Triton Router – template routing issues
Hi,
I just made my first attempt at routing mortises in white oak with my Triton 2.25 HP router, fitted with one of their 3/4″ OD, 21/32″ ID guide bushes, and a 5/8″ plunge bit. I am using a 1/2″ thick piece of MDF as my template.
Halfway through my practice “warm-up”, the router shuddered as I completed a pass through the template. It seems that the bit touched the inner wall of the busing, and tore off some metal. One thing I noticed was that the Triton guide bushes are very long, which could cause some deflection when the bushing touches the wall of the template. I did not touch it hard, and was being careful. The bushing length is a tad over 1/2″, as I had to shim my template to make the router base seat properly.
So, my questions are has anyone experienced anything similar (regardless of router make)? Am I doing something wrong? Should I ease up more? (yes.) Is the bushing too long? Is there a better set of bushes that I can use? Are they interchangeable? Stuff like that…
Any help would be appreciated!
thanks,
JPL
Replies
I doubt very seriously the bushing deflected because of the length of the bushing. I have never seen bushings of any brand that flimsy. It sounds like you may not have had the bushing securely fastened and it slipped to the side. You mentioned you shimmed it.
Explain the shimming of the bushing. Why would have to do that?
You say the bushing is over 1/2" length. Yet, you are using a 1/2" pc. of MDF as a guide. Wouldn't the end of the busing ride against the surface of the workpiece when you attempt to make the cut? See what I am saying? Couple that with the size of the bit and if you are attempting the cut in one pass, you don't have a chance of being successful. The shimming of the bushing added to that and you have a disasterous situation.
Don't you have a owner's manual that came with the router? It seems to me your router is considered a good design. The bushings and the router should not be that much of a problem. If the length of the bushing is a problem, they can be cut off to the desired length.
Also, I suggest you get yourself a good router book. I am partial to Bill Hylton's books "Router Magic" and "Woodworking with The Router". Also, Carol Reed has a good book, especially for router novices, entitled "Router Joinery Workshop". Pat Warner and Patrick Spielman are two others I am familar with that have written good books on routers.
Billy B.
Edited 2/24/2007 10:25 am ET by Billy B.
Edited 2/24/2007 10:34 am ET by Billy B.
Hi Billy,Yes, I do have the manual, and have followed it religiously. There is no mention how tight to torque the guide plate for the bushing - I did tighten it sufficiently, IMHO. It is solidly attached.Shimming - the MDF template was shimmed - not the bushing. I understand what you are saying, and agree - when I saw that the router rocked when inserted into the mortise template, I knew the template had to be raised up a hait (1/32" in this case worked fine). The length of the bushing, when secured to it's guideplate extends a little bit more than 1/2", which is the thickness of my template.The bushing is a "wagon wheel" design - there are 4 spokes that connect the central part (where the bit emerges from), with a rim that is secured to the guide plate. What I am saying is that these spokes can deflect slightly - enough to make the bit hit the inside of the bushing...Thank you for the references.JPL
Not being familiar with the router, I was not aware of how the bushings were made. If you think they are flexing, determine the diameter of the plate on the bushing, how it is fastened and check the better woodworking catalogs and see if you can find other brands of bushings that will work. If you have a Rockler, Woodcraft, or any other woodworkers supply place near, you may take it to them and see what they have that will fit.
I have some old, aluminum, Porter Cable bushings which have the long bushing as yours do. I have never found the need for a bushing that length. I have cut some of the Porter Cable bushings off to about 1/4" length. If there is any chance the bushing will drag, even just a little bit, that could be a problem.
If you are cutting a mortise with the size bit you mentioned, I would strongly suggest you do it in multiple passes. I would suggest this, even with a 3/8" bit. That's the size I almost always use.
I wish you the best in solving the problem.
Billy B.
Thanks for the add'l info. I'll follow up with Triton to see if they can help - they were very responsive to other communications. Overall, I really like the router.I'll look into other sources for bushings. I was able to carefully rout out the 12 I needed just now, and all went well. I did use multiple passes, perhaps 10 per mortise, to get through the 3/4" thickness. I wanted to use a bit as wide as the mortise, so I opted for that big 5/8" bit.JPL
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