DerbyDad03 wrote:
On Friday, July 29, 2016 at 6:33:48 PM UTC-4, Leon wrote:
On 7/29/2016 2:25 PM, DerbyDad03 wrote:
This is going to be a real rookie question, so please be gentle.

I've never used router template guide bushings before, but I am about to.

To install this bed rail hardware, I need to make a 5/8" mortise for the
slotted portion and then two 1/4" mortises right in the center of that
mortise to accept the hooks. My testing shows that a single pass with a
5/8" bit makes a nice snug mortise for the hardware.

Consider also not using a guide bushing at all. I use a jig the exact
size that I want to cut and then use a top bearing flush cut bit. The
top bearing rides along the jig sitting on top of the work. And you
only need one size bit. Use a jig with a wider opening for the wider
mortise. Obviously the wider mortise will take a pass or two down each
side of the jig opening.

Thanks for the tips, but...

Are you suggesting 2 jigs vs. 2 bits and a guide bushing for my situation -
one jig for the 5/8" mortise, requiring multiple passes with the 1/4" bit
and then one jig for the 1/4" mortise that needs to be centered in the 5/8"
mortise?

Yes. But good luck finding a top bearing flush cut bit in 1/4" size.
Does the centered mortise have to be 1/4" wide? Could it be 1/2"? And or
since the centered smaller mortise will not be seem could you free hand it
with a plain straight cut 1/4" bit after making the bigger mortise?










http://www.cshardware.com/15-74-5.html

It seems to me that if I make a jig to accept the bushing for the 5/8"
bit, then all I need to do is swap out the bit and the same jig can be
used for both mortises. The 1/4" bit will be centered in the 5/8" mortise
"by default". That seems pretty straight forward.

So assuming that I am OK with using that technique, here's my question:

Why are there so many different sized bushings? Why not have just 1 bushing
to accept the largest bit and then make all jigs to work with that one
bushing? All bits, regardless of their size, will be centered in the bushing,
so why are there multiple bushings that match the bits when its the *jig* that
determines where the bit will contact the wood?

There are a bunch of different bushings for different kinds of jigs.
Think DT jigs, Box joint jigs etc. And then there are special bushing
for inlay, cutting the indention and cutting the inlay to fit snugly
inside that indention.

Also do not assume that bits will be centered in the bushing. Typically
the bushing is not centered with the bit. This shows up if you clock
the router while making a pass. This can be adjusted by centering the
bushing with the collet with a special cone shaped bit but only if you
have the ability to center the bushing.

And this is exactly why I do not us a bushing vs. a 1/2" diameter top
bearing flush cut bit. for cutting mortises.




I'm sure I'm missing something simple due to lack of experience.


Live and learn. Some of us have been down this road, some have not yet.

Thanks!