Thread: Router table - guard collides with fence face

G'day Turlough, I cant help with the fence , but as far as the tongue and groove is concerned I think you need to look at how much of the bit is proud of the fence. I had the same problem with my T&G bit and found that when the bottom cutter was flush with the fence it all worked a treat.
hope this helps. Cheers Steven.

Gidday Turlough - welcome!

Second part first: With your router table fence came 4 bits of black plastic that are bent at the top to 90 degrees, and have 2 fingers. 2 have 1 knob at the end, the other two have two knobs.

The single knobbed ones are 1mm thick shims,
The double knobbed ones are 1.5mm thick.

On the outfeed side, you pull the MDF fence out exposing a gap between the MDF and the metal, and fit the shim down over the bolt. This means that the MDF outfeed fence is now 1mm (or 1.5mm) forward of the infeed.

When setting up for a planing pass, align the fence so the outfeed is exactly inline with the tip of the router bit. When you feed your workpiece in, 1mm of the router bit that is exposed will do the cut, and the workpiece will then feed fully supported down the outfeed fence.

If you are using a tongue and groove bit, then ensure that for the groove cut, that the outfeed fence is aligned to support each side of the groove, and vice versa for the tongue piece. (Which is another way of saying what Steve was referring to).

I think you'll find that this is how most people would use the table, so long as they have an independently adjustable outfeed fence.

I will have to get a fence out to have a look to see what you mean with your first question. As an initial reaction, no - you shouldn't need to remove any material at all - never heard anyone needing to before.

First thought - you do know that the position of the guard is easily adjusted in and out by loosening the knob on top of the guard assembly? You can set the vertically sliding guard quite a bit forward, and should easily clear the MDF fence.

Any chance of a photo or two showing the problem?

Thanks for the answers. Things are working well now - I've been playing around with a joining bit (http://www.apworkshop.com.au/html_ro...7-jb-tagb.html) and the results are just great.
Turl

Though things seem to be working now, for punters who come across the problem of the guard fouling the MDF fences due to it sitting proud of the metal fence, I receive a few clls about this, usually from people mid way through assembly. Later on in the manual, you are instructed to square the fence to the table, using the adjustment screws on the back side of the fence.

In almost all cases, once thisis done, the guard no longer sits proud of the fence and the problem is solved.

I say "almost" all cases, in case it doesn't, though in every case I have delt with, this has solved the probelm.

Cheers!

Steve

yes I did read about that and no, I didn't do it So now I will and we'll see how it goes. Turl.