[template tom]

Hi Ken

You have purchased a great router 3612C
Template guides are readily available from Makita outlets but do not be surprised if they should ask you why a 40mm as it took me a long time to persuade Makita to put the guide back in the box with the router 3612
The three Guides I use on a regular basis is 40 30 and 16mm
Tom

 

[template tom]

Sorry Ken
But I do not use the extension I usually purchase 1/2" Cutters
Tom

 

[Hamlin]

Many thanks Tom.

I love the router, excellent for hand held and table work both. I've checked their web site, shows only 2 for the model. I think I'll be making a trip to a local retail and see if I can order some bushing/guides for it. Being in the US, not sure if they'll have the 40mm but.... I can be stubborn and tell 'em get me one!!
Again, thank you.

 

[template tom]

Best of Luck
Tom

 

[Mike]

Ken, if you get a 40 MM it will be special order. As Dewy pointed out the largest Oak Park bushing is 38.1 MM so short of the math being slightly different from Tom's it will do the job. I will check with our local parts source and see if Makita has the 40 MM available in the US. I need to visit with them anyways.

 

[Hamlin]

Just a slight update...
Checked their web site (Makita), there are several bushings to choose from. The 40mm isn't listed. However, the site does list other outlets that sell Makita products, so, hopefully may be able to stop in at one of those places and possibly special order it. I hope.

 

[harrysin]

40mm template guides

I think some clarification is required regarding the 40mm guide,it is NOT a necessity,use the largest one that you CAN get hold of however,having a 40mm guide will enable you to attempt all of Template Tom's projects after you purchase his DVD when it is finally released.Harry

 

[Russell Siler]

great information

 

[toolbabe]

Hi guys,

I've been reading a lot of posts here on the forum regarding template guides, bushings and what have you..

I have a Makita 3612C router and was wondering if the templates guides from LeeValley, Canada are a good choice for the Makita router. I realise Makita has their own guides but since I was given a LeeValley 1 3/16" Adapter Base Plate for Christmas I figured I'd just go ahead and order the LV 1 3/16" Template guides to go with it.

Then I read somewhere on the forum that you have to be careful when choosing template guides. I would not want the chuck touching the guide as I'm plunging to final depth.

Should I return the Adapter Base Plate and purchase template guides only from Makita for my particular router. Or would the LeeValley template guides be ok. (safe)?

I was just wondering are bushing guides just another name for template guides? What is the difference between an insert and template guide?

I bought the Makita plunge router mainly to cut mortises since I already have a Milwaukee fixed router mounted beneath my router table and I use my VS Porter Cable fixed router for edge routing.

Would I be better off just buying a fence system for my Makita router and forget about buying template guides. Since I only intend to cut mortises. I am not into inlaying or letter routing. Perhaps when I gain more experience using the plunge I will experiment with that.

toolbabe

 

[Mike]

Wanda, Makita offers larger sizes of template guides which are very useful. Most places in the US and Canada do not stock the larger sizes but they can be ordered. I think if I owned a 3612C I would stick with the factory bushings. There are advantages to using the two piece brass bushings but the adapter you have limits the size to the PC style; it will not accept the larger Lee Valley/Oak Park style bushings. Tough call on this one; either way will work.

 

[pmejhall]

thanks, this going to be great. Thank you.

 

[Mike]

I updated the first post in this thread with more photos and information.

 

[williamm]

PC part number error

Has anyone come across incorrect part numbers on guide bushings?

I received my Porter Cable through-dovetail jig and setting up for a test cut when I noticed that the manual stated to use a 42046 guide bushing but I had a 42047 in my hand.
I called PC and they said it was probably a typo and sent me a new one with the correct number and exactly the same size.

 

[rss1600]

Interesting bushing summary

Here is a quick reference to different types of guide bushings.
Photo 1:
Top left: Old style Bosch. Installed by removing the bottom plate of the router.
Bottom left: New Quick change style Bosch. Installed by dropping into place and sliding a lever. Note the quick change adapter with a PC style bushing installed.
Bottom center: Typical Porter Cable base plate with bushing installed.
Bottom near right: PC style bushing.
Bottom far right: Rousseau mounting plate installation bushing. Note the removeable top ring locked in place with an allen screw. Guided by the template with a straight cutting bit installed; removes the main cut out for the router. Removing the top ring reveals a smaller guide used for cutting the lip that supports the plate.
Top right: Typical Craftsman router with guide bushing. Bushing is plastic and held in place with 3 screws.

Photo 2: Craftsman bushing; sit's on top of the sub base plate, 3 screws.
Photo 3: The larger Oak Park/Lee Valley style on the left; PC style on the right.
Photo 4: Reducers in both styles.
Photo 5: Milescraft kit with base plate, bushings and an adapter to use PC style.
Photo 6: Trend metric guide bushings in HD plastic, steel and the T3 adapter for PC.
Photo 7: Trend UniBase/bushing which will fit most routers.
Photo 8: Makita bushing; attaches with two screws on older models, new models have a quick release lever and require no screws. Bushings work with either style.

I didn't know there were so many variations.

 

[Mike]

A Chinese company contacted me about increasing their business. I gave them specifications to build metric guide bushings in both PC and the larger Oak Park/Lee Valley styles using a CNC. They sent me these sample bushings which were out of tolerance, hand produced with the wrong threads because the tooling was cheaper. I will find a different company who wants to produce these items.

 

[Phil P]

I didn't know there were so many variations.

Mike has scratched the surface :yes4:. The Trend guide bushings we can get in the UK and EU come in a much wider range of sizes which include both metric and Imperial sizes. The do sell a set of Imperial sizes in the following sizes (Trend use the metric sizes in their part numbers):

7/8" (22.2mm)
15/16" (23.8mm)
1" (25.4mm)
1-1/16" (27mm)
1-1/8" (28.6mm)
1-3/16" (30.2mm)
1-1/4" (31.8mm)
1-5/16" (33.3mm)

although other Imperial sizes are available (again metric equivalents in paranthesis):

5/16" (7.93mm)
3/8" (9.5mm)
5/8" (15.8mm)
7/16" (11.1mm)
5/8" (15.8mm)
3/4" (19mm)

That makes for a pretty wide range which can be further widened by the use of guide bush collars used to make matching pockets and inlays. Trend also sell industrial quality sub-bases to fit almost any router

The Trend guide bush design originated with the Elu MOF69 router in the early 1970s and carried on through the Elu MOF96 (in USA the 3303/3304) to the modern day deWalt DW613/DW614/DW615, Perles OF-808 and Trend T5 designs. Some other routers use them as well and deWalt in Europe also supply an adaptor to allow the DW624/DW625 to use this type of guide bush. Trend also sell as the "DE625T10" (not listed in the main catalogue, it is a spare part for the Trend T10 router). These adaptors are backwards compatible with the older Elu MOF177 (USA 3338/3339) and MOF131 models, although for some reason there is no compatibility with the DW621/DW622/DW626 (and Elu OF97/OF1) which saher the same likited range of cast metal guide bushes (in the EU 16, 20, 24 and 30mm). Trend are possibly unusual in having a very complete compatibility chart on their web site which can be very useful.

Other European manufacturers have their own standards. For example Mafell use different guide bushes to everyone else, as do Festool (with what appears to be a unique system for each router in the range) whilst Bosch have standardised on the SDS bayonet mount type for the plunge routers. None offer anywhere near the range of sizes that Trend do

Regards

Phil

Note: Posted for completeness, especially for UK and EU members

 

[Mike]

I have the "Imperial" plastic set Phil, as well as the two plastic metric sets from Trend. They are a sturdy design and way better than the Craftsman plastic guide bushings. About on par with the Milescraft set.

 

[Phil P]

Hi Mike

Pity they don't do a larger part of their range in the USA. Whilst a tad expensive their steel guide bushes are excellent and robust and well up to commercial use. The old MOF96-style guide bushes are also available from other sources including these steel ones from Axminster Power Tool (metric only) which are cheap as chips, especially in the set. Not as well finished as the Trend, but nevertheless very serviceable.Thought that worthwhile pointing out for those who can buy in Europe

Regards

Phil

 

[old knothead]

what are they for and what do you use them for

Here is a quick reference to different types of guide bushings.
Photo 1:
Top left: Old style Bosch. Installed by removing the bottom plate of the router.
Bottom left: New Quick change style Bosch. Installed by dropping into place and sliding a lever. Note the quick change adapter with a PC style bushing installed.
Bottom center: Typical Porter Cable base plate with bushing installed.
Bottom near right: PC style bushing.
Bottom far right: Rousseau mounting plate installation bushing. Note the removeable top ring locked in place with an allen screw. Guided by the template with a straight cutting bit installed; removes the main cut out for the router. Removing the top ring reveals a smaller guide used for cutting the lip that supports the plate.
Top right: Typical Craftsman router with guide bushing. Bushing is plastic and held in place with 3 screws.

Photo 2: Craftsman bushing; sit's on top of the sub base plate, 3 screws.
Photo 3: The larger Oak Park/Lee Valley style on the left; PC style on the right.
Photo 4: Reducers in both styles.
Photo 5: Milescraft kit with base plate, bushings and an adapter to use PC style.
Photo 6: Trend metric guide bushings in HD plastic, steel and the T3 adapter for PC.
Photo 7: Trend UniBase/bushing which will fit most routers.
Photo 8: Makita bushing; attaches with two screws on older models, new models have a quick release lever and require no screws. Bushings work with either style.

mike what are they for and what do you use them for

 

[whimsofchaz]

Mike I am in the process of learning how to use bushings. Because I have a Craftsman router there isn't much info about how to hook it up. So I ordered the Milescraft kit and I am going to use that to start but my question is you mention an adapter that would allow me to use PC stuff. I want to use the brass bushings because the Milescraft stuff doesn't look very sturdy and I would like to start with the PC stuff because other stuff is available. Will the Milescraft kit let me do that? Point me in any direction I am new and need help.