Brass Metric setup bars and PC style guide bushings?

[Scott W.]

I like the idea of having 5-20 mm.

Edit: Should have read, bars 5mm-20mm, example 5mm X 5mm X 3" long or so.

In 1mm increments?  5x5mm-6x6mm-7x7mm.... 20x20mm all 3" long

Scott W.

 

[Brice Burrell]

I like the idea of having 5-20 mm.

Edit: Should have read, bars 5mm-20mm, example 5mm X 5mm X 3" long or so.

In 1mm increments?  5x5mm-6x6mm-7x7mm.... 20x20mm all 3" long

Scott W.

Thats right, Scott.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

Are you sure, Brice?  My Whiteside Imperial set came with 1/8". 3/16", 1/4", 3/8" and 1/2" square bars each 2 1/2" long.  Seehttp://www.whitesiderouterbits.com/catalog.html#catimgs under "Setup Gauge Blocks."  1/8" is closer to 3 mm than 5 mm.  Does anyone see a need for one that is ~1/2 the thickness of today's plywood or other sheet goods they use most?  5,10,15,20 is of interest to me, but I would like to be able to achieve other thicknesses that are not integers of 5.  The Whiteside set enables the user to accurately setup in 1/16" increments.  I have frequently used them paired to gauge 5/16" for setting up a drawer lock joint router bit.

Dave R.

 

[Allen Akin]

I'd be interested in buying a set.  5-25mm, in some combination that yields 1mm increments, covers everything that I think I need at the moment.

Allen

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....1/8" is closer to 3 mm than 5 mm.  Does anyone see a need for one that is ~1/2 the thickness of today's plywood or other sheet goods they use most?.........
  Dave R.

 Good point Dave, a 3mm would be a good idea. I'd like to see this happen at a reasonable cost, so I don't care too much about the sizes we decide on. At this point, a set of whatever size is better than no set at all.

 

[John Stevens]

Does anyone see a need for one that is ~1/2 the thickness of today's plywood or other sheet goods they use most?  5,10,15,20 is of interest to me, but I would like to be able to achieve other thicknesses that are not integers of 5.

Hi, Dave.  I like your way of thinking about this.

I was thinking in terms of the thickness of ply & MDF that I commonly use, because my intention is to thickness-plane my hardwoods to the same dimension most of the time.  (Makes it easier to keep a supply of pieces around to use as support under the guide rail.)

I was thinking that 12mm would cover stock for drawers and 18mm would cover stock for carcases.  Then for M&T work, it would be useful to have blocks that are 1/3 of these thicknesses:  4mm and 6mm, respectively.

Then there are certain sizes that come up often in the "32mm system"--5mm for shelf-pin holes, 8mm for "system holes."  Any use for gauge blocks of those sizes?  How about 3mm, 4mm and 5mm for the offset of the hinge-cup holes?

Then there are the diameters of the Domino cutters, 5mm, 6mm, 8mm and 10mm--any reason why we would need blocks of those sizes?

Just thinking out loud, sorry for rambling.  Maybe someone else can salvage some productive thought from this.

Regards,

John

 

[Brice Burrell]

  John, your post is the reason to have a complete set of bars, because you never know where your thoughts are going to take you next. 

 

[John Stevens]

  John, your post is the reason to have a complete set of bars, because you never know where your thoughts are going to take you next. 

Good advice...but if my thoughts ever go back to making a M&T joint in 12mm stock, I hope there's someone around to hand me a cup of strong coffee and tell me to sit down until my common sense returns from its coffee break.

Regards,

John

 

[BC6738F5BCE98B4]

Having read this thread carefully I tried to find metric measuring bars on my own.  When I couldn't I made some inquiries concerning having someone make me a set (before I saw the more recent postings). 

Luckily I spoke to Brad Witt at Woodhaven who suggested looking at http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/115/3302/=1brxxl .  He was also kind enough to explain what some of the English language materials in the catalog meant.  At one point he suggested that I also read
http://www.mcmaster.com/#catalog/115/3301/=1bx9an to unconfuse me. 

The only remaining "problem" I have with the McMaster.com solution of using "key stock" is that it comes in steel which, as noted in this thread, may be a bit hard on router bits or other softer materials.

 

[tbellemare]

Here's a place that sells brass metric keystock. It's likely to work...

http://www.metricmcc.com/catalog/Ch2/2-225.pdf

And another: http://www.utico.com/products.html

Tom

 

[tbellemare]

What Dave was saying about tolerances of mating components really matters. I don't know if we can find out the tolerances on the snap in PC adapter, but I'm certainly willing to ask. I don't think it should matter because I trust the Germans (in general) on that sort of thing.

If Festool went nominal diameter plus or minus .05 mm and Whiteside went nominal diameter plus or minus .05 mm, there's a potential .10 mm interference. That makes things REALLY hard to screw together. I seriously doubt it though.

Thread tolerances are standardized so they always go together. I suspect the problem was probably and out-of-round condition caused by handling.

Tom