I have a set of Porter Cable Router Guide Bushings. (http://
www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-42000-9-Piece-Template-Guide/dp/B0000222V1)
I want to make a router table.
I have a nice insert already drilled for the PC Router base.
I want to fit this insert into the table blank I also have prepared.
My thought was that I should be able to use the insert to form a
template, then, use that template to cut an opening into which my
insert will fit "perfectly."
It seems to me that using the appropriate (Spiral Bit?) and two of the
bushings should work.
That's as far as I've gotten to date.
Has anyone sufficient experience using these guides to offer a
solution?
I also have the "Router Inlay Set" (Similar to Woodcraft
http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1391) but that bit is
too short to cut a decent template.
Of course, if there's another, better approach I need consider, please
advise.
On Jun 25, 8:01 am, "dadiOH" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Tom Veatch wrote:
> > On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:20:15 -0700, Hoosierpopi
> > <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >> I have a set of Porter Cable Router Guide Bushings. (http://
>
> www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-42000-9-Piece-Template-Guide/dp/B0000222V1
> )
>
>
>
> >> I want to make a router table.
> >> I have a nice insert already drilled for the PC Router base.
> >> I want to fit this insert into the table blank I also have
> >> prepared.
>
> >> My thought was that I should be able to use the insert to form a
> >> template, then, use that template to cut an opening into which my
> >> insert will fit "perfectly."
>
> >> It seems to me that using the appropriate (Spiral Bit?) and two of
> >> the bushings should work.
>
> >> That's as far as I've gotten to date.
>
> >> Has anyone sufficient experience using these guides to offer a
> >> solution?
>
> >> I also have the "Router Inlay Set" (Similar to Woodcraft
> >>http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1391) but that bit is
> >> too short to cut a decent template.
>
> >> Of course, if there's another, better approach I need consider,
> >> please advise.
>
> > Using a male pattern (your insert) to rout a female template will
> > result in a template in which the cutout is oversized an amount
> > equal to 1/2 (guide O.D. + bit diameter). If you use a pattern
> > following bit, the guide diameter = the bit diameter, so the
> > opening is oversized an amount equal to the bit diameter
>
> Easy to avoid problems, just make template from strips of ply butted
> to edges of router plate.
My preferred method. The insert will drop into its recess like
silk.
This works best with a top piloted flush cut bit, not the collars,
however.
Hoosierpopi wrote:
| I have a set of Porter Cable Router Guide Bushings. (http://
|
www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-42000-9-Piece-Template-Guide/dp/B0000222V1
)
| I want to make a router table.
| I have a nice insert already drilled for the PC Router base.
| I want to fit this insert into the table blank I also have prepared.
|
| My thought was that I should be able to use the insert to form a
| template, then, use that template to cut an opening into which my
| insert will fit "perfectly."
Sounds like a good plan. Why not try it out on a piece of scrap to see
how well it'll work?
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/
Tom Veatch wrote:
| Sounds more complicated than it really is.
I think you're right. :-)
I put together a web page (link in sig) that attempts to develop a
formula for working with possibly different bit sizes and different
sized bushings - I'd appreciate if anyone would let me know of
errors...
Thanks!
--
Morris Dovey
DeSoto Solar
DeSoto, Iowa USA
http://www.iedu.com/DeSoto/GBRecess.html
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:44:28 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>> 2. butt strips to the plate and clamp/tape strips to template
>> material.
>
>Stop here, the rest is just extra work and totally unnecessary.
>
>Remove the plate and use the strips as guides to cut the hole in the
>table; said hole will wind up the same size as the router plate.
You won't get any argument from me on that as long as you're using a
top guided pattern bit.
But, if, as the OP was wanting to do, you're using guide bushings
where the bit diameter is necessarily smaller than the bushing
diameter, the recess will wind up too small in overall length and
width by an amount equal to the difference between the bushing
diameter and the bit diameter.
Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA
Tom Veatch wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:01:52 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>> Easy to avoid problems, just make template from strips of ply
>> butted to edges of router plate.
>
>
> If I understand what you are saying, create an undersized replica of
> the router plate and use the replica as a template to rout the
> recess in the table top.
>
> Is this what you have in mind?
>
> 1. position plate on template material
>
> 2. butt strips to the plate and clamp/tape strips to template
> material.
Stop here, the rest is just extra work and totally unnecessary.
Remove the plate and use the strips as guides to cut the hole in the
table; said hole will wind up the same size as the router plate. If
you are worried about rounded corners on the router plate, use a bit
the same radius as the corners. No big deal if you use a smaller bit,
just means there will be a small gap twixt plate and table at corners,
just a place for sawdust to fall through.
Much easier and more accurate this way. And no problems following the
corners on a male guide.
dadiOH
___________________
> 3. remove plate and guide on inside of strips to create an
> undersized replica of the router plate. The replica will be
> undersized by an amount equal to 1/2 (guide o.d. + bit o.d). Also
> the replica corners will be square while the router plate may be
> rounded.
>
> 4. clamp/tape replica in position on table top for use as a template
> to rout the recess.
>
> 5. rout recess in table top guiding on outside edge of replica using
> the same guide and bit as was used to create the replica. Be very
> careful not to overshoot at the corners. (I always find following
> the corners to be a little dicey when routing a recess using a male
> template.)
>
> Assuming the bit is well centered in the guide, the recess will be
> oversized relative to the replica the same amount the replica is
> undersized relative to the plate. So, the recess dimensions should
> match the plate dimensions except possibly in the corners. Matching
> the corners of the recess to the corners of the plate may require
> some chisel work if the plate corner radius is smaller than the bit
> radius or some gap filling if the plate radius is larger than the
> bit radius.
Tom Veatch wrote:
> On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:20:15 -0700, Hoosierpopi
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>> I have a set of Porter Cable Router Guide Bushings. (http://
>>
www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-42000-9-Piece-Template-Guide/dp/B0000222V1
)
>> I want to make a router table.
>> I have a nice insert already drilled for the PC Router base.
>> I want to fit this insert into the table blank I also have
>> prepared.
>>
>> My thought was that I should be able to use the insert to form a
>> template, then, use that template to cut an opening into which my
>> insert will fit "perfectly."
>>
>> It seems to me that using the appropriate (Spiral Bit?) and two of
>> the bushings should work.
>>
>> That's as far as I've gotten to date.
>>
>> Has anyone sufficient experience using these guides to offer a
>> solution?
>>
>> I also have the "Router Inlay Set" (Similar to Woodcraft
>> http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1391) but that bit is
>> too short to cut a decent template.
>>
>> Of course, if there's another, better approach I need consider,
>> please advise.
>
>
> Using a male pattern (your insert) to rout a female template will
> result in a template in which the cutout is oversized an amount
> equal to 1/2 (guide O.D. + bit diameter). If you use a pattern
> following bit, the guide diameter = the bit diameter, so the
> opening is oversized an amount equal to the bit diameter
Easy to avoid problems, just make template from strips of ply butted
to edges of router plate.
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
Tom Veatch wrote:
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 20:44:28 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>> 2. butt strips to the plate and clamp/tape strips to template
>>> material.
>>
>> Stop here, the rest is just extra work and totally unnecessary.
>>
>> Remove the plate and use the strips as guides to cut the hole in
>> the table; said hole will wind up the same size as the router
>> plate.
>
> You won't get any argument from me on that as long as you're using a
> top guided pattern bit.
>
> But, if, as the OP was wanting to do, you're using guide bushings
All he really wanted to do was make a damn hole in the table for the
freakin' plate :)
--
dadiOH
____________________________
dadiOH's dandies v3.06...
...a help file of info about MP3s, recording from
LP/cassette and tips & tricks on this and that.
Get it at http://mysite.verizon.net/xico
<Tom Veatch> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:01:52 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>Easy to avoid problems, just make template from strips of ply butted
>>to edges of router plate.
>
>
> If I understand what you are saying, create an undersized replica of
> the router plate and use the replica as a template to rout the recess
> in the table top.
>
> Is this what you have in mind?
>
> 1. position plate on template material
>
> 2. butt strips to the plate and clamp/tape strips to template
> material.
>
> 3. remove plate and guide on inside of strips to create an undersized
> replica of the router plate. The replica will be undersized by an
> amount equal to 1/2 (guide o.d. + bit o.d). Also the replica corners
> will be square while the router plate may be rounded.
>
> 4. clamp/tape replica in position on table top for use as a template
> to rout the recess.
>
> 5. rout recess in table top guiding on outside edge of replica using
> the same guide and bit as was used to create the replica. Be very
> careful not to overshoot at the corners. (I always find following the
> corners to be a little dicey when routing a recess using a male
> template.)
>
> Assuming the bit is well centered in the guide, the recess will be
> oversized relative to the replica the same amount the replica is
> undersized relative to the plate. So, the recess dimensions should
> match the plate dimensions except possibly in the corners. Matching
> the corners of the recess to the corners of the plate may require some
> chisel work if the plate corner radius is smaller than the bit radius
> or some gap filling if the plate radius is larger than the bit radius.
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Tom Veatch
> Wichita, KS
> USA
No, you create an oversized template to cut the recess with a router and
bushings. You create an exact size template to cut the recess with a router
and top control trim bit.
If you make the template as dadiOH mentioned, you can use the brass
measuring sticks to make a template for use with bushings.
The guys on "Router Workshop" discussed these methods lots of times.
Jim
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 12:01:52 GMT, "dadiOH" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>Easy to avoid problems, just make template from strips of ply butted
>to edges of router plate.
If I understand what you are saying, create an undersized replica of
the router plate and use the replica as a template to rout the recess
in the table top.
Is this what you have in mind?
1. position plate on template material
2. butt strips to the plate and clamp/tape strips to template
material.
3. remove plate and guide on inside of strips to create an undersized
replica of the router plate. The replica will be undersized by an
amount equal to 1/2 (guide o.d. + bit o.d). Also the replica corners
will be square while the router plate may be rounded.
4. clamp/tape replica in position on table top for use as a template
to rout the recess.
5. rout recess in table top guiding on outside edge of replica using
the same guide and bit as was used to create the replica. Be very
careful not to overshoot at the corners. (I always find following the
corners to be a little dicey when routing a recess using a male
template.)
Assuming the bit is well centered in the guide, the recess will be
oversized relative to the replica the same amount the replica is
undersized relative to the plate. So, the recess dimensions should
match the plate dimensions except possibly in the corners. Matching
the corners of the recess to the corners of the plate may require some
chisel work if the plate corner radius is smaller than the bit radius
or some gap filling if the plate radius is larger than the bit radius.
Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 18:00:25 GMT, "Jim" <[email protected]> wrote:
>No, you create an oversized template to cut the recess with a router and
>bushings. You create an exact size template to cut the recess with a router
>and top control trim bit.
Obviously! And the amount of oversize would be as I stated in my first
post in this thread.
>
>If you make the template as dadiOH mentioned,
keying off the inside of strips butted against the router plate, the
recess in the work/template will be smaller than the router plate if
guide bushings are used and the same size as the router plate if a top
bearing template bit is used - except possibly the corners, of course.
Using the template bit is preferable, but the OP is talking about
using guide bushings.
> you can use the brass
>measuring sticks to make a template for use with bushings.
I don't know what the "brass measuring sticks" are, where they came
from, or how you propose they be used. However, if their width is the
same as the diameter of the bushing and are used as spacers between
dadiOH's strips and the router plate, then the resulting template will
be oversized the right amount as long as the same bushing and bit
diameters are used to cut both the template and the recess for the
router plate.
>
>The guys on "Router Workshop" discussed these methods lots of times.
and the "Router Workshop" is ....
Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA
On Mon, 25 Jun 2007 15:34:44 -0500, Tom Veatch wrote:
>However, if their width is the
>same as the diameter of the bushing and are used as spacers between
>dadiOH's strips and the router plate, then the resulting template will
>be oversized the right amount as long as the same bushing and bit
>diameters are used to cut both the template and the recess for the
>router plate.
>
Sorry about the slight error there.
The width of the spacer has to be the same as the difference in
diameters of the bushing and the bit if you are cutting a template for
routing a recess to contain the original item (the router plate). The
width of the spacer has to be equal to the diameter of the bushing to
cut a template to use for duplicating the original.
As others have said, and I agree, it's much simpler and straight
forward if you can use a top guided pattern bit and route the recess
directly.
Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA
On Sun, 24 Jun 2007 18:20:15 -0700, Hoosierpopi
<[email protected]> wrote:
>I have a set of Porter Cable Router Guide Bushings. (http://
>www.amazon.com/Porter-Cable-42000-9-Piece-Template-Guide/dp/B0000222V1)
>I want to make a router table.
>I have a nice insert already drilled for the PC Router base.
>I want to fit this insert into the table blank I also have prepared.
>
>My thought was that I should be able to use the insert to form a
>template, then, use that template to cut an opening into which my
>insert will fit "perfectly."
>
>It seems to me that using the appropriate (Spiral Bit?) and two of the
>bushings should work.
>
>That's as far as I've gotten to date.
>
>Has anyone sufficient experience using these guides to offer a
>solution?
>
>I also have the "Router Inlay Set" (Similar to Woodcraft
>http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=1391) but that bit is
>too short to cut a decent template.
>
>Of course, if there's another, better approach I need consider, please
>advise.
Using a male pattern (your insert) to rout a female template will
result in a template in which the cutout is oversized an amount equal
to 1/2 (guide O.D. + bit diameter). If you use a pattern following
bit, the guide diameter = the bit diameter, so the opening is
oversized an amount equal to the bit diameter
Routing the opening in the table using the template opening you just
made requires that you select a guide and bit combination such that
1/2 (guide o.d. - bit diameter) is equal to the specific amount the
template is oversized. (note that here the calculation is guide MINUS
bit. before, it was guide PLUS bit)
Sounds more complicated than it really is.
Tom Veatch
Wichita, KS
USA