New 2 Day Rockler Deals - $10 Brass Set Up Bars - $25 Freud Avanti Router Bit Set

[linear]

The big picture:

I have found the the ways of doing the most accurate work involve avoiding measuring to the fullest extent possible. All the reasons why is really a separate discussion.

More details:

These setup bars enable you to confidently set bit-to-fence distances, with no need to make a measurement. That's probably #1 in my book. Need to route a 1/4" groove down the center of the edge of a 3/4" board? Just whip out the 1/4" setup bar and place your fence distance that way. Highly accurate and repeatable. The bars are brass so they don't nick your cutting edge.

They make it easy to check the depth of a groove as well. I drop the setup bar in the groove I cut in a piece of stock to get my bit height above the table dialed in exactly. When the bar exactly fits the groove in the scrap, I have my 1/4" and I zero the depth indicator at that setting. Now I can confidently route the groove in several passes, raising the bit until I'm back at the zero.

Set the bar on the table of your drill press and drop the quill till the point of your bit touches it to set up to drill blind holes at an accurate depth.

I even used mine to check the accuracy of my cheapy HF digital calipers. They were within spec.

Any time you want a known dimension, these come in really handy.

[chopnhack]

1/4" shanks....man, I have never used any of those.
Skimpy by Rockler...LOL

[Jeffrey Schronce]

Hey folks it is Freud who calls it a 4 piece set, not Rockler. Freud is also the one who made the 1/4" shanks.

[Hoover]

I went to Rockler in Seattle last saturday, the brass set up bars were $8.00 and the Freud set was $22.00. Just got the brass set up bars, and a Worksharp 3000 for $200 and a $20 gift card.

[Rob R]

Thanks for the post, been looking for a great deal on a hex wrench.






Actually, i've been thinking of grabbing a set of the set up bars for a long time...hmm

[ironhat]

I've been using this 'depth of cut gauge'. Have any of you switched to bars and found them any better/ easier? I'm always in the market for a bargain but I sometimes buy because it *is* a bargain and then I don't use it.

TIA

[AlanWS]

I've not used that exact gauge, but usually use bars now instead of a similar gauge because me eyes are not so good. I can feel if the bit is the same height as the bar to within a few thousandths very quickly. Setting the space between bit and fence is also very quick.

The bars will not make your best accuracy any better. What they will do is make your quick settings quite good.