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#1
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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 |
#2
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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 |
#3
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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. |
#4
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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 |
#5
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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. |
#6
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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". |
#7
Posted to rec.woodworking
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Router guide bushings: steel vs brass
The term is "stiction", a contraction of "static friction".
I thought it was gription. |
#8
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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 |
#9
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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) |
#10
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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. |
#11
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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. |
#12
Posted to rec.woodworking
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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." |
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