I often use guide bushings in my router base to follow a template. Using only finger power, however, it’s hard to get the bushings tight enough in the router base, and they sometimes work loose in use.

I’ve tried holding the bushing with pliers, but that tends to scar and deform it. Being a longtime cyclist and DIY bike mechanic, I found the answer in a familiar tool. Sold as an “adjustable pin wrench” or a “face spanner,” this inexpensive tool is also used on angle grinders and other machines.

To make the wrench work, drill two holes in the face of the bushing. That lets the wrench hold the bushing in place while you use pliers of some kind to tighten the inside collar.

Jim Richey

Dan Thrasher, London, None

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Makita SP6000J1 Track Saw

With enough power to slice through thick hardwoods, the Makita makes smooth, chip-free cuts in all materials.

Buy at Amazon

Festool Rotex FEQ-Plus Random Orbital Sander

The Festool Rotex is a top-of-the-line choice. On its coarse setting, it removed stock nearly twice as quickly as the second-fastest model. But that speed doesn’t mean you’ll have to wrestle with it. It’s no huge task to control it with two hands, and its long body gives you plenty of room to find a sweet spot while holding it.

Buy at Amazon

Craftsman Random Orbit Sander

While this sander is among the least expensive models in the test, its performance ranks among the best. The stock removal was excellent, and dust collection was solid when used with a vacuum. It handles really smoothly, too, and has a tall body that fit my hand nicely whether I was holding it from above or around the waist.

Buy at Amazon