Plexi router edge guide...thoughts?

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Apr 8, 2017
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I’m intrigued by the plexiglass edge guide, but see it kind of as a one trick pony.  There aren’t a lot of videos about it other than install of door sweeps. Does this work for mortise box locks?  This price tag is pretty high for a plastic jig. Thanks.
 
I use the edge guide for 3 point locks. I also set up a router or two with dual edge guides with various bits.

I have not found a bit deep enough for box locks, I use the plexiglass guide with the longest bit I have. Finish off with Fostner bit.

Tom
 

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It is pricey, but it works well and is accurate with the scales. Having two dust ports is nice. Gary Katz has some videos using it to install  some hinges. Brice and Jerry Works have info on using it to cut male sliding dovetail joints. Two edge guides can also solve the issue. I do not use it often, but it is nice to have when the need arises.
 
I have two metal edge guides as well.  I think I will investigate the use of taller fences before taking this plunge. I don’t have the need for multipoint lock installation exercises as that work is usually done for me by my door fabricator. As to the mortise box lock needs, this purchase represents 25% of the cost of a PC door mortise machine.  If I find myself in that special area, I will probably buy that machine first.  For my purposes, this jig is probably limited to automatic door sweeps and those are pretty rare. 
 
Off topic. It just occurred to me that the rather mediocre 1010 fence would be a good second side to my MicroFence when I want to trap the cut as shown above. No longer without any value. Yippee!
 
If you search the forum you will see that others have made their own version of this due to the excessive price of the plexi edge guide.
I have found on the OF 1400 that using the Makita edge guide in conjunction with the Festool edge guide and longer rods works well but the down side is lack of dust extraction, this is ok for one off jobs.
 
I used both my 1400 edge guides in tandem to mostly mortise two pocket door edge pulls.  The combination worked pretty well.  The shoulder for the plate was pretty narrow (~3/32”), so routing it was the best way.  I will use this method again.
 
The plexiglass router edge guide has intrigued me for a while but never enough to make me purchase it.  Like others have commented, I would use two edge guides and make do for now given the limited use cases and high cost.  To me it seems like an opening for an aftermarket option.

My next OF1400 accessories will be an edging plate and an angle arm.  I have a project coming up which will require a fair amount of hard wood edge banding.  These two accessories seem like the best solution to easily and accurately trim the edging flush with the plywood.
 
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