krazyderek Posted September 3, 2003 Report Share Posted September 3, 2003 well the tittle says it.... the universal bushing kit at the hardware store is on sale for 12.99$, couldn't pass that up! so now i need a way to copy all my templates 1/16 smaller on all tracing surfaces... yes, i could copy them with a flush trim bit then spend a couple days sanding, but there's got to be a quicker way, i have a ½"dia flush trim bit, could i just get a 3/8 replacement bearring and put it on the top then trace away? hmm.. that just sounds to simple.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaper Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 a couple wraps of aluminum tape will do the trick... that's what I did with the StewMac neck template that's .04" too big... you'll need to replace it after each pass, but it holds up better than any other tape I tried (electrical, masking, the works...) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 no no no... for humbukers, rear routing, and neck pockets, i WANT the templates to be to big, for the body templates i want them to be to small.... (ya i know that sounds odd cause i need to do the same thing to both) but i AM using the bushings and i don't have any templates that were made for them, so i just need an easy way to convert/copy my correct size ones to the 1/16 adjusted size templates Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 Wouldnt it be simpler to buy the correct bit?? I mean, its what, $10 more MAYBE?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 what? correct bit? i don't get how that would work? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 I think he's saying that you could just use a pattern cutting bit instead of using the bushings with a straight bit. I could be wrong though because the pattern cutting bits are not $10 (at least not the ones I buy). I get the impression that this is not the path you wanted to take since you wanted to make use of the bushings you just bought. Maybe he was saying that the price difference would be $10 between what you paid for the bushings and what the pattern cutting bit would have cost? Why do you want to use the bushings instead of a pattern bit? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 i'm assuming pattern and template bit are the same thing? (straight cutter with the bearing on the shank) I baught the bushings cause i couldn't find a small 1/2" x 1/2" cutter bit that i could put a bearing on the shank, and my only other cutter bit is over 1" long so that's way to long to trace the templates for my rear access cover inlay template (1/4" deep rout), and for the humbuckers, they'll also come in handy cause putting a bearing on my 1/4" bit for routing the truss rod channel was getting annoying. lol i just wanted u guys to tell me weather or not my idea to copy my templates to a different size would work or not Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 I think I know what you mean. It is very hard to find pattern cutting bits that are small enough. Stewmac does sell them if you are willing to pay the money. I've been using the 3/8" pattern bit they sell for just about everything - I don't remember what the cutting depth is but it is small. Porter Cable makes a very small pattern cutting bit but I can't find one for sale in any stores where I live. Good luck with the template conversions. I don't think I can come up with anything that you haven't thought of already. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 i'm assuming pattern and template bit are the same thing? (straight cutter with the bearing on the shank) A pattern bit has the bearing on the shaft. A flush cut bit has the bearing on the tip of the bit. It's mainly used for cutting laminate counter tops. I've used both on my projects. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 Just a thought, but I recall reading in Melvyn Hiscock's book about how he would use a router bit without a bearing to cut from a template. If you had the appropriate straight cut bit with a 1/4" shaft, you could effectively do the same thing. Consider using a 1/2" straight cut bit with 1/4" shaft. You would follow the pattern with the shaft and effectivly cut 1/8" more from the wood you are working on. No bearings needed. What do you think about that? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 4, 2003 Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 i have a ½"dia flush trim bit, could i just get a 3/8 replacement bearring and put it on the top then trace away? hmm.. that just sounds to simple.. That's exactly what I did to cut the rabbet for my binding channel. I used a 3/8" bearing on a 1/2" flush cut bit. That gives you 1/16" cutting depth. Piece o' piss! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 4, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 4, 2003 gaaaaaaaaaa!!!!!!!! doesn't anyone speak derek???? no one ever understands me Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
daveq Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 So what about the stewmac bit - is that small enough for what you wanted to do? If anyone knows where I can buy a similar bit for less $, please let me know. They are very tough to find in sizes smaller than 3/4" (depth). Derek, I don't know how to help with the bushing issue but I'd be willing to help find cheaper/smaller pattern bits if you're interested in going that way. Dave Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 yes, i think i'm also going to invest in 2 shallow bits.... a bowl carving and straight cutter both 1/2 cutting depth i can order from home depot, but i think they'll both be about 50$ canadian after taxes and all.. have you looked online for bits, that's what i'm about to do but you wouldn't have to pay border taxes cause your in US right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 Eagle America has the best selection and prices that I've seen on the web. Have you tried there? They have short bits too... http://www.eagle-america.com/html/catalog/...up.asp?id=87691 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 5, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 yup, i just spent a good 2 hours searching the web... eagle looks like it has a nice "102-0802B 1/2” 1/4” 1-3/4” 1/4” $23.39 " bit.. BUT for for 1/2" depth i found this!! #6509 1/2" 1/2" 1/4" $14.50 at MLCS and they have free shipping but not to canada anyways i bugged the guy at the hardware store for 45 minutes and now i got the whole bushing thing worked out Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jehle Posted September 5, 2003 Report Share Posted September 5, 2003 anyways i bugged the guy at the hardware store for 45 minutes and now i got the whole bushing thing worked out Now you can explain it all to us. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 6, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 6, 2003 YES! ok If you have some of the stew mac neck pocket templates that are 1/16 to big on either side. Use a 3/8" flush trim bit with a bigger 1/2" bearing on he top to copy the template to another peice of plexi glass or plywood. Similarly, If you have full size templates you want to copy to make templates for use with a bushing attachment on your router, use a 1/2" flush trim bit with a smaller 3/8" bearing on the top. This is assuming for a 1/2" cutter bit that the outside diameter of your bushing is 5/8" So basicly go buy a 1/2" and a 3/8" flush trim bits as long as possible and you can just interchange the bearings as you need. now just don't get your templates mixed up hope that helps everyone here Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rhoads56 Posted September 7, 2003 Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 Derek, i still cant see the logic. Why is it better to have non-standard templates, that require you to REMEMBER to change a bearing each time you want to use them?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krazyderek Posted September 7, 2003 Author Report Share Posted September 7, 2003 no bearings needed once the undersized templates are made. you use the smalled templates with bushings so you can adjust the depth of your router bit without worrying if your bearing on the shaft will be in contact with the template or not. That's the whole point of using bushings. Course this can be solved by using thick plywood templates and a shallow 5/8" or 1/2" template bearing bit... Bushings are also ideal for bits 1/4" diameter and smaller when you can't put a bearing on the shank (shaft), like if you wanted a really tight radius on a routed corner or or you could have a template for a small engraving bit. the bushings/adjusted templates would also make it possible for people with normal router tables (non pin routers) to use down/up-ward spiral bits with templates. that i have heard are alot more consistant and nicer for harder woods. yada yada... this is turning to much into a article... sleep time.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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