MILESCRAFT 1224 Edge&MortiseGuide Universal Router Guide Instruction Manual

MILESCRAFT 1224 Edge&MortiseGuide Universal Router

Edge & Mortise Guide™

1. Offset Base
2. Base Plate
3. Edge Guide
4. T-Bolt (2)
5. Washer (2)
6. S-Knob (2)
7. 5/8˝ Bushing
8. Centering Pin
9. Base Plate Mounting Screws (6)
10. Mortising Pins (2)

PACKAGE CONTENTS:

Unpack all items and check with Figure 1 and “Replacement Parts table” (see page 13–14). Make sure all items are accounted for before discarding any of the packing material. For any missing parts, contact Customer Service at info@milescraft.com or 1-224-227-6930 in U.S. and Canada.
Outside of the U.S and Canada dial 001-224-227-6930.

SAFETY WARNING:

Read, understand, and follow your power tool manufacturer’s instructions for safety. Always wear safety glasses or eye shields before commencing power tool operation. Always keep hands, face, hair, loose clothing, and body at a safe distance from spindles and cutting tools. Always keep a firm grip on tool handles when in operation. Always disconnect from power source before adjusting power tools.

HINTS

1. The edge guide and offset base are compatible with plunge and fixed routers.
2. The edge guide has a large surface area for straight and curved edges (see img. 1a & 1b).
3. The straight edge of the edge guide has a maximum travel of approximately 5-1/2″. This will vary depending on the diameter of the router bit (see img. 2).
4. It is recommended to fully secure your work piece to your work surface (see img. 3).
5. The bushing is only to be used for centering the base plate.
6. When using only the offset base, try to always keep one hand on the offset base handle and one hand on the router handle.
7. It is recommended to test cut or rout your design on scrap material that is the same or similar as your final work piece.
8. To achieve the best results, especially with denser material, make multiple passes in increments of 1/4″ to 5/16″ until you have reached the desired depth of cut (see img. 4).

ASSEMBLING AND CENTERING THE BASE PLATE

1. Remove the manufacturer’s base plate from the router you intend to use with your Edge&MortiseGuide™.
2. Insert the appropriate end of the centering pin into the routers collet. (Follow your router manufacturer’s instructions for this step.)
3. Remove the base plate from the Circle Guide Head, install the provided bushing into the base plate by twisting the bushing into the opening in the center of the base plate (see img. 1).
4. While holding the base plate with the recessed mounting slots facing away from the router, lower the base plate over the centering pin onto the base of the router (see img. 2).
5. Rotate the base plate until the correct mounting slots line up with the base mounting screw holes. A minimum of 2 holes are required to attach the base plate. (NOTE: It may be necessary to enlarge one of the mounting slots to allow for correct centering and attachment of the base plate.)
6. Remove the bushing and centering pin when complete.

USING YOUR OFFSET BASE

1. Ideal for narrow boards, routing edges, and edge profiles (see img. 1).
2. With the base plate attached to your router, line up all three arrows on the base plate with the arrows on the offset base (see img. 2).
3. Drop the base plate in at the desired position and turn clockwise until it locks in place.
4. For inside edges, you will want to rout clockwise (see img. 3).
5. For outside edges, you will want to rout counter-clockwise (see img. 4).
6. Be sure to keep a firm grip on the router and on the offset base.
7. To remove the base plate from the offset base—pull back the lock tab, turn the router with base plate counter-clockwise, and lift it out of the offset base (see img. 5).

ASSEMBLING YOUR EDGE GUIDE

1. Determine which side of the edge guide to use, based on the edge of your work piece—straight edge or curved edge.
2. Position the edge guide underneath the offset base and align the edge guide slots to the offset base slots (see img. 1).
3. Insert the T-bolts through the edge guide slots starting from the bottom. Make sure the T-bolt heads set fully in the slots (see img. 2).
4. Slide the washers over the expansion bolts and tighten the S-knobs onto the threads of the T-bolts (Do not tighten all the way) (see img. 3).
5. Now, continue to your next step.

APPLICATIONS FOR YOUR EDGE GUIDE

NOTE : The edge guide is used for many projects that require dado cuts, grooves, and rabbets (see img. 1). The edge guide can be used with plunge and fixed routers (follow your manufacturer’s router instructions).

1. Determine the type of cut(s) required for your project.
2. Dado Cuts – Run across the grain (see img. 2a).
3. Grooves – Run parallel to the grain and can be used in frame and panel construction, to create tracks for metal adjustable shelf brackets, to make grooves for different wood inlay, troughs for kitchen cutting boards, routing inside/outside edges, etc. (see img. 2a).
4. Rabbets – Similar to grooves, but cut into the edge of the work piece and can be used on the inside edge of a frame (see img. 2b).

MAKING CUTS WITH THE EDGE GUIDE

1. With the base plate attached to your router, line up all three arrows on the base plate with the arrows on the offset base (see img. 1, p. 6).

2. Drop the base plate in at the desired position and turn clockwise until it locks in place.

3. Secure your work piece to your work surface (see img. 1).

4. Starting at the edge of your work piece, measure and mark your cut on your work piece (see img. 2).

5. Adjust the edge guide to match your cut and lock it in place (see img. 3).
   NOTE : Take the dimensions of the router bit into consideration when adjusting the edge guide to match your mark for your cut.

6. Set the desired depth of your router bit and make your cut.

7. Plunge Router – Place your router at your starting point, turn your router on, and plunge it down to the desired depth. This will be the same technique when creating through-cuts or stopped-cuts (see img. 4a).

8. Fixed Router – Place your router at your starting point, turn your router on and begin your cut (see img. 4b).

CREATING A MORTISE

NOTE : The edge guide and offset base are not used with the mortising pins. Mortises are used in conjunction with tenons for strong joints for sturdy window frames, door frames, bed frames, table frames, etc. (see img. 1). Follow your manufacturer’s instructions for proper routing procedures, installing router bits, and adjusting router depth.

HINT : When the mortising pins are not in use, they can be inserted in the top of the offset base, in the exposed mortising pin holes (see img. 2).

1. Insert the mortising pins in one of the three sets of mortising pin holes. This will depend on the size of your work piece (see img. 3).
   NOTE : Make sure each mortising pin is equal distance from the center of the base. It’s recommended to use a flat head screwdriver to make sure that the mortising pins are adequately tightened.
   HINT : Always use the closer mortising pin holes, as long as the work piece fits inbetween the mortising pins; this allows you to get closer to the ends of the work piece before the mortising pins no longer make contact (see img. 4).

2. Measure and mark the length of your mortise cuts on your work piece (see img. 5).

3. Secure your work piece to your work surface (see img. 6a).
   NOTE : When cutting your mortise, make sure the mortising pins stay in contact with the work piece (see img. 6b). Apply force in a clockwise direction.

4. Set the desired depth of your router bit and make your cut. It is recommended to use a plunge router when making your mortise cut(s). Place your router on your starting point, turn your router on, and plunge it down to the desired depth (see img. 7).

5. Turn your router off and wait until it completely stops before carefully raising your router from the cut and making your next cut. Repeat steps 4 and 5 as necessary.

Router Base Plate

In some instances shown above, NOT ALL holes in router’s base will match the mounting pattern. Ony two diagonal holes matched to a router’s base are required (as a minimum) for proper installation and operation. You may decide to modify an existing slot or add hole(s) to better suit your router. The screws supplied may not fit your router. If you supply your own screws, DO NOT use “counter sink” head styles. Check our website at www.milescraft.com for possible revisions to the compatibility chart or additional information.

A note about TurnLock™ Guide Bushings:

• Your TurnLock Guide Bushings are designed for a “snug fit”.
• Upon first use, you may find the fit to be somewhat tight. In this case: work the bushing back and forth in the base to “seat” and “work fit” the bushing.

REPLACEMENT PARTS

References

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