Porter Cable Router Base Plate

RRE764 | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on May 10, 2021 11:59pm

I recently purchased a Porter Cable 690 router on eBay that needed a base plate to make it complete. I ordered a new base plate but was extremely disappointed when I received it and found that the countersunk mounting holes had been replaced with counterbored mounting holes. The base plate is manufactured by Porter Cable, so it’s not a knockoff. The new style holes make the base plate completely useless since they don’t center the plate on the base nor will they hold it in place if it can be centered. Has anybody else discovered this problem and how was it fixed? I can drill new countersunk holes in the base plate, but I need to figure out a way to locate them so the base plate is properly centered.

Replies

esch5995 | May 11, 2021 12:33am | #1
This will center the base plate if that's what you need. If the mounting holes are completely through the base you can use a vix bit to drill the new holes

https://amazon.com/dp/B004AJEUOY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_glt_fabc_S0KK7F3Y6DT1C4CQX981?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

I also think your concern about the baseplate shifting because of the counterbored holes is unfounded given that there will be little force acting on the plate to cause it to shift once its centered. You will need new screws if yours are the flathead style. Panhead screws should secure the plate nicely once you have it centered.
_mj_ | May 11, 2021 05:01am | #2
If you have a set of PC guide bushings you can mount either a 1/4" or 1/2" and use a drill bit chucked into the router as a centering pin until you tighten tbrough the counterbored holes.
user-306925 | May 11, 2021 06:29am | #3
Get a proper one from Microfence https://microfence.com/product/universal-router-plate-kit/
ral3wood | May 11, 2021 12:59pm | #4
Problem with countersunk holes is that they force the baseplate into a single position that often isn't perfectly centered, so I would stick with that counter bored baseplate and then use a centering device to get it centered. It could eventually shift, but for many operations like using bearing guided bits it doesn't matter. Then when you need to have it centered (like with most dovetail jigs) you can recenter in a matter of a minute or two.