Mounting a router plate questions / tips?

Nickbee

I’ve read lots of good tips on here on how this should be done. I just go this plate in from woodpeckers:

http://www.woodpeck.com/tlrphenolicplate.html

I did get the MDF template and the recommended 5/8” bit…

I’m routing out a ¾” MDF table top that will have a 2nd ¾” MDF glued to the bottom…

I’ve seen a tip somewhere here that suggests putting a few layers of painters tape on the bit bearing. Then the plate fitting can be tested and one layer at a time can be removed if the fit is too tight. Seems like a good idea… The brass plungers (one on the short side and one on the long side) are a good idea to make up for slop, but of course I’d rather get a near perfect fit 1st.

Also since this plate has 8 leveling screws should I purposely make my route slightly lower then adjust up for a flush fit? Figured it would be better to be a bit too low rather than too high (since low can be adjusted with the leveling screws). I plan to use my 1617’s fixed base that has a micro adjust to “sneak up” on the bit depth setting.

As you can tell this is the 1st time I’m doing this. Any other tips you guys have would be great! Good thing MDF is cheap …

Thanks!

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Nickbee

I just noticed that the brass plungers are spring loaded. Cool stuff. The screws are there to adjust the spring tension I guess. I'll know more once I get home tonight and start playing around with stuff...

Nickbee

BTW, are there any tricks or concerns to drilling this material (phenolic)? I’d like to make a hole for the above table height adjustment wrench.

Nickbee

I started playing around with the plate yesterday. It’s a VERY tight fit into the template. And the plungers feel like they work well with the factory setting. Over the next few days I’ll have more to report…