Using the LR32 to Make Grids of Holes
The LR32 without any extras can produce grids of 6mm holes.
A grid consists of rows and columns. The distance between rows is controlled by the holes in the LR32 at some multiple of 32mm. The distance between columns is controlled by the setting of the side stops. It could be any arbitrary distance. In this discussion, what you would normally think of as a row (of, say, shelf pin holes) is a single column.
When doing a grid, you've also got to be aware of column origin. Distance from one column to another is automatically controlled, but it's possible for a column's holes to be out of alignment with the others, producing a wavy row. Avoid this by drawing a reference line perpendicular to the LR32, and starting the first hole of each column on that line.
When the LR32 is used conventionally you're indexing from the edge of the side stop's pin, but when you are making a grid the indexing is from the center of the pin. Adjust and check your side stops carefully.
- Make the first column of holes as you ordinarily would.
- Align the LR32 for the next column by inserting the pins of the slide stops into the previous column. Make sure the column origin is correct by checking the bit's center point against the reference line.
- Drill the column of holes.
- Repeat.
Grids of Holes Larger Than 6mm
My original goal was to produce grids like the MFT's, that is, 20mm holes on 96x96 centers. The technique works well for this.
Fabricate 2 adapters. I used aluminum, but hard plastic or wood should work as well. Each adapter is a cylinder with a 6mm bore, and an outer diameter to suit the hole. Adding a lip on the top of the cylinder will prevent it from falling through the hole.
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You can either drill the holes directly in the work, or create a template. You don't need to be concerned about copy rings if you're drilling directly. With Festool bits, you can drill holes from 3 to 10 mm, and also use the hinge location bits for larger holes.
If you want a template for a grid of 20mm holes, use the LR32 and 30mm adapters to drill a grid of 30mm holes in 1/4" (6mm) MDF. My 30mm adapters are very short to suit the thin template material. The 30mm hinge location bit is fine for this. To use the template, install the 30mm copy ring and a 20mm hinge location bit on your router.
If a particular situation forces the use of a copy ring for which you don't have a corresponding hinge location bit, you can still use a variation of this technique. Simply use a pointed dowel bit to "center punch" a column of holes, drill out the holes using a drill press, and repeat. This rapidly becomes a pain for a grid, but it's OK for drawer front templates. A 17mm brad point drill for the drill press isn't hard to find. Though this technique works, I've found it easier just to lay out the template for something like a drawer front without using the LR32.
Incidentally, all work described was done with a 1010. If I were doing a production run of 20mm holes in a grid I'd probably prefer to use the 1400, but it doesn't feel as if I'm abusing the 1010.
Now the bad news: Festool USA no longer lists a 30mm hinge locating bit. I have a Festo-branded 30mm I bought from the USA branch, I guess when they were closing them out. The 30mm is still available in Germany (491 075). I hope USA decides to stock the 30mm bit again, because 30mm is the only size that's available in both a hinge locating bit and a copying ring.
