router edge guide rods

[mastercabman]

Is it possible to get longer rods for the edge guide?
I have the 1010 and 2 edge guide but i would like to use them together but the rods that comes with the edge guide are not long enough for some projects/tasks.

 

[tbellemare]

It's very interesting you should ask this question...

One of my customers, a member here, and I have talked about this very thing relating to the OF 2200 over the last couple of days.

He has two of the Edge Guides for his 2200 but the rods aren't long enough for his project at hand. While I was delivering tools to a local customer today, he called me and told me about a Maryland company he had found that sells all sorts of metric stock.

I think you should find what you seek there. If not, please provide more detail.

Tom

 

[Michael Kellough]

The rods for the small routers are 8 mm in diameter.
That size isn't very easy to find in the US but 5/16" stock is.

5/16" = 7.938 mm

Just get some 5/16" cold rolled stock from most anywhere.

 

[mastercabman]

Thank for the info.
I'm going to try the 5/16" and see if it will work.

 

[mouppe]

If you need to thicken it up, wrap some duck tape around it.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Why not order a length of 8mm drill rod?

 

[John Stevens]

Just get some 5/16" cold rolled stock from most anywhere.

I've also done it, and it works fine, although rust might be a problem if the humidity is as bad where you are.

Regards,

John

 

[billg71]

8mm drill rod

 

[Michael Kellough]

Here are the ultimate 8mm guide rods.

Well, the link doesn't go all the way but you can get precision ground and hardened steel shafts in an assortment of lengths and they even come with beveled ends.

 

[ccarrolladams]

Of course it is possible to use hardened and precision ground 8mm rod, but what would be the point?

The holes involved are not all that precisely bored and reamed. The holes are in relatively soft metal.

It is one heck of a chore to bevel the ends of hardened steel, never mind cutting it. For the purpose, drill rod is more than hard enough, and yet can be cut with ordinary hacksaw blades. The resulting ends can easily be cleaned up and beveled using a Festool sander if a tool room lathe with an 8mm 5C collet and tool post grinder is not easily available.

Actually, the screws on the knobs holding the settings will be more reliable clamping to the drill rod than to hardened shafts. Occasionally it might be necessary to polish away marks from the screws. I find this to be a good use for 200 or so grit Granat before I dispose of it.

 

[Michael Kellough]

Of course it is possible to use hardened and precision ground 8mm rod, but what would be the point?

The holes involved are not all that precisely bored and reamed. The holes are in relatively soft metal.

It is one heck of a chore to bevel the ends of hardened steel, never mind cutting it. For the purpose, drill rod is more than hard enough, and yet can be cut with ordinary hacksaw blades. The resulting ends can easily be cleaned up and beveled using a Festool sander if a tool room lathe with an 8mm 5C collet and tool post grinder is not easily available.

Actually, the screws on the knobs holding the settings will be more reliable clamping to the drill rod than to hardened shafts. Occasionally it might be necessary to polish away marks from the screws. I find this to be a good use for 200 or so grit Granat before I dispose of it.

I agree. My original suggestion was garden hardware store variety cold rolled steel rod.
My point (implied anyway) was that you don't need to order stuff from Festool for that particular application.
But, if you want to go whole hog even fancier stuff is available.

In a pinch, I've used 5/16" hardwood dowel when I needed to extend the router out nearly two feet.
Even at that long reach the wood worked fine. Pun intended.

 

[ScotF]

Great tips!!  What is the diameter for the OF2200 rods, anyone know?  I love the two fence technique and use it all of the time when the material does not allow for the PlexiGlas Template.

Scot

 

[tbellemare]

What is the diameter for the OF2200 rods, anyone know?

10mm x 400mm

Tom

 

[ScotF]

Thanks, Tom!

Scot

 

[joiner1970]

I have been thinking of getting longer rods for my big dewalt router, I already have two or three fences , I found 380mm x 10mm rods on eBay for £12.99 and they are Dewalt branded.

 

[Alan m]

i have use threaded rod in the past. it works great and you can join them together easily.
not great for ski jigs etc where they will sag but for normal use  they are great