Festool connectors with jig

[Tobiasz]

Hi.

Small question to you guys, does any of you used those festool KV-LR32 connectors without domino using some  diy jigs?

I wonder would that be possible without df500 and all this fancy hardware out there

 

[squall_line]

Hi.

Small question to you guys, does any of you used those festool KV-LR32 connectors without domino using some  diy jigs?

I wonder would that be possible without df500 and all this fancy hardware out there

There are dozens, if not hundreds, of videos showing how a router and other tools can be used to substitute for a Domino joiner.

I don't know what other "fancy hardware" you're referring to, but if you also mean the jig to drill the 15mm holes for the connectors, that one is somewhat essential for the proper placement of the hole, along with the drill bit itself.  If you already have the bit and a stop collar, I'm sure with enough trial and error you could get the placement correct.

If you don't have a Domino or the knockdown connector set, you'd probably be better off with a cross-dowel jig and hardware, IMHO.  The KV-D8 system isn't exactly cheap when it comes to consumables, and the time and effort to make your own jigs wouldn't really get you much of anything that a cross-dowel jig couldn't get you in a fraction of the time.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

Cutting the required slots without a DF500 would be pretty easy, depending on location/orientation. The  rest of the connector set would be a must.

 

[Mark Katz]

I have the KV-LR32 kit and the connectors work well work well, but I already had a DF500 and lots of usage under my belt.

If you are looking for a much lower cost way to do some knock-down joinery, maybe take a look at a recent video by Peter Millard. He shows how to use a new version of the Lamello Clamex connectors with a run-of-the-mill biscuit joiner.
=472s

Google Lamello Clamex S-20 to find them (limited sources in the U.S. it seems).

 

[Cheese]

I have the KV-LR32 kit and the connectors work well work well, but I already had a DF500 and lots of usage under my belt.

I also have the KV-LR32 kit and love it...it's a bit pricey so you better have a solid reason to use it because the price of the DF 500 is negligible considering the price of the KV-LF32. Like they say in auto racing, You Gotta Wanta.

I guarantee, you will never have enough KV-LR32 pieces to complete the project because you'll always have 20 fewer fasteners of one type that you need and 30 more of the other type that you don't need. That's just the way it is.

Depending upon what you want to accomplish, there may be better alternatives for you.

 

[ChuckM]

If you don't want to spend on a DF500, you'd be better off with another type of knock-down hardware.

With the DF500, I could knock out this today for a neighbor in about 6 hours including stock preparation -- even though I had never used the connectors before. Without a DF500, I think I'd need a lot lot more time to build that piece.

[attachimg=1]
[attachimg=2]

 

[Cheese]

With the DF500, I could knock out this today for a neighbor in about 6 hours including stock preparation -- even though I had never used the connectors before. Without a DF500, I think I'd need a lot lot more time to build that piece.

Chuck, just curious how well those KV D8 connectors worked on that bench to prevent racking?  What kind of service will that bench see?

 

[ChuckM]

Hi Cheese,

Too early to tell because it has not been assembled at my neighbor's man cave until next week after the top and two shelves are done. He plans to use the table as his bench for fixing and making computers.

I'm getting my neighbor involved in edging the sheet goods on his next day off, in the hope that he'll feel some ownership of this project. If I weren't using the connectors, it'd be quite a task to move the tall table down the stairs to the basement.

[attachimg=1]

Not counting the connectors (or my labor), the table cost about $100 Cdn.

 

[lwoirhaye]

Google Lamello Clamex S-20 to find them (limited sources in the U.S. it seems).

Lamello planning to get into the hardware business as the patent on the Zeta expires I reckon. No way they didn't design those years ago, they're so obvious.  Anybody know when the Zeta patents expire?

 

[squall_line]

Lamello planning to get into the hardware business as the patent on the Zeta expires I reckon. No way they didn't design those years ago, they're so obvious.  Anybody know when the Zeta patents expire?

The Clamex was patented in 2009, expected to expire in May, 2028.  The milling method itself for the Zeta P2 will expire in the US in July, 2028.

The Tenso wasn't patented until 2013 in Germany, and 2017 filing in the US, granted in 2023.  Tenso expires in 2037 or 2038 depending on which patent you look at.

 

[lwoirhaye]

Thanks!

 

[Michael Kellough]

With the DF500, I could knock out this today for a neighbor in about 6 hours including stock preparation -- even though I had never used the connectors before. Without a DF500, I think I'd need a lot lot more time to build that piece.

Chuck, just curious how well those KV D8 connectors worked on that bench to prevent racking?  What kind of service will that bench see?

With three times the usual number of tall aprons it won’t rack too much. To insure that it doesn’t rack it just needs to be attached to a wall.

 

[rst]

I just recieved a small Lamello S-20 pack to give a whirl as I still have my original Freud biscuit jointer as well as my upgraded PC one.
I can't justify the Zeta at this point, although I haven't let justification stop me in the past.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

I just recieved a small Lamello S-20 pack to give a whirl as I still have my original Freud biscuit jointer as well as my upgraded PC one.
I can't justify the Zeta at this point, although I haven't let justification stop me in the past.

Just so you know, the original full-sized Zeta P2 fasteners (Clamex and Tenso) are specifically designed to be used with a regular biscuit joiner too. It just takes two plunges to get the slot wide enough for them to fit. They have screw holes in the ends of both parts to fasten them into the slot, rather than rolling them into the groove as intended.

 

[luvmytoolz]

I just recieved a small Lamello S-20 pack to give a whirl as I still have my original Freud biscuit jointer as well as my upgraded PC one.
I can't justify the Zeta at this point, although I haven't let justification stop me in the past.

Just so you know, the original full-sized Zeta P2 fasteners (Clamex and Tenso) are specifically designed to be used with a regular biscuit joiner too. It just takes two plunges to get the slot wide enough for them to fit. They have screw holes in the ends of both parts to fasten them into the slot, rather than rolling them into the groove as intended.

But that wouldn't be very stable unless you packed the empty space either side?

 

[Crazyraceguy]

[member=75933]luvmytoolz[/member] they really aren't though. The screws hold them back and they are very solid. I only use them with Dominos anyway and they produce the stability. I have only had to use them this way a couple of times. Both of those were to "repair/save" a part where someone screwed up the original pockets. That's the only reason I even have screws small enough to work with them.
Also, in a permanent assembly situation, you could add some kind of glue in there too. I have done that several times, in cases where "no fasteners" was required, but clamping an assembly is difficult or impossible. Again, glue on a few Dominos and Tensos to pull it together, does the job.

 

[ChuckM]

Chuck, just curious how well those KV D8 connectors worked on that bench to prevent racking?  What kind of service will that bench see?

Finally done! 24 connectors have been used in this project (table is about 42" (H) x 24" x 48").

[attachimg=1]

With the table top screwed to the aprons, the worktable is more than rock solid.

As Michael suggested, if one day the table is felt to be rocking, it can be placed against the wall. Rn, the owner is very pleased with its sturdiness and its presence in his man cave. Next year, his youngest daughter and the only remaining child is going to college, and he'll have a lot more time for his computer fixing and building hobby.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

That's pretty cool Chuck, looks like it serves the purpose well. Getting him involved was a great idea too.

 

[ChuckM]

Thanks, CRG.

Apart from assembling, he was a big help when it came to gluing and clamping the solid wood edging to the tabletop. He also did most of the jigsawing, and I had him double-check my calculations before notching out the shelves -- another way of measuring twice, cutting once. How refreshing once in a while that you get someone (and an extra pair of hands) to work with you in the lone shop.

 

[Cheese]

With the table top screwed to the aprons, the worktable is more than rock solid.

As Michael suggested, if one day the table is felt to be rocking, it can be placed against the wall. Rn, the owner is very pleased with its sturdiness and its presence in his man cave. Next year, his youngest daughter and the only remaining child is going to college, and he'll have a lot more time for his computer fixing and building hobby.

Nice Chuck, that's great info to know. In my case, I'd have deferred to the D14 set of fasteners only because of Festool's previous suggestions. I have both the D8 & D14 connectors but the D8 connectors are probably more convenient for all of us to use.

I assume you used Domino's with the D8 connectors? How many Domino's per D8 connector did you use?

Also as CRG suggested, that was a good move to get your neighbor involved in the project. Even a small amount of personal ownership goes a long way to owning a piece of the project.  [big grin]