Plunge Lock Lockout for DeWalt Compact Router Plunge Base

[Bob D.]

To go along with the LR32 adapter I created and at the suggestion of a couple of you that it would be nice to be able to disable the plunge lock I banged my head against the wall for a few days and came up with this.

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I now have this kit available for the DeWalt plunge base that will allow you to override the plunge lock so the router can be plunged freely for boring holes.

The Lockout Kit for the DeWalt plunge base is $18 with free shipping.

If you are getting the DeWalt LR32 Adapter Kit and also purchase DeWalt Plunge Base Lockout Kit at the same time I will combine shipping and the price of the Lockout Kit will be $15 or $80 for both the LR32 adapter and the Lockout kits with free shipping.

The kit comes with everything you need to install on the plunge base except for a 6mm hex wrench.

It takes less than two minutes to install this and will change the way you use your router whether you are using it with the LR32 system or not.

Use the hex wrench to back out the M8 1.25 x 50mm SHCS in the right hand knob on the plunge base.

Keep the lock washer and place it on the M8 1.25 x 60mm SHCS supplied as part of the kit.

Insert the bolt into the knob just like the OEM bolt, then slip the lockout device over the bolt paying attention to the sides of the spacer and placing the side with the depression toward the plunge base. This will engage the bump on the base which keeps the knob from rotating during use. The lockout spacer has a corresponding projection on the other face to interact with the knob.

Align the parts and snug up the cap screw. You don't need to crank down hard on it to make it secure, that's what those bumps do. The PLA+ plastic is soft compared to cast aluminum and can be compressed. So check that the pin moves freely through the spacer after you've tightened the screw. Back it off a quarter turn if need be.

If you have it positioned correctly the spring should be toward the side of the base away from the plunge lock lever.

You're done.

 

[squall_line]

Very clever!  Well done!

 

[rustym]

Bob,
Money sent from paypal for the lockout fix for the Dewalt router.  Thanks very much for coming up with such a great fix for this problem.  This will be handy many other times also.
You are quite the visionary.

Thanks
Rusty

 

[rmwarren]

Bob, installed the plunge lock yesterday and, no surprise, works perfectly. Thank you!

Word of caution, you can over torque the M8 bolt which will slightly deform the sliding plunger hole and prevent the plunger from moving. Backed off the bolt and it was fine.

RMW

 

[DynaGlide]

Bob, installed the plunge lock yesterday and, no surprise, works perfectly. Thank you!

Word of caution, you can over torque the M8 bolt which will slightly deform the sliding plunger hole and prevent the plunger from moving. Backed off the bolt and it was fine.

RMW

I take it you tried using the German torque spec?

 

[Bob D.]

Thanks Richard.

Yes, I have that caution in my comments above. Not much way around it for something printed with PLA+ or PETG.

You can get the knob more than tight enough without compressing the spacer. I'm experimenting with ways to improve on this now.

 

[rmwarren]

Bob, installed the plunge lock yesterday and, no surprise, works perfectly. Thank you!

Word of caution, you can over torque the M8 bolt which will slightly deform the sliding plunger hole and prevent the plunger from moving. Backed off the bolt and it was fine.

RMW

I take it you tried using the German torque spec?

Basically. Since (1) grandpa was of German descent (B) his motto was "if one nail is good, 3 must be better", & lastly Dad passed along the genes, I believe that qualifies. [embarassed]

RMW