copy ring question

[southern_guy]

I have just read Jerry Works manual for the use of the MFS. In it he explains how, with the use of different sized copy rings you can create inlays. The logic is that by using the same cutter, but changing copy rings, you can create a male piece to fit a female hole exactly. He gives the example of a 10mm cutter, with a 20mm and a 40mm copy ring. Sounds great I said to myself, so off I went to the festool web site to order some copy rings. Only problem, Festool doesn't do a 20mm copy ring. I then thought about Jerry's method, and concluded that for it to work the difference in the copy ring diameters had to be twice the diameter of the cutter. I created a spreadsheet for the copy ring diameters that are available and worked out that the only combination of copy rings and cutters that Jerry's method would work for are:

1. 17mm and 27mm rings with 5mm cutter
2. 30mm and 40mm rings with 5mm cutter
3. 24mm and 30mm rings with 3mm cutter
4. 24mm and 40mm rings with 8mm cutter

Does anyone use this method for inlays, and can they verify my calculations? Are there any other combinations that work? And finally, Jerry makes reference to a guide bushing and ring set. Does anyone have the festool part number for this item?

 

[John Stevens]

Festool actually sells a copying set, but it's not in the catalog.  If you call a seller and ask, I think you can get it.  I briefly owned one but didn't like it.  Others have said it works very well.  I use the one sold by Woodcraft (made by Whiteside), with the adapter sold by Leigh Industries, and like the setup.  Hope this helps.

Regards,

John

 

[Ned]

The Leigh adapter John mentioned is for the 1000 and 1010 routers.  The Leigh number is 704.  It allows the use of Porter-Cable-style copy rings (aka bushings).

The Festool 1400 comes standard with an adapter for Porter-Cable-style copy rings.

Ned

 

[James Metcalf]

Festool did and still may have the set in stock. The set is metric and uses a rubber type O ring to hold the copy ring on. The set has five solid brass rings. The problem is that the ring fits on very easily, but when you go to remove it there is no way to pull it off easily. It is a friction fit with the O ring. If you look at Jerry's MFS manual for use there is a picture of the set. It only fits the 1010 or 1000 router. I have never found an easy way to remove them. There could be something I am missing in a way to remove them, but I have not found it. The good part is that it is metric.

 

[Dave Ronyak]

I use the Whiteside kit with the PC adapter that comes with the 1400 router.  The Whiteside kit includes an a 1/4 inch shank, 1/8 inch cutting diameter solid carbide bit, a centering adapter, and the brass follower rings snap on and off using a rubber O-ring similar to those for the Festool kit for the 1010 router.  I successfully used the Whiteside kit to repair damaged veneer on several doors.  I am less confident about using a pair of differently sized snap-in rings with the 1400 because the mounting for the snap-in (PC adapter and other bushing rings) is well off center of the shaft of my 1400 router, and I am not sure if different rings are actually concentric or will register the same amount and direction of offset when mounted.  When I contacted Festool about this issue, they admitted a trade off of accuracy for speed and convenience, and suggested I could modify the base into which the Festool snap-in bushing mount if I wanted to try.  That would involve enlarging the holes in the aluminum base and removal of the locating dowel pins.  I am baffled as to why Festool bothered to use metallic dowel locating pins without first aligning that aluminum base ring relative to the router shaft.  These off-center problems are averted when the PC adapter ring is used with a centering adapter.

Dave R.