Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?

Thanks!

Chuck

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

Chuck,

While this may not prove out scientifically, the brass guide bushings seem
to slide with less friction when I use them with aluminum straight edges and
corner templates (while doing solid surface materials). I have both steel
and brass guides of the same diameter and prefer the brass. I've not bent
either one, but these are not used in a commercial setting, so perhaps, my
shop is not a typical one.

Got the brass guide at woodcrafter and the steel one part of a Porter Cable
set.

"chuck" wrote in message
nk.net...
Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?

Thanks!

Chuck

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

"chuck" wrote in message
nk.net...
Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?


Brass operate, tighten, and loosen much more smoothly.

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for router guide bushings,

Another thing to consider is the hardness of the material - brass is
softer than steel, so it should do less damage to a bit or blade if one
were to somehow hit the guide. Seems unlikely, but just in case?
Andy

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:27:06 GMT, chuck wrote:

Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?

Brass, for two reasons--one related to the other.

One, brass will not damage your router bits when (not if) they come in
contact when the nut loosens (as it will if steel--see next);

Two, brass nut will hold its grip when hand tightened. It's a
phenomenon of the material which I have not seen a good explanation
for, although several friends who have metallurgy experience confirm
the characteristic.

I bought mine from Jesada, back when Carlo was running it and it was a
reliable company to do business with. Lee Valley has them, I believe.
They're worth looking for, in my opinion.

--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

"LRod" wrote in message ...

Two, brass nut will hold its grip when hand tightened. It's a
phenomenon of the material which I have not seen a good explanation
for, although several friends who have metallurgy experience confirm
the characteristic.

The term is "stiction", a contraction of "static friction".

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

The term is "stiction", a contraction of "static friction".

I thought it was gription.

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

Mine are from PC and are made of aluminum. Bending and distorting them has
not been a problem, for me, they only move easily in the dovetail jig.

Don Dando


"chuck" wrote in message
nk.net...
Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?

Thanks!

Chuck

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

PC brand steel for this wood/metal worker.
If cut to PC specs, the numbers are a little tighter. Have seen too
many brass out of spec, especially flange O.D.

Do they loosen? Have not had that happen, I use the pliers at the
http://www.patwarner.com/images/sundries3.jpg pix link tho.
Brass, indeed, is more fragile.

http://www.patwarner.com/ (Routers)

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

chuck wrote:
Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

I've never bent a brass guide. They slide easier on dovetail and
staircase templates. They polish up like new after a couple of years of
job-site use. My steel guides are somewhere out in the shop with white
and rusty corrosion all over them. I'd give them away if I could find
them.

Most importantly, when you push that 1/4" bit too hard, you will see no
sparks with brass.

Tom in KY, I know exactly where my brass guides are.

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:27:06 GMT, chuck wrote:

Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?

Before getting caught up in any "router expert" war on
recommendations, my post regarding brass was based on what I learned
from watching Bob Rosendahl on PBS' "The Router Workshop."


--
LRod

Master Woodbutcher and seasoned termite

Shamelessly whoring my website since 1999

http://www.woodbutcher.net

Proud participant of rec.woodworking since February, 1997

email addy de-spam-ified due to 1,000 spams per month.
If you can't figure out how to use it, I probably wouldn't
care to correspond with you anyway.

Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
 

Thanks to all for your thoughts. I had been leaning toward the brass and
there seem to be no show-stopping problems among users so I will pick up
a set of them.

Chuck

LRod wrote:
On Tue, 21 Feb 2006 16:27:06 GMT, chuck wrote:


Are there any strong feelings in the group about choice of material for
router guide bushings, other than the obvious: steel can rust but is
stronger; brass looks nicer, and doesn't rust, but is more easily bent?

Are the various offerings of PC-compatible bushings of comparable quality?


Before getting caught up in any "router expert" war on
recommendations, my post regarding brass was based on what I learned
from watching Bob Rosendahl on PBS' "The Router Workshop."