The common two-piece Porter-Cable-type guide bushings work great, but they can be fussy to lock and remove: When I turn the knurled locking ring, the bushing usually turns along with it. A finger grip won’t keep the bushing from turning. Pliers hold well, but can easily damage the bushing. And if the bushing isn’t tight enough, it will loosen during use, creating a big problem.

The solution is to drill two 1/8-in.-dia. holes in the bushing face and use a pin-spanner to hold the bushing while turning the knurled ring. I found my bicycle pin-spanner worked perfectly. You can buy one at most bicycle shops; mine cost $6.50. Or, of course, you could make a similar tool using a couple of short pins on the end of a wood handle.

Drawing by Jim Richey

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