Hole drilling jig for Euro 32 mm system

[Rob Blaustein]

Has anyone out there used Lee Valley's jig (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42200&cat=1,180,42311)for this and if so, any opinions? Any suggestions for other jigs of this sort. I gather the Festool system requires the OF 1000 series router, is that right?

[Jamie Buxton]

I use a less-expensive template. Woodhaven and many others sell ones like it --- http://www.woodhaven.com/detail.aspx?ID=1891. It spaces the holes 32 mm apart and 37 mm back from the edge. That's what Euro-hinges expect.

I strongly recommend a plunge router, not a drill. The router gives you holes that are straight, and even more important, gives you precise and solid depth control. Any plunge router will do, not just the Festool ones.

[John Stevens]

I gather the Festool system requires the OF 1000 series router, is that right?

Yes. (Had to add this to meet the 10-character minimum message size.)

[Dave Falkenstein]

Has anyone out there used Lee Valley's jig (http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=42200&cat=1,180,42311)for this and if so, any opinions? Any suggestions for other jigs of this sort. I gather the Festool system requires the OF 1000 series router, is that right?

There was a thread about the Festool hole drilling jig and adapting the OF1400 router to it a month or two ago at the Festool Owners Group at Yahoo. Several people have successfully adapted the OF1400 to the jig. There is an expectation that Festool will be coming out with an adapter for the OF1400 in the near future - no date that I have heard.

[Rob Blaustein]

Thanks for the replies--I will check out the Festool Yahoo posts re using the 1400 with the Festool jig since I bought that router a few months back. Regarding using a plunge router to make holes with a non-Festool jig: how do you line up the router so it goes right into the hole. I've never done that sort of thing with a router, so excuse my ignorance. Do you use it like a drill--plunge down in a few different spots with the router off until you're in the hole, then come up, turn the router on, then plunge down, or is there an easier way?

[Burt Waddell]

Check out the latest addition by Dino. I think it is the best I have seen. I have the utmost respect for wood haven and Lee Valley. http://eurekazone.com/gallery/ez-gismo-32-line-drilling

[Chris Fite]

I use the Jig It jig for 32 mm construction. It works great with a drill and a Vix bit. The jig http://tinyurl.com/9zavv is simple to use. I always get straight holes this way.

[Jamie Buxton]

Regarding using a plunge router to make holes with a non-Festool jig: how do you line up the router so it goes right into the hole.

You mount a template guide (http://www.woodhaven.com/SearchResult.aspx?CategoryID=125) to the router. They come in all sizes. You pick the one which has the same OD as the ID of the holes in the template. This centers the router bit in the template's holes.

These template guides fit virtually all routers sold in the US -- well maybe except Festool, dunno about them....

[Mark Singer]

I use the Rockler...I think it is $25 with the bit!

[Rob Blaustein]

Thanks again guys. Looks like my brother-in-law (who lives 10 min away) has the Rockler jig and has used it for cabinets, so I'll just borrow his.