinges.  Those €100 you invest are payed back at you first kitchen, at least twice in time.
If anyone is interested then I'll post a printout from the Dynaplan. 

Conclusion: the hettich jigs are nice, but if you use there software and cabinet hardware then I would go for Blum.

Blum assembly devices brochure

I know all this may sound confusing, Blum vs Hettich.  But the fact is that I much more like the Blum harware (and software) and that if you use these your better of with the Blum jigs. 
Hettich has some nice features not available from Blum:
    - handle jig
    - longer rails 2000mm also have mm/inch marking
    - you can make you own rails from clothing hangers bar, had to have a really short one, no need to cut your expensive "official" rail
    - jigs for drilling 32mm connection hardware
    - drills with adjustable spring collars are nice, but expensive
    - jig for drilling hinges can be adjusted to different makes of hinges, Blum is fixed

 

[jmbfestool]

Mettes thank you,

They are the reasons why I like the Hettich because of the handle jig.   A normal Kitchen I fit tends to have only 6 draws but has a lot more handles of course! So I would be using the handle jig a lot more so that feature is a BIG plus!.  

I have never fitted shallow draws or something which I would need the draw jig to be used for shallow depth and I don't think ill be likely doing that in the future so the Blum feature being able to retract the rulers for a shallow unit wont be a great benefit to me I think and if I was building my own kitchen and I was making a shallow unit with drawers I would drill the holes before assembly thus not being able to tract the rulers would not be necessary correct?

I like the Blum hardware and would prefer the blum jigs but I prefer the look and what the Hettich can do over the Blum.   Blum hardware fits Hettich jig dont they? So thats all I need aint it?

Well I want two rails.   I want a 500 from Hettich which will have the handle jig setup on it for doing all the handles.  The second rail I want for doing the hinges and draw runners unfortunately the next rail size is 1000 which is to long for units already installed and worktop fitted it would be okay if I fitted the or predrilled the holes for the draws and doors before the worktop fitted but its now how I work lol.

Because!   I normally fit all the units and then fit the worktop as I don't want to accidentally damage any doors or draws fronts and if I was to install the draw runners leaving the fronts off that would be okay but I dont want dust or dirt to go onto the runners.  So I like to fit the units then work tops then runners and then doors and draw fronts.  So the 1metre rail would be to long it need to be 800 max really so I would have to cut the rail.

JMB

 

[andyman]

Jmb what did you go for on this after?

Was it any good?

 

[jmbfestool]

Jmb what did you go for on this after?

Was it any good?

Lol will have to read what I wrote above can't remember much about this topic lol. Its a few years old.

Well I bought the Blum Ecosdrill.

Not bad. I did have to modify it though.

I drilled a big hole near one side to stick a vacuum on it!  It was doin my head in after drilling one I had to blow it out.  Its really bad with MDF after couple holes its becomes very clogged up.  So having the vacuum attached keeps it all nice and clear

 

[neeleman]

I also have the Blum Ecodrill and wanted it to have a vacuum hose connector/hole.
JMB, can you please post some pictures of your Ecodrill so I can have a look at it and consider making a hole in it to.

 

[polarsea1]

I'd like to see that too. I need to clear chips on nearly every set of holes.

 

[andyman]

Jmb what did you go for on this after?

Was it any good?

Lol will have to read what I wrote above can't remember much about this topic lol. Its a few years old.

Well I bought the Blum Ecosdrill.

Not bad. I did have to modify it though.

I drilled a big hole near one side to stick a vacuum on it!  It was doin my head in after drilling one I had to blow it out.  Its really bad with MDF after couple holes its becomes very clogged up.  So having the vacuum attached keeps it all nice and clear

weird I replied to this this morning. Anyway I was researching last night and came across your post lol.
Doing some kitchen units at the moment.

Does the jig make the holes for the mounting plates as well?

 

[GreenGA]

Doesn't Sommerfeld offer something similar?  I think that one goes for about $180.  [huh]

 

[Dan1210]

i just buy the hinge hole bits for my router and make a jig out of timber with the exact measurement in from both edges, one company i worked for i had to drill all my hinge holes on site, never found it necessary to buy a jig.

 

[jmbfestool]

i just buy the hinge hole bits for my router and make a jig out of timber with the exact measurement in from both edges, one company i worked for i had to drill all my hinge holes on site, never found it necessary to buy a jig.

A router only does the 35mm hole not the other two screw holes. Which is what these jigs do.

You can either set the jig so it just pin pricks the surface so you know were to screw or if you are using knock in hinges, clip on or 5mm screws then you can set the jig to drill the holes. 

Either way it guarantees your hinges have been fitted square on

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

Jmb what did you go for on this after?

Was it any good?

Lol will have to read what I wrote above can't remember much about this topic lol. Its a few years old.

Well I bought the Blum Ecosdrill.

Not bad. I did have to modify it though.

I drilled a big hole near one side to stick a vacuum on it!  It was doin my head in after drilling one I had to blow it out.  Its really bad with MDF after couple holes its becomes very clogged up.  So having the vacuum attached keeps it all nice and clear

weird I replied to this this morning. Anyway I was researching last night and came across your post lol.
Doing some kitchen units at the moment.

Does the jig make the holes for the mounting plates as well?

No the jig is only for the doors.  It drills the main 35mm hole and if you want it will drill the two 5mm holes either side. You can set it so it just does a punch/pin prick on the surface so you know where to screw.  Depends on which type of hinges you are using.

Thing is with the Blumeco drill it's made for Blum hinges  BUT! Some other brand hinges the holes are in a slightly different place.    Now the hettich is adjustable so it works with other brands.  I have never used or seen hettich in person but just looking at pictures.

I'll see if I have the Ecosdrill on me to take some pictures.

Jmb

 

[jmbfestool]

I drilled the hole to one side.  1. So not to loose my centre line on the Ecodrill  2. I thought it would be better at getting all the shavings because I found the build up was more to that side. Plus it's covering more area when angled towards the main cutter.   

You can see in one of the pictures the direction of my finger is the direction I stick the hose in.

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