Router out of square

[Mike Dembroge]

I've had a Bosche plunge router for several years now, and like it very much. While adjusting a round-over bit in it, I discovered that the base is not square to the collet. Instantly, this explained so many of the little problems I've had over the years.

My question is this, how does one go about adjusting the base so that everthing's square? Do I shim the base? What do I use as a reference?

I looked through the Starrett catalog to see if there were cylindrical ? or whatever that I could chuck into a router for testing. Sort of like using a straight-edge for jointers & table saws. It could be used for a drill-press too.

I have never seen anybody address this, and wonder how big of an issue it is.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Mike Dembroge

P.S. Does Par Warner's book discuss this type of thing?

[Charlie Self]

Mike Dembroge asks:

Someone used to make a little pointed steel round, several inches long, for centering drill press chucks, and checking chuck run-out. Lee Valley? I can't find it on-line, but it should be ideal for your purposes. Then just shim until it is square to the base.

Charlie Self "Character is much easier kept than recovered." Thomas Paine

[Thomas Bunetta]

[Ken Johnsen]

Rockler also offers one

[John Crea]

Many woodworking catalogs have KNOW Pins, reference shafts you chuck in the router to give you a CENTER and a straight edge reference

John

[Bridger]

the point will work for centering but not so well for squaring. get a length of ground drill rod (either 1/4" or 1/2", depending on the size of your collet) and an accurate square. get the drill rod long enough to match the long leg of the square plus some for the collet.

as far as how to adjust the router base or if it's even possible, I don't have that router, so I'll STFU now....

Bridger

[David Hall]

I would go to the Borg and buy a foot of 1/2" smooth steel rod. Check it for straightness before buying (a much smaller piece is all that is needed, but it is probably sold by the foot).

Dave Hall

[klaatu]

[Preston Andreas]

I have this

has a 1/2" pin that you chuck into the router and you attach a dial indicator to that. It is the setup that is attached to the drill press in the picture. Perhaps you can come up with a similar setup.

[Mike Dembroge]

Yes, I saw one sometime somewhere, but I can't remember. I think it was in a magazine review, but I can't remember. And honestly, I'm not sure what such a bar would be called, so using google or online-distrubutor's search functions was tricky.

Thank you very much for your help.

[Mike Dembroge]

Okay, thanks. Maybe I'll peruse their catalog or try contacting them.

Mike

[Mike Dembroge]

Well, I haven't tackled it yet, but my first thought was to use shims. There must be a way. It's pretty important to have the router be square afterall.

[Mike Dembroge]

Thanks John. Now that I know what they're called, I should be able to do a better job searching.

[Bridger]

checking it with a square as I suggested is probably good enough, but checking it with a dial indicator is better, and not that much more work. wish I'd thought of that (G).

shimming the base ought to work. it's a plunge router, right? if the misalignment is axial to the plunge rods I suppose it's possible that there is an adjustment there. I'd look at that before making any changes to the base.

if you do end up shimming, you might want to secure the shims with some sort of glue, applied only to the subbase.... easier to reverse if you change your mind later. Bridger

[Pounds on Wood]

Don't know how to fix it, but to check it just get a dowel pin like this:

to have for other stuff too.

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