Triton Router Guide Bush options

DiscoStu · 12 Jan 2016

I have a Triton TRA001 Router. It's really meant to be spending it's life in the table as I'm aiming to get an Of1400 for other uses, however that hasn't happened yet and I need a 30mm guide bush for the Triton. I had a look at Triton and it seems I have to buy a kit that includes a base and the cost is circa £70.

I believe I can buy a trend base for around £30 and then buy bushes as required and about £7 each. Are there any other cheaper options? I see this as being bought for this one job so I want to make it as cheap as possible but it does still need to work and be accurate.

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Alexam · 12 Jan 2016

Phone or message Triton as they may help you out.

Roughcut · 12 Jan 2016

I suppose you could try and make your own base for the router.
It shouldn't be hard to do and you should just be able to remove the base on the router you have at the moment, trace around it and mark and drill out the fixing holes. Probably making the copy out of a similar thickness mdf or plywood.
The only slight issue I can foresee is aligning the guide bush correctly so the cutter is dead on centre, but should be viable with patience.
A correctly sized centering mandrel would do the job nicely.

mseries · 12 Jan 2016

Roughcut":254vzmjh said:
The only slight issue I can foresee is aligning the guide bush correctly so the cutter is dead on centre, but should be viable with patience.

A centring cone solves the alignment problem, I think the Trend Uni base will need one anyway. Make the base a sloppy fit on the router, make the guide bush a good tight fit in the base. Fix the guide bush to the base tightly. Fix the base to the router loosely. Align using the centring cone, tighten the screws to the router, remove centring cone, fit cutter. Welden do centring cones for 1/4 and 1/2 inch (probably others but I only have 1/4 and 1/2), or make your own with a metal lathe. I have an old Elu subbase, not a universal one but the same as the Trend GB/5, it has sloppy holes for fitment and alignment.
I agree with the OP, rediculous price for subbases, mine is an old Elu which I got from cw-tyzack on eBay, NOS but half the price of a Trend one, fits my MOF96E and Trend T10 perfectly.

I realise the cost of the cones will need to be borne and for a one off you may prefer to resist this, maybe you can borrow one locally or sell them on. EDIT: PM me if you want to talk about borrowing my 30mm, 1/2" shank alignment spigot.

If the guide bush you are using is too large for a centring code, make the guide bush fitting in the base tight and reproducable, centre the base using a smaller guide bush the swap guide bushes. This is how the Trend T10 is meant to work with the adapter ring and 30mm centring spigot and 30mm guide bush, not a cone, cones are easier.

DiscoStu · 12 Jan 2016

It will need to be very accurate as I want to use a MFT template to make an MFT style top and obviously this needs to be accurate to ensure that I get square cuts when using with the track saw.

Thanks for the offer of a loan, I think I need to have my own so that I can make new tops as required.

Maybe an OF1400 is a cheaper option (can I convince myself of that?)

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Roughcut · 12 Jan 2016

DiscoStu":1p60g5ks said:
It will need to be very accurate as I want to use a MFT template to make an MFT style top and obviously this needs to be accurate to ensure that I get square cuts when using with the track saw.

Thanks for the offer of a loan, I think I need to have my own so that I can make new tops as required.

Maybe an OF1400 is a cheaper option (can I convince myself of that?)

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I think I remember chippy1970 posting about the MFT top he made so might be worth doing a search if you haven't already done so.
Alternatively I think an MFT top (a copy not Festool original) can be had from Ebay for £40-£50.