LR 32 use

[Don H]

I am real new to the Festool LR 32.  I'm building cabinets for my garage.  Everything is going fine, Dry fitted the first cabinet and now ready to use the LR 32 for the shelf pinholes and hinge install.  Because I am so new, I practice doing everything on scrap before any cutting.  I purchased some Blum hinges off Amazon ( Blum CLIP top BLUMOTION Soft Close Hinges, 110 degree, Self Closing, Frameless, with Mounting Plates and hinge cover plates ) and noticed the LR32 bores 5 mm holes where the hardware for the hinges is clearly a lot smaller.  The purpose of the LR 32 is to provide a templated for installing the hinges for speed and accuracy.  What am I missing, did I order the wrong hinge?  If I did, what type of hinge should I be ordering.  I also placed an order for some 6.3mm x 13mm screws.  I also ordered some 5mm x 12mm expansion sleeves to try out.  I am totally perplexed as to how this system works here in the US.  In Europe the hardware is probably available on every street corner, but everywhere I've looked has weeks for delivery.  I think Festool should state this on the product page.  I would appreciate any assistance on directing me to some solid advice / video tutorial.  I frequent FestoolUSA, SedgeTool, and some of "The Poplar Shop".  None of these places actually show the install of the hinge plate or mention the hardware they use to attach it.  StdegeTool has one where he just pressed the hinge plate and hinge into the holes bored with the LR32 and no screws but does not add a link to the vender.  I guess for a seasoned cabinet maker this is routine, but This is my very first ever cabinet.

 

[usernumber1]

don't rely on youtube that is only a small percentage of the information. it's mostly watered down for entertainment as the pure instructional videos would probably get no views

the idea is that you are supposed to familiarize yourself with your manufacturer of choice (BLUM) catalog, learn their product offerings and develop your methods of implementing

BLUM for example lists 6 different ways to attach the mounting plates and cover plates. system screws, chipboard screws, inserta, expando,
etc etc you can't even make this up there's too much and may not even be available to you
https://publications.blum.com/2022/catalogue/en/144/

 

[Packard]

I use the Blum marking template for that. 

Basically, I have a centerline for the cup hinge and I extend that centerline to the cabinet to give the location for the template.

My forstner bit has a pointy tip so I can always pick up the centerline even after painting. 

It is really easy.  The video makes it look easy and after the first try it is that easy. 

I think I paid about $8.00 a number of years ago.  I see it on Amazon.com for $15.00 now.  It is made from steel.  It will last until you lose it. (Small items like that have a way of hiding from me when I go looking for it.  So far, it has been well-behaved. [big grin])

 

[thudchkr]

I am real new to the Festool LR 32.  I'm building cabinets for my garage.  Everything is going fine, Dry fitted the first cabinet and now ready to use the LR 32 for the shelf pinholes and hinge install.  Because I am so new, I practice doing everything on scrap before any cutting.  I purchased some Blum hinges off Amazon ( Blum CLIP top BLUMOTION Soft Close Hinges, 110 degree, Self Closing, Frameless, with Mounting Plates and hinge cover plates ) and noticed the LR32 bores 5 mm holes where the hardware for the hinges is clearly a lot smaller.  The purpose of the LR 32 is to provide a templated for installing the hinges for speed and accuracy.  What am I missing, did I order the wrong hinge?  If I did, what type of hinge should I be ordering.  I also placed an order for some 6.3mm x 13mm screws.  I also ordered some 5mm x 12mm expansion sleeves to try out.  I am totally perplexed as to how this system works here in the US.  In Europe the hardware is probably available on every street corner, but everywhere I've looked has weeks for delivery.  I think Festool should state this on the product page.  I would appreciate any assistance on directing me to some solid advice / video tutorial.  I frequent FestoolUSA, SedgeTool, and some of "The Poplar Shop".  None of these places actually show the install of the hinge plate or mention the hardware they use to attach it.  StdegeTool has one where he just pressed the hinge plate and hinge into the holes bored with the LR32 and no screws but does not add a link to the vender.  I guess for a seasoned cabinet maker this is routine, but This is my very first ever cabinet.

The 6.3mm screws you ordered, or the 5mm sleeves should work with your hardware. I prefer to use the euro screws for the mounting of my euro hinges.

The LR 32 system can also bore holes in your door for the hinge cup and it’s mounting holes and one can get hinges that have mounting posts that fit those 5mm holes created by the LR32 system. You do need to have the 35mm bit for recessing the hinge cup hole.

 

[Don H]

I totally understand the hinge cup, it's the hinge plate that has thrown me for a loop because I'm using the provided 5mm bit to bore the hole, but then the screws provided with the hinges set is too small.  Looking at the 5mm boring bit, it looks like I could just tap it on the cabinet frame and because the bit has a point in the middle it would mark the screw position, then drill it.

Does anyone know where to purchase the Euro hinge sets?  Then I could just do it and forget about all these work arounds.

 

[Michael Kellough]

I totally understand the hinge cup, it's the hinge plate that has thrown me for a loop because I'm using the provided 5mm bit to bore the hole, but then the screws provided with the hinges set is too small.  Looking at the 5mm boring bit, it looks like I could just tap it on the cabinet frame and because the bit has a point in the middle it would mark the screw position, then drill it.

Does anyone know where to purchase the Euro hinge sets?  Then I could just do it and forget about all these work arounds.

If you want to mark the holes for the mounting plates by using the LR32 then plunge the router just enough to kiss the stock and use the resulting tiny divot to locate your drill bit and carry on.

If you want to go ahead and drill 5mm holes with the LR32 you can buy mounting plates already populated with 5mm plastic plugs at many places. I like Custom Service Hardware.

Mounting plates are made with different heights (0mm, 2mm, 4mm, etc.) so you can get the overlap you want.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

If you want to go ahead and drill 5mm holes with the LR32 you can buy mounting plates already populated with 5mm plastic plugs at many places. I like Custom Service Hardware.

Mounting plates are made with different heights (0mm, 2mm, 4mm, etc.) so you can get the overlap you want.

That's what we use where I work, though the brand we have been using lately is Grass.
For a while, during the pandemic, some of the Blum hardware was in short supply.
BTW, the plastic dowels for pressing the hinges in place are 8mm.

 

[woodferret]

Blum cruciforms come as screw only, screw with dowel, and system screw versions.  There's also the clip on INSERTA, which I won't bother describing.  The first two are interchangeable and you can just detach the dowel from the screw and use it like the other.  You can also buy dowels separately.  The system screw version has the bigger hole for a direct screw.  One can also shove a #7 wood screw on that vs the usual #6.

 

[cdconey]

I purchased some Blum hinges off Amazon ( Blum CLIP top BLUMOTION Soft Close Hinges, 110 degree, Self Closing, Frameless, with Mounting Plates and hinge cover plates ) and noticed the LR32 bores 5 mm holes where the hardware for the hinges is clearly a lot smaller.  The purpose of the LR 32 is to provide a templated for installing the hinges for speed and accuracy.  What am I missing, did I order the wrong hinge?  If I did, what type of hinge should I be ordering.

Euro hinges typically do not use a 5mm euro screw. The Hinge Plates use a 5mm system screw in the 32mm pattern on the panels. The typical hole diameter in doors for euro screws on euro hinges is 8mm. This is for nylon inserts or inserta-style hinges.  For example you would bore one 35mm hole for the cup and two 8mm holes offset per the mfg specifications.  For hinges using screw hardware #6 wood screw into the door or a 3mm screw into the 8mm nylon insert. If you look up the tech specs from Blum it will identify the size of holes required and spacing.

If you have the complete LR32SYS you can use it with the Festool 35mm boring tool to bore the cups for the hinges.  The 8mm holes may be more challenging as they are typically a 45mm spacing, not 32mm.

Festool also sells a wide variety of bits for euro systems. 5, 8, 10, 20, 26, 35 mm.  Yes Virginia, you can drill these holes with the LR32SYS and a Festool Router.  No other jigs required.  But you may need to think how to lay out and fasten the LR32 Sys to the work peice.  Keep in mind that there may not be a YouTube tutorial or believers on this forum. 

Having actually used the system to build many euro cabinets prior to You-Tube and having to read the Festool instructions, it does work when used and set up properly following the correct layouts.  Reference your hardware manufacturer spec sheets.  You may need to think a bit and be creative to get the desired layout.     

Blum has a good reference guide for 32mm cabinet layouts.

Most manufacturers have good cut sheets for each line of hardware

If you have hinges which require a standard #6 wood screw it may be easier just to buy a simple jig and 35mm forstner bit, bore your cup pocket and use a square to square up the hinge, mark your screw holes and pre-drill for your screws. 

Without knowing your exact Blum item number, this is about as far as I can help.

 

[mino]

...
BTW, the plastic dowels for pressing the hinges in place are 8mm.

There are various types. Blum (and others) make also the 5mm version. It is quite popular over here as it allows using the same hole row for shelfs as well as for hinges and other hardware.

The 5mm plugs work better than directly screwing especially with chipboard which is quite common with the mass-made semi-custom stuff.

 

[Lincoln]

5mm holes for the hinge plates, 8mm/35mm for the hinges themselves.
There's a metal Blum jig that fits inside the 35mm cup hole, with the 8mm holes punched into it - you press the jig into the cup hole then drill your x2 8mm holes.
Be aware that there are two layouts for the 8mm holes - with Blum hinges they are at 45mm centres. Some other brands have them at 52mm centres. Some also use a 10mm hole instead of 8mm.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

5mm holes for the hinge plates, 8mm/35mm for the hinges themselves.
There's a metal Blum jig that fits inside the 35mm cup hole, with the 8mm holes punched into it - you press the jig into the cup hole then drill your x2 8mm holes.
Be aware that there are two layouts for the 8mm holes - with Blum hinges they are at 45mm centres. Some other brands have them at 52mm centres. Some also use a 10mm hole instead of 8mm.

Yeah, there are still some out there like that, which seems weird to me. I thought this was supposed to be some kind of standard? Back when I first started at the shop where I work, we used Salice almost exclusively and Accuride for drawer slides. The drilling/inserting machine also worked with Blum, which popped up once in a while. At that time Grass was one of the "different spacing" brands. That got us into a second machine, to accommodate them.
Somewhere along the line, Grass switched the drilling pattern. Now we mostly Grass and Blum, I haven't seen a Salice hinge in years.

 

[Lincoln]

5mm holes for the hinge plates, 8mm/35mm for the hinges themselves.
There's a metal Blum jig that fits inside the 35mm cup hole, with the 8mm holes punched into it - you press the jig into the cup hole then drill your x2 8mm holes.
Be aware that there are two layouts for the 8mm holes - with Blum hinges they are at 45mm centres. Some other brands have them at 52mm centres. Some also use a 10mm hole instead of 8mm.

Yeah, there are still some out there like that, which seems weird to me. I thought this was supposed to be some kind of standard? Back when I first started at the shop where I work, we used Salice almost exclusively and Accuride for drawer slides. The drilling/inserting machine also worked with Blum, which popped up once in a while. At that time Grass was one of the "different spacing" brands. That got us into a second machine, to accommodate them.
Somewhere along the line, Grass switched the drilling pattern. Now we mostly Grass and Blum, I haven't seen a Salice hinge in years.

Salice offer both drilling patterns. Hettich do as well. I used Salice a few times during covid, when Blum were impossible to get - was happy enough with them. Actually about to try the Hettich 'Sensys' hinges on an upcoming kitchen job.