Watching the Router workshop on TV. I noticed that they have a set of little bars that they use to set the router cut depths (like a couple inches long). One bar for each depth.
Anyone know what these are called? I’m not having any luck searching Lee Valley.
jt8
“Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing.” –Harriet Braiker
Replies
Why would you need such a thing?
I've seen some listed on Ebay.
These are available from several sources, some offer rectangular cross- section bars. Stay away from these; like a drafting ruler, the first placement is not the side you wanted to use.
They have two "five bar" sets, one is 2.5" long, the other is 4" long. I like the longer set for ease of handling. Although the solid brass bars are 1/8, 3/16, 1/4, 3/8 and 1/2 inch square cross-section individually, they can be "stacked" to 1 7/16". The prices are $11. and $16. +S&H. Available at http://www.pricecutter.com
Once you discover the beauty of using "solids" to set-up, your next acquisition will most likely be 1-2-3 blocks(always sold in pairs).
Practice...'till you can do it right the first time.
View ImageLee Valley has their Veritas Set-Up Blocks.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=1&p=45089&cat=1,240,41064&ap=1
Dan Kornfeld, Owner/President - Odyssey Wood Design, Inc.
I figured everyone but me knew what they were called ;) Thanks for the info, that is exactly what I was looking for. I was not familiar with the 1-2-3 blocks.
The Veritas set only has one 1-2-3 block, whereas most of the others have a pair of them.
Recommendations? Would you rather go with the Veritas set with one 1-2-3, or the other sets with a pair?
jt8
"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." --Harriet Braiker
Hmm... these angle blocks look interesting too:
View Image
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32524&cat=1,43513,51657
I like no-brainer setup devices that let me make near-identical cuts on different days.
jt8
"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." --Harriet Braiker
Edited 9/22/2005 11:00 am ET by JohnT8
As much as I like the line of merchandise from LeeValley, I give a "Thumbs Down" this item.1) The set-up bars are not square in cross-section.
2) Traditionally, the 1-2-3 blocks are sold in pairs. I find that seldom do I use mine singly. To compliment the 123's I have three, accurate, aluminum bars 1/2 x 1 x 6 and one at 5". Using these I can accurately "stack" a dimension at one location, and duplicate it either somewhere else on the project or a month later on something else.Another of my "most reached for" layout tools is an Incra Gauge. It's the one with matching gear racks; that solidly interlock in 1/32" increments. I find, the ability to produce accurate and repeatable layouts essential. There are those, and I'm on that list near the top, who favor "numberless measuring". To compliment the "blocks", "story sticks" eliminate errors. I have made a number of adjustable ones from 3/4" nylon stock and bi-fold door track. When used as bi-fold track, the "pivot block socket" has a securing screw. This locks the gauged setting until it can be transferred. These can also measure case goods diagonals.Arlington, Texas (The dash in Dallas-Fort Worth)
Practice...'till you can do it right the first time.
Yep, I've always liked the looks of those, but never got around to ordering any. I keep square/rectangular brass tubing on hand for a variety of measuring and spacing chores. e.g., 1/8"x1/4" and a handful of other sizes. These are long (12"??) and so have a bigger reference face, and they're available at your local hardware store. They're hollow and can be cut to a smaller size if that should be necessary.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Drill bits are pretty accurate and can be used for this, for anyone who doesn't want to shell out the $$ for a dedicated set of spacer blocks.
Is it really necessary to have a special tool to set bit and blade depth when the scale held in a combination square, or lining up to a mark made on the side of a scrap block, works just as well?
Generally there is nothing that fussy about setting the depth of of a router bit or saw blade and the times when precision really counts you almost always have to make test cuts to confirm the correct setting.
I own thousands of dollars worth of machinist's measuring tools, and use them regularly for metal machining and woodworking machine tuning. With the exception of a well used pair of dial calipers, mostly used for hardware dimensions, I never found that any of the precision measuring tools are needed for day to day wood cutting. The nature of wood and woodworking machines, especially in their typical poor alignment, just don't require, or benefit from, ultra precise machine set ups.
John W.
Is it really necessary to have a special tool to set bit and blade depth when the scale held in a combination square, or lining up to a mark made on the side of a scrap block, works just as well?
That's what I use now, a block of wood. But I'm always looking for ways to improve.jt8
"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." --Harriet Braiker
JT8,
Some things don't need improvement and your quote is very much to the point, I'm saving it to use in the future.
John W.
Where do you get the router workshop. It use to be on dishnetwork, but its dissapeared.
Dont know about your area, but in mine it's on the PBS channel. It has bounced around a bit time-slot-wise, but currently I think it's Saturday morning at 11AM.
Waddaya mean it wont fit through the door?
Dont know about your area, but in mine it's on the PBS channel. It has bounced around a bit time-slot-wise, but currently I think it's Saturday morning at 11AM.
Check out my previous post. If you have PBS-U (PBS-YOU), they play Router Workshop every day.
So you can watch the daily PBS-U offerings as well as the regularly scheduled one on your local PBS station.jt8
"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." --Harriet Braiker
Where do you get the router workshop. It use to be on dishnetwork, but its dissapeared.
It is still on Dish, that's where I'm DVR'ing it and watching it later. I don't watch part 1 until I know I've got all the other parts recorded.
It's on PBS-U, channel 9402. Its on EVERY day! They play the same episode a couple times during the day. I know of two: 2:00 PM, 5:00PM central. Today is 'saw horse'. Episodes are pulled from several different years, however they play all parts of a project in sequence.
If you don't already have one, you should look into getting a Dish DVR. They are awesome! Before going to bed, I'll hit the guide and spend about 5 mins scanning some of the next days programming. Find a program I like and click-click, the recorder is set for it. It will be waiting for me when I get home.
My DVR is one of the smaller ones, so only holds about 100 hrs of programs. I think I've got about 28hrs free space at the moment :)
The DVR is also great for pausing live tv. For instance, my BIL called Wednesday night when I was watching World Poker Tour. I hit 'pause' and then unpaused it when the call was done (20 mins later). The program picked up from where I left off, while continuing to record. Since I was then 20 mins behind 'live', I could FF through commercials.
Pretty coooool.jt8
"Striving for excellence motivates you; striving for perfection is demoralizing." --Harriet Braiker
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