I have two sets of guide bushings for the router. Both the Porter-Cable and the Bosch sets have bushings with the same range of Outside Diameters and Inside Diameters but the guide portion of each bushing has a different length, some of them longer than 1/2 inch. Does this mean that the thickness of the template must be different for each guide bushing?
Can I cut the guide sleeves so that all of the guide bushings will work with a 1/4 inch hardboard template? Should I use a hack saw to cut the sleeves?
Thanks for your help.
Replies
There doesn't seem to be any standard for the length of router bushings. The template can be any thickness as long as it is thicker than the bushing, but thick templates are often harder to shape if they are curved and a thick template shortens the available length of the bit, which can be a problem when cutting thicker stock.
You certainly can shorten the bushings. A hacksaw would be the tool of choice, unless you've got a metal lathe. The steel in the bushings is probably just ordinary mild steel which will saw easily. Use a fresh fine tooth blade, such as a 32 TPI, and then clean up the cut edge with files.
John W.
Thanks for the advicde -- I'm off to the woodshop to do it!
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