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Well, I ordered the headstock slotting jig from Luthiertool.com but am having trouble finding a template guide to use with the jig. The jig calls for an OD template guide of 3/8". I have a Bosch laminate trimmer and they do not make a template guide that size. I also have a Craftsman router but am unable to find the right size template guide. Does anybody know where I might find a template guide which would work?

Thanks!

John

some bosch routers need an adapter to enable them to use p-c guides. see if they have an adapter. the pc guides are available from any woodworking supplier.

Yep, those are the Porter Cable guides. Actually you need a 3/8 OD and start first with a 7/16 OD. The Bosch will need an adapter part RA1100 I think.

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

Scott - FYI - I've been admiring the jig since you sent it to me - I havent gotten a chance to use it yet.

Lance

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

well get yer a.... in gear lance, we want the review!!!!!!

yesterday!!!!!

crazymanmichael38490.4156365741

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Lance@LuthiersForum.com

Those adapter kits only work with the full size Bosch router, not the laminate trimmer (model 1608) that I have. Chris at Luthiertool.com was even unable to help me find a fit for my Bosch laminate trimmer. I think I might have to buy a new PC router, but was hoping to find a template that would work with the Bosch or with my Craftsman router.

John

I know what you mean, Lance. I only had time for admiring it myself. Maybe I'll get my new shop finished someday and be able to actually start usung a few of these tools I've been collecting.

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

do you have a set of forschner bits. make a base plate the will work with the p-c guides, or buy a p-c base plate for a 690 and adapt it to your bosche. much cheaper than buying another router/lam trimmer.crazymanmichael38490.792337963

Or if you can fine a smaller size guide that will fit, you could use tape to build it up to 3/8.

_________________
Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

Hmm, that's a good idea--that might actually work. I could make a base plate out of phenolic like the one I got from Don Williams when he helped me build my binding jig. How does the PC template attach to the base plate? Does it just fit into the circular groove on the top of the plate before it's screwed to the trimmer, or are there some type of screws that hold it in place?

Thanks!

John

There is a threaded ring that screws on from underneath.

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Scott Thompson
Port Townsend,WA

"In a perfect world we'd all sing in tune
But this is reality so give me some room"
-Billy Bragg

the threaded portion of the guide fits up through the hole and the ring screws on from above to hold it in position.

of my two sugestions the easiest way might be the using of a p-c 690 base plate and cut it down to fit the bosche, but making one from the phenolic is perfestly feasible as well. buying the p-c base plate would be maybe $8 or $9, whereas you already have the phenolic. crazymanmichael38491.0331018519

Great idea you had--the more I thought about it, the more it made sense to just replace the router base. I also didn't think I needed phenolic. Here's some pics of what I did--I took clear plexiglass, cut it to size, and drilled 3 holes to screw it in place. I bought some standard brass trim guides and that was it.    It took less than an hour and I was done. Thanks for the great ideas!



Original Craftsman base plate





New plexiglass base plate fitted with brass template guide

Nice job John!

How did you make sure that it was perfectly centered? I was trying to envision the process for this and didn't quite come up with any ideas that seemed good enough.

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

john, glad it worked well for you.

dave, there are several ways to go about it.

one way to center the plate is to work backwards. prepare the plate with the center hole. mount a guide with 1/4" i.d. mount a 1/4" precision rod in router(1/4" bit will do) and slip guide over the rod/bit. shim to center with feeler guages on two sides. they should be thin enough that they will conform to round since we're talking a couple of thou at most. using an appropriate sized transfer punch mark the mounting screw holes. there are pointed screws available to do the hole marking as well. eagle is one supplier as i recall.

some mount the plate on the router and use a pointed sign making bit to mark the center for drilling. others use a end cutting 1/4" spiral to drill a hole then use that hole to reference the plate on the drill press.

That's exactly what I did. I used a template guide with a 1/4" ID and then mounted the plexi on top of the bit with the guide installed. Then I just drilled the holes eyeballing it. The template guide was plenty snug enough to get an accurate hole location. I haven't tried it out yet but plan on giving it a whirl this weekend.

John   

OK, that's what I was thinking. I just didn't know what the chances of it slipping a few thou would do the the guide being centered.

My guess is it's probably off that much on my PC router base anyway.

Thanks guys!

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Dave Rector
Rector Guitars

the point about the bases being off is well taken. if you find that to be the case and it is making visible or functionally significant differences try to shift the baseplate to center it better. the screw holes generally have a bit of slop in them. if this is unsuccessful, a method of getting a more consistantly uniform, if perhaps not perfectly accurate, cut is to make a highly visible mark where you can see it as you route and keep the mark against the template at all times during the cut.crazymanmichael38492.6539699074