Value of the LR 32 vs more affordable Jigs

[Sparktrician]

The Schmidt 32 is very well done. They have taken it to the next level in ease of use. I have a Mafell setup that I use for shelf pin holes, but this looks to be a lot easier to use. I know this puts the LR32 to shame and the price is more than fair.

WOW!!!  That Schmitt 32 sure is a sweet system!!!  I'm impressed.    [smile]

 

[Cheese]

When I first mentioned the Schmitt 32 (see reply 18) Gen I, it was only useable with a single model Dewalt, Sears or Performax router, some strange choices there.  [eek]

Well now that they've moved on to Gen II, you're now able to use a Festool 1010 or a Makita RT0701 router along with the Dewalt. The new system is 10" longer and costs $120 more than the previous system. Could be a viable alternative for some folks and they're still made in the USA.  [big grin]
https://schmitt32.com
https://schmitt32.com/collections/new-systems/products/42-schmitt32-am

 

[jwar]

Greetings all,

  I am new to Festool Group and I own several Festool Tools that I purchased to help make my life easier when building cabinets and such. I purchased the LR-32 SYS over a year or so almost 2 years going now. I picked up the OF1400, TS55 (purchased with FS 1400/2- LR32) FS 2424/2-LR 32  and the Domino 500 at the same time. As to the ease of the LR32 system versus other systems for Shelf Pins,(5mm(1/4) Hinges(Euro) Blum), Drawer Slides (Blum) setup it beats Kreg, Rockler super jig  and I hate to say it the old one time tool from Woodpeckers. I have only built one complex custom cabinet 17" deep 94"high 48" wide  with the LR system and the ease of setup and repeatability of carrying over my pins from outside to inside and right to left top to bottom was a breeze I even lined up my draw slides and my hinge placement. Festool did not have the Festool 203170 Domino DF 500 Connector Assortment out at the time, so I did the old pocket screw joinery method before I realised I had dominos. I was so used to the old ways of dado and then pocket screw. Now I and selling the Kreg stuff. I do not even touch it anymore it just sits in the corner collecting dust.  I have also used the LR 32 to rebuild my 52in extension wing on my table saw. I used the LR 32 to drill/ well really route in holes for the drawer slides (I started using Euro style 5mm screws fit right into the hole and placed just at the right spots) that I installed into the top to make use of that space under the wing to hold my table saw blades.

  Sorry got off point I will never go back to the plexiglass jigs to do shelf pins to build new cabinets or closet systems. I do keep one setup for repair work as it is easier to fit into the tight spot of an already built cabinet and that is the Rockler super jib because it came with both the 1/4" and 5mm self centering drills. So if you are doing cabinets at volume or a whole house remodel (cabinets, closets system,vanities, built in book cases) for yourself then cutting time to get the job done faster with better control over the router and more accurate is a great value. If you only plan on doing one or two things with the jig or LR system then you have to look at the cost returns for yourself.

  For me being medically disabled from my military service, Getting off my feet quicker was worth the cost and that dividend is still paying as my wife wants all new cabinets,  closet systems, and other honey do list that will utilize those tools. The things you can do with the LR 32 system are limitless if your put your mind to it.  If anything I would change about my decision it would have been to get the OF 1010 router as it mounts easier onto the LR-32 Sys plate easier. The OF 1400 mounts, but takes a minute more.   

 

[afish]

I too have tried many of the cheaper drilling jigs before finally getting the LR32.  I am very happy with the results.  There are a few things that bother me about the system.
1. The setback rails are a PITA for any type of production however I have a work around for that you can see that in the workshop forum
2. Perhaps my biggest annoyance is the fact that festool doesnt offer the holy rail in the 118" version.  Only in 95"  which is just plain dumb.  why do they want to make me have to purchase, store and move around two long rails.  Like many I have a home based shop and its difficult to find room not only to store these long rails not to mention moving/flipping and turning them in a small garage space with other obstacles around not to mention transporting them.  Just give us one rail that can do it all... PLEASE

It can get pricey but I use a Dewalt DW621 router with my LR32 system since I already had a couple.  So that saved me a bunch of money and I have had no accuracy issues.  So $140 plus $270 for the Festool 583290 and a router I already had plus another $50 bucks or so for bits and an imperial to metric collet adaptors and you are good to go.

If i was looking now would look closer at the Mafell duo doweller but the LR32 is great option

 

[JonathanJung]

If you're only doing one or two in your life, skip the LR32. I've found, however, that it is so useful. Now I look forward to making nearly every shelving unit or drawer unit adjustable, it's just so easy. Also, you'll have a fine router in the end, an extra guide rail (sell the one that comes with the TS55), a coupe extra clamps from the LR kit.

 

[Rick Herrick]

I recently got my LR-32.  Took me months of back and forth in my brain to decide.  I do not woodwork for a living so it maybe a silly purchase but the minute I ordered it, I began going through the house looking for projects for cabinets, built-ins, closet upgrades, etc.  I think it will be well worth the cost in the end.  And its quickly becoming something like my TS55, something I just look forward to using.  Its a very cool addition to my shop.

 

[jcrowe1950]

The LR 32 system looks well thought out and well designed.  The videos clearly demonstrate how the system can be used to create pins and euro hinge installs quickly with a router.
By the time you buy an LR 32 Kit, OF 1400 and a LR 32 rail, you’re looking at $1700 dollars Canadian or $1450 USD for the router and the LR 32 kit/rail.

Hi Steven, et al,

    One thing to consider is that if you already are invested into the Festool system in terms of a TS55, you can get the holy rail for the same price as the regular 1400, so that is one consideration. Further, if you already have an OF1010 or an OF1400, that takes the router out of the equation. That still leaves the LR32 set at $535 USD, IIRC. For that you get 5mm brad point and through bits and a 35mm cup hinge bit. You also get the plate for router mounting, the stops for mounting under the rail for vertical calibration, the centering pin, the two edge alignment attachments for the rail and a couple of clamps and a nice systainer for storage. It is, as you point out, expensive. And there is a bit of a learning curve, like many Festool offerings, in order to get the most out of its capabilities. That said, I think the sweet spot for the LR32 kit from Festool probably is the small cabinet shop (larger operations will use CNC for component breakdown and hole drilling) and the hobbyist whose spouse has said "I want all new cabinets throughout the house and have been quoted $35,00 to $50,00 for the job!". All that said, once you master this kit, it is the bee's knees, IMO. Precisely drilling the holes for drawer slides in the sides of frameless cabinets is a hoot, and when you screw the slides in with Euro screws, they are perfectly aligned....of course face frame cabinets do not benefit from that aspect, but the shelf pin holes and hinge cup holes still benefit. So, here's the real nasty addiction, having the LR32 kit will make you lust for the Vac Sys.... [jawdrop]

 

[big K]

I must be green-resistant or something because I have never bought into the 100% Festool addiction. So right away everyone knows that I am not a big fanboy. I do have and use some Festool stuff (TS 75, PS 300 EQ-PLUS, DF 500, CT-36) , and I see their inherent value and superiority over other brands, but I just don't see the value straight across the board like so many here do. I run a small 1 man shop, with an occasional 2'nd guy for certain jobs, and do custom cabinets and occasionally a piece of furniture when I can get the work.

That  having been said I have read this thread eagerly, but for the money, reliability, accuracy of layouts, and everything else that I care about, I am a huge fan of the Meg Products Pro-Bore system for shelf pin holes and system boring. This jig uses a plunge router on a 3/8" anodized Al plate that indexes from the end of the piece. For the router I have found that the very affordable Dewalt DW611 has more than enough power for plunging 1/4" or 5MM holes, so there is no need to move a larger heavier router around, and indexing and use are as fast as anything else. Plus I think that the plunge action on that router is far smoother than any of my PC routers, so there is that as well. I think that for the jig, router, and bits I am probably invested about $500.00. So based on that I would have a hard time justifying $1700 for the Festool way of doing the same quality work at the same speed. But I understand that some of you have drunk the koolaid and so money is not that big of an issue, or so it seems. To each their own. But I believe that the original topic of this thread was a question of value of the Festool vs everyone else, and I had not seen that anyone else had mentioned this particular jig yet.

I too use the Hettich Boring Jig for cup hinges that someone else had suggested, and I think that is a nice way to do that job. For sure that jig is hands down a better option over some of the others that I have seen or used. I keep toying with the idea of attaching a 12" rail that uses two flip stops, something similar to the cross rails for the Domino. Seems like that would make that jig that much easier to use for most hinge locations.

          megproducts.com/pro-bore

 

[MaineShop]

That meg jig is interesting. We are also a small shop and while we have a small line borer we use the lr 32 kit from festool more and more. Looking at the meg does that allow you to do a center row of pins in the middle of the panel? We often do that with our base cabinets.

 

[afish]

Not sure what happened I had long post all typed out and when I posted it all disappeared [mad].  So this is going to be shorter.  Like others I dont buy everything Festool so Im not a fanboy or whatever.  I buy the best tool for the job for the money.  I tend to buy Festool only for specialized items such as conturo, domino, LR32 Things like Miter Saws, drills, routers etc. I buy good brands but dont feel the need to pay the Festool premium.  One Particular tool is the router since I own several and prefer to have dedicated routers for each task.  I could never afford to do that with routers in the 500+ range or rather I wouldn't want to.  When it came time for me to get the LR32 I wasnt about to spend another 500 when I already had an extra Dewalt dw621.  It adapted easily to the sled/base and has never given me any issues.  The dw621 is my favorite router of all time the only negative is the trigger takes a little getting used to. Point is you do not need to spend the 1700 for Lr32. That dw621 is cheap enough that it lives on that LR32 base always I had even thought about getting another Dw621 and base so I could have one for 5mm holes and one permanent one for 35mm holes.  If I was going to stick with the LR32 I would.  I also included photos of the best way I have found to batch out multiple panels.  Once you get to the point shown in the photos you no longer need the stop rails until you have a different width panel.  It only takes seconds to swap out a panel now.

 

[Sparktrician]

That meg jig is interesting. We are also a small shop and while we have a small line borer we use the lr 32 kit from festool more and more. Looking at the meg does that allow you to do a center row of pins in the middle of the panel? We often do that with our base cabinets.

Before buying the LR 32 setup, I used the less expensive version of the Pro-Bore, the Econo-Bore, for many years.  While boring front and back holes really well, it will not permit boring mid-panel due to the clamps not having deep enough throats. 

 

[pnichols1776]

Really surprised nobody has mentioned the True Position. Its awesome for 5mm adjustable shelf pins and pull/handle mounting.
1 man cab shop here & its my go-to for both. Quick, easy set up and rock solid performance.
Not an ad just a fan
https://truepositiontools.com/

 

[afish]

I like the look of the true position for handles but not so much for shelf pins.  A drill wont provide the speed and clean hole like a router does in my experience.  I may buy one if I have a lot of pulls to do. 

 

[fshanno]

When I have a number of cases to do I rig up a deal on my MFT using the bridge with a holy rail.  Production speed.

The way I have it set up I always register from the front bottom corner of a panel.  Any centering error on the sled and any other inconsistency will be identical on every panel.  Shelves will be level, guaranteed.

If it's a one off piece then the LR32 is a slow way to go.  But it's not end-of-the-world slow.  I can deal with it.  Because it makes nice holes and it's fun to use.

I had a homemade router jig using the guide bush but it wasn't really any faster than the LR32.

 

[krudawg]

I just bought the LR32 Plate.  It’s available as a separate item. I already owned the 1400, 1100 and a holy rail.  So it wasn’t that big of an investment.

That sounds like a good move.  Do you miss any of the other accessories that come in the complete kit inside the systainer

 

[squall_line]

I just bought the LR32 Plate.  It’s available as a separate item. I already owned the 1400, 1100 and a holy rail.  So it wasn’t that big of an investment.

That sounds like a good move.  Do you miss any of the other accessories that come in the complete kit inside the systainer

That was posted over 7 years ago, and the user hasn't been active on the FOG since January, 2023.  Why is this thread being bumped?