Router with large bit

gregh | Posted in Power Tools and Machinery on March 18, 2003 05:39am

Forgive me if this is stupid but I have not seen this mentioned in a book or magazine. I just bought a Porter Cable 6980 router. A 3/8″ round over bit will not fit flush in the hole in the base plate. I took the base plate off to use the bit, but it does not seem as stable as with the plate. Is this safe? Is there some other way to use the bit?

Replies

SgianDubh | Mar 18, 2003 05:57am | #1
Never use Porter Cable routers myself Greg, but I know what you mean about removing sub bases from other router types and the resultant instability that can occur. One cure is to make two or three new sub bases of your own out of thin ply or MDF with different sized holes to suit a variety of bit diameters.

Just use your original sub base to locate the holes where the machine screws must go to attach your new sub base to the main base, and countersink to suit. True, you might lose a little cutting depth, but this is not normally critical. Slainte.

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Jeff | Mar 18, 2003 04:46pm | #2
Greg

Not to uncommon a problem.

Keep a variety of Plexi or Lexan bases with diffent holes for this

situation in the shop.

Make them your self or buy them ready made and drill out the hole to

fit.

Jeff
wrick2003 | Mar 19, 2003 01:50am | #3
i have filed the hole bigger on all of my factory router base plates.
TRIGGER | Mar 19, 2003 05:23am | #4
Porter Cable makes a sub base w/ larger hole. Clear plastic. Careful tightnin' the screws, its a little brittle. (hey did that ryme?). HD, etc.
RW | Mar 20, 2003 01:00am | #5
and yes, I think it's a little on the not so safe side. Once you start making bases for your router, you'll probably decide you like them enough you won't use the factory one much anymore. You can make a square one which is offset just enough that you can use it to guide cuts, i.e. on one side, it's 3 1/8, the next side it's 3 1/4, etc. Makes it easy to cut a 3/4 slot with a 1/2 bit on the same setup. Make sure your material is thick enough that the screw heads still have some grab and don't sit above flush. I goofed that up once and had nice screw head gouges all along the edge of something. Live & learn, and cuss a little in the meantime.

" An example from the monkey: The higher it climbs, the more you see of its behind." Saint Bonaventure