Non-Festool Router with LR32?

[LLesniak]

Hello, fellow FOG members - I have a couple of projects planned that would be ideal applications for the LR32 system but I'm not committed to buying yet another router specifically for this work.  I have a number of routers from different manufacturers, mainly Bosch but also Triton and a couple of older Craftsman models, and was wondering what success my fellow FOG members have had in using specific router makes/models with the LR32 system. I've searched the forum and the answers I've found have been along the lines of "you can fit any router to the baseplate with some drilling" and while I can certainly do that I'd like to know if anyone has found a good fit without altering the baseplate. I'm not opposed to acquiring a Festool router which would most likely be the OF 1010 since the trim and mid-size router ranges are covered by my existing Bosch routers and my heavy duty router is the incomparable OF2200 but I'd like to make use of an existing tool for now if possible.  My decision-making timeframe is brief as I'm going to apply my voucher to the purchase so I'll be watching for any info.  Thanks in advance for any advice you can give!  Larry

 

[Dick Mahany]

I was able to use the RA1166 plunge base for a Bosch 1618/1617 (removed from D-handle base) router with only a minor modification.  I removed the black plastic router sub base and only had to snip one of the four webs that guide auxilliary rods on the Bosch base.  (The area is circled in red in one of the photos).  Removing that web has had no detrimental effect on guide rod usage.

I didn't need to drill or modify the LR32 base, and can use the Festool centering disk to center the router.  I have used this combination for over 30 cabinets without problem.  That same router base was also straight forward to adapt to the Festool router guide for other operations as well.  I don't know about compatibility with any other models, but this might be one option.

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[Shavings]

Thanks much for the photos, Dick.  I've got a project coming up where I wanted to keep my Festool 1400 router setup for one operation and utilize my Bosch 1617 with plunge base setup for another operation.  This is an excellent solution.

 

[Dick Mahany]

Thanks much for the photos, Dick.  I've got a project coming up where I wanted to keep my Festool 1400 router setup for one operation and utilize my Bosch 1617 with plunge base setup for another operation.  This is an excellent solution.

Hope it works well for you.  In one of the photos, I used a wide cable tie to keep the plunge lock handle disengaged which allowed much more convenient control of the LR32 indexing/plunging action.  I wish there was a more elegant solution, however that worked just fine.

 

[LLesniak]

THANKS, Dick!  This is exactly the information I was hoping to receive from the FOG and your solution will work perfectly for me as I have multiple Bosch 1617 plunge bases and can easily allocate one to the LR32 after making your mod.  The photos are a big help and I appreciate your taking time to post them.  I ordered the LR32 set, guide rail, and 20mm bit (for making my own MFT tops) from Bob Marino yesterday and will prep the router base so I can put the setup to good use as soon as the tools arrive.  Thanks again for your help with my question! Larry

 

[Dick Mahany]

THANKS, Dick!  This is exactly the information I was hoping to receive from the FOG and your solution will work perfectly for me as I have multiple Bosch 1617 plunge bases and can easily allocate one to the LR32 after making your mod.  The photos are a big help and I appreciate your taking time to post them.  I ordered the LR32 set, guide rail, and 20mm bit (for making my own MFT tops) from Bob Marino yesterday and will prep the router base so I can put the setup to good use as soon as the tools arrive.  Thanks again for your help with my question! Larry

Good luck with your project.  I recently made an auxiliary MFT top using that set up and it worked well with the Festool 20mm bit.  The optional Bosch RA1173AT dust collection set up for the RA1166 base turned out to be a must have when milling that MDF and is well worth the minimal cost IMHO.  That stuff goes everywhere fast.