[mwm500]

I have a craftsman router and there are 3 holes to mount the bottom plate to the base and there are 3 holes that are closer to the bit (smaller circumfrance).
For a bushing? of some sort any one know about that?

 

[bobj3]

Hi mwm500

Some Craftsman routers come with a steel guides (templet guides(bushing) that are held place with a steel lock ring nut.
But the adapter must be held in place 1st. with 3 screws.
If you don't have a adapter you can get one from Sears or from HarborFreight that comes with a brass templet guides SET.
for 16.oo bucks with brass guides

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=37402

BESURE to read the manual PDF file on the same web. page to make sure it will fit your Sears Router, they do list one but I don't know your model number.


http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/manuals.taf?f=form&ItemID=37402
http://www.harborfreight.com/manuals/37000-37999/37402.PDF
Bj

 

[labric]

Hi MWM

Depending on the age of your router, Sears has always had a special unique guide bushing set, that you attached to the 3 small holes around the router bit center opening.

The steel guide bushing came in a set of 3, if I recall, and are the same guides used with their dovetail/boxjoint jig. See attached pic.

According to the owners manual for a Sears 315.17490 router,the template guide bushings is part #9 25079. See pics

I noticed on eBay two recent auctions for the above set of Sears guide bushings.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=170028825705&ssPageName=STRK:MEWA:IT&ih=007
http://cgi.ebay.ca/Craftsman-Templa...ryZ20781QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Needless to say, the Sears guide bushing are a pain to change as you have to unscrew the 3 screws to change guides and the guides are steel not brass which can cause damage to your bits if not perfectly centered, as I found out. They are also deeper in depth and designed for their dovetail jig or lettering guides and not versatile for use with 1/4" thick pattern templates.

Options, for using guide bushings would be to change bases either to a universal sub base such as Vermont America #23458 Router Guide Bushing Kit w Plate (also steel bushings)(see pic) or go with a Oak Park 7" x 7" sub base that accepts 1 1/2" brass guide bushings. Bushings are available from either Oak Park or Lee Valley depending on your preference.

Oak Park should have a sub base that fits your router as you can see from the following table. See pics

Oak Park sub Base plates

Base Plate Type A Product #BP012 7” plate with 1 1/2” center hole

Craftsman models
917574 315.17381 315.245070 315.27500
917506 315.17400 315.248851 315.27505
917507 315.17460 315.248862 315.174710
315.24886 315.275061 315.174921 315.244750
315.275082 315.17491 315.17470 315.174321
315.275110 315.17500 315.175060 315.175070
315.175040 315.17571 315.17551 315.248870
315.245900

Base Plate Type B Product # BP013V 7” plate with 1 1/2” center hole

Craftsman model 315.248700 (RE600)

Base Plate Type D Product # BP0457 7” plate with 1 1/2” center hole (no mounting kit)

Craftsman model 315.245000, 315.247000, 315.248870, 315.27500 315.27508, 927508, 925483

You will find that a 7" x 7" sub base is much more versatile to use and will give you better control and balance while routing and if you decide upgrade to the Oak Park table system the 1 1/2" bushings will be inter-changeable with the other plates available.

I hope this info helps you find either the correct bushing set or opens up your available options.

Ric

 

[Hamlin]

Craftsman routers have those holes for their bushings/guides.
Labric listed and has shown pics of your best option for sears routers. I got lucky and my Oak Park plate mounts to both my sears and my makita. So, I use Oak Parks router plate and brass bushings.

 

[mwm500]

Thanks for all the good info.
Walt

 

[Mike]

Walt, the most commonly found guide bushings for Craftsman routers are plastic, and not worth considering. Look at the guide bushing identification post to see different types of bushings here: http://www.routerforums.com/9577-post1.html