Replies

1. 
   RickL | Nov 27, 2005 04:36pm | #1

   What router are you using? The most copied ones are the Porter Cable guides. Why does it have to be brass? All the router bit sources sell them and some offer them in brass. Pretty much all the same so pick one set and buy it.

1. 
   EF | Nov 28, 2005 05:02am | #4

   a Dewalt DW 615 and a PC 7939, brass due to rust and so-so reviews of PC steel ones. If they are all the same, that is what I need to know, seemed like there was one that was better, but I couldn't fine any posts on it... so I must be thinking of something else.
   Thanks all, Edward

1. 
   charlesm | Nov 30, 2005 03:16pm | #6

   The Asian brass guides could all be the same for all I know but the Freud brass guides are made in Italy and have much tighter tolerances (based on my own testing).
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

2. 
   Routerman | Nov 27, 2005 05:15pm | #2

   I would not crazy over brass. I would get crazy over Porter Cable brand tool steel guides, however.

   Collar guide data.

1. 
   DougF | Dec 01, 2005 02:16am | #7

   My personal experinece is that brass bushing guides never vibrate loose while my steel ones did.

1. 
   Routerman | Dec 01, 2005 05:09pm | #8

   I've had them both spin off. But now, with this, they never rotate.

1. 
   DougF | Dec 01, 2005 07:48pm | #9

   Good tip.  Fortunatly, I've never experienced a problem with brass.  Perhaps it is a factor of obtaining closer machining tolerances with harber metals. 

1. 
   MarkRD | Dec 02, 2005 01:29am | #10

   Tolerances is one thing, but I suspect that the brass, being softer, compresses slightly like a lock (spring) washer. That natural spring might make them less likely to vibrate off because it keeps constant pressure on the threads. Your router base will also do this. Some base materials are harder, don't compress at all, and don't provide as much resistance when you tighten the template to the base...MarkMeasure it with a Micrometer,

   Mark it with Chalk,

   Cut it with an Ax.

   Visit my woodworking blog Dust Maker

3. 
   forestgirl | Nov 28, 2005 02:23am | #3

   When I went shopping a few months ago for a set of template bushings, it seems most of the brass ones were identical.  I bought the Woodcraft set because it offered two of the lock-rings in it.   I'd be curious as to why Pat doesn't like the brass ones. 

   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" .... :>) 

1. 
   BarryO | Nov 30, 2005 12:48pm | #5

   I have the Woodcraft too.  As you've noticed, it is identical to other sets, except maybe for the color of the plastic case.  I imagine they are all made in the same Chinese factory.

   Pat has concerns about their eccentricity; if the bushing isn't perfectly circular (especially if you tend to rotate the router while routing) the error can affect the cut. 

   For use on my Liegh DT jig, which is the most demanding application I use the bushings for, I use the Leigh bushings.