Thanks Woodnut65,
I ended up doing something similar but in reverse. I cut up one of my PC inserts on the scroll saw to 1 3/4". The reason I did it this way was that the PC insert contained the proper counterbore to accept the PC guide bushing. Then I fastened a 3/8" guide bushing to my conversion ring, hooked it up to the drill press and used a file to cut a groove to mate the conversion ring to the Vacu-plate counterbore. I had to make a plastic washer big enough to allow the PC guide nut to hold everything in place otherwise it would have just fallen through the Vacu-plate opening.
So, in the end it works great! However, I have a friend who is a machinist and he told me last night that he would make me an insert converter out of brass but in the meantime I'll use my homemade version. In any case, if I decide to order the proper sized guide bushings for my Vacu-plate I'll have both sets (They are somewhat different in the size of template that they will work with.)
On tonight's Router Workshop I noticed that the Vacu-plate that Bob was using had a large insert which contained a smaller insert that held the guide bushing in place. Too bad they don't still make that model. With a blank small insert I could have made my own 1 3/16" guide bushing insert or Oak Park could have made an insert for the PC guide bushings. I guess if you want to sell the larger guide bushings, that wouldn't be in their interest to do so.
Thanks guys, Walt
