Understanding pattern routing with a guide bushing 

I really appreciate these short videos. I'm retired now, but started wood working and contracting in the early seventies. We did not have the internet then so it was necessary to discover these tips myself. Sure wish access to all this information had been so easily available then. I even had a machinist make me a number of interchangeable bits and drills for my electric drill to save time. I was not bright enough to get a patent on the idea, just had it made for my own use. Makes me wonder how many thousands of hours Ron's ideas have saved us all.

I woke up this morning preparing to cut 1/2” drawer dividers for a bathroom vanity project and so was thrilled to see the tutorial on templates. The quick and dirty on the chop saw is brilliant! Big fan for last 5 years of everything Paulk Smart! Thank you!

The use of your miter saw to make the temp pattern is a terrific tip, thank you.

Here is a tip, I found that left overs of laminated flooring make great material for templates. And the price is right.

Brilliant video Ron....I've spent hours drilling, sawing and sanding to make cut out templates...I can't believe that it never occurred to me to use my mitre saw to make a simple template to produce the precise one. This is the point where I slap myself on the head and say "doh." This is why your channel is so good..you learn something new every time that subscription bell goes 'ping'.

Hi Ron. Mark from South Africa. I bought your original plan many years back. The workbench formed the foundation of my workshop. I spent hundreds of wonderful hours building stuff on it. I came back and viewed your new material, tips, and of course your Smart solutions. I bought everything. Been going through your work methodology. Makes so much sense. I'm going to use your plans to totally redo my 3 car garage workshop at home. I will share my experience with you. Btw. You've done an extraordinary job of sharing your information and time learned skills. I appreciate your work. Thank You.

Short videos like this that help the novice to amateur woodworker develop more skills in making jigs are very useful. As much detail and close ups that you can pack in with those type of people looking on is appreciated.

Thanks for taking the time to delve into a skill that many gloss over Mr. Paulk! I especially appreciate how you show the difference in results between the two bit sizes from the same template. Keep up the great work and innovation! Cheers from KY!

Thanks for taking the time to slow down and provide a detailed explanation of template creation. For those that do this regularly it is simple, but newbies need a bit more direction to absorb the concept. Well Done Ron

Hey Ron! I know this video is about 2 years old but it is still my “go to” for a refresher on how to use a router with template bushings. Something about the way you explain the bit offset and how it affects the size of the template to get the correct final size resonates! Had to help a buddy route out an opening for his Jessum lift today…grabbed the bushing and the bit, set up the correct size on my adjustable template and routed the rabbet…perfect fit! Thx and U da Man!

I decided to skip the miter saw pre-pattern step and wing it. After hours of making awful, irregular cuts with a jigsaw, drill press, and 4" circular, I went back and made a perfect pre-pattern stencil on my miter saw in about 2 minutes and then cut a perfect stencil pattern with it. Next time I will trust the expert.

Great video, no waffling; just straight to the tutorial and explained simply in great detail so we can understand it. So many Utubers spend half their time waffling instead of getting on with the task in hand. This is one of the best presented tutorials I have seen focusing on the job in hand and getting on with it. Congratulations, an excellent job. This is the way to present a tutorial video.

Thank you for clarifying routers and templates.

You explain things very well, Ron. Thanks for making these and please continue!

Very concise and easy to grasp tutorial on pattern routing! Thanks!

I really like the way he explains everything so clearly.

Great tips as always.....I have really made a difference in my business using your methods....im in the process of building your benches and cradles/carts.....plans are very easy to read and follow

Very well done. I sure do appreciate your ideas and your way of explaining the process. Thank you

Thank you very much ,very informative video. You look like Robert Redford😂

Very clear explanation and some good tips. Thanks Ron!

Great tip/technique! Thanks Ron!

You are an excellent teacher !!

Thank you for sharing! Excellent demo and clear explanation! The mitre saw is definitely the easiest method to make the initial template!👍🏻

Thanks sir for the video now I understand how guide bushings work.

Learning Took Place Today. Appreciated

Excellent video - very inspiring!

New to bushings, etc and couldn't really get the point of it until I saw this and another video on the notion of offset and a 'circular fence'. Good job!

I like your double template method. I tend to use my tablesaw and rip the width of the opening out of the middle of the plywood. This leaves me with 3 pieces. I then cut the middle one in half. Then I glue it all back together with the two pieces from the middle spread apart by the desired length of the cut-out. Always gives me accurate templates. Nice video.

Loved this thanks . I saw many before this one helped I look forward to learning more from your channel Paul. 🙏😁

The perfect video for what I was looking to learn. Thank you!

I needed this video last week 😭

Great tip! Thanks Ron!

This is exactly the info I needed! Thank you!

Hi I work with Metric but your methodology is the key . thanks man really awesome

This was really good, after watching it twice I made my own template for 4" x 1.5" openings using the mitre saw technique. It was much easier, faster and better than the usual drill / jigsaw / file / sand technique. I don't actually need any 4" by 1.5" openings, but when I do it will be ready.

Ditto to Trak Atak. Your teaching method is most excellent. Thanks a Heap!

Great explanation Thank you

Thanks for the video. I must be dense in the head, watching your other videos I did not understand. This video cleared that up, saving it for future.

Excellent video

I'm a first time router owner, and I was wondering what the template thingy was for. Now I know! Thank you.

Great vídeo and tips!!

Thanks so much Ron! Your designs, along with the companion videos are so helpful. Please tell Chris thank you, as well! - BB

Awesome video!! Super helpful. Getting ready to build out my trailer with your plans....🤞

Thanks for this Ron!!!!

I'd like to see a lot more of these videos.

Thank you for the video!!! I'm looking to do the same thing.

BRO if Robert Redford and Owen Wilson were mashed together...it would be you!

That was a terrific Tip.

Just bought a Makita 16mm guide bush so I can have a go at trying for the first times on a second hand 1/4 router. Together with your video I can now work things out. Very helpful but time will tell. It is not as easy as you make it out though but thanks.

Excellent video, we thank you very much for taking the time to teach us such important things as these. We appreciate your effort and dedication. I have subscribed to your channel...

I’m a newbie and you just solved a hard problem for me in much better way. I was literally trying to cut exactly the same sized rectangles in pairs through 3/4” birch plywood. I tried everything from plunging in with a jigsaw using a template to drilling 1.5” holes and connecting them with a jigsaw. This looks way more accurate and repeatable. Thank you!

Thank you for going over your pattern making guidelines. A pattern to make a pattern to make the cut. :) I was thinking on making a simple 90 degree pattern than can be used to make one corner of the pattern piece, rotate and make another, and so on.

Love the video and I have done a lot of pattern routing but I am always looking to do things better. I thought the "rough" template made on the miter saw is an A+ where it will work. what i will mention, like with CNC, if you are doing a large opening say 5" diameter (or about 125mm for you Ron) don't cut all the way through. Leave a little material so the central portion doesn't get loose and get tossed by the router. A second or two with a jig saw to free it and then use the router to finish.

Great stuff!

Ron… I’ve been using my routers to do cut like this for a couple of years but always struggled with control and felt very unsure of what I was doing. I just watched this video more closely and picked up what I was doing wrong. THANK YOU so much for sharing freely.

Brilliant !!!

I was trying to figure out what you meant by using a miter saw. Then you made my head explode!

Excellent !

Hey Ron, You sure got me on the pattern program a while ago. One tip I can pass on to others about patterns, use Masonite. Then I took my guide bushing and cut down the height. Why? Because plunge routers don't have infinite depth (z-travel). So using Masonite and a cut down bushing allows you to have greater travel without overextending the tool. Not to mention, the Masonite templates are nice and thin and flat and store rather nicely. I use white charcoal pencil for marking them up.

Good morning!

Thanks!

Excellent content here! I subscribed. I also plan to build your latest Paulk Smart Bench and Total Station. Keep em coming. Very impressive.

Enjoy your videos. But this one with imperial measurement references drove me insane. Would love a re dubbed version using millimeters

Nice video! Going to subscribe!

A template to make the template - this is the step I was missing! Fantastic!

Thanks! I learned something new today. BTW Owen Wilson call, he says he wants his swagger back. 😁

thanks

Well explained. Also, that sacrifice board below on your table, you can make a Star Wars city out of that. :)

Now I understand little "bit" more.

I have been coveting your benches for years. Just getting my woodshop back FINALLY... I am ready to play! You made my day with this. EXACTLY what I need.... NOW... I have a question I cannot find anywhere.... my item(s) have a slight curve that I want a similar hole. How do I work on it with the curve already done? Thanks for being AMAZING!

Awesome

Now that is smart

Great video Ron, finally someone that explains it well. Is there anyway I can see a close up of router bits?

Thanks for taking the time to slow down and provide a detailed explanation of template creation. Ron, why 2 patterns, why not just cut out the template needed on the miter saw and skip the second one?

Ron, What’s the best way to mortise out a deadbolt strike plate after the door is installed?

Have you used anything like the Festool MFS or similar adjustable template jigs? I wish the MFS was still available in the US

Hey robert redford no more films?.

Where is that dust mask located in your store?

Have you ever tried routing out for a Bestgle flush hardware ?

I am starting the smart bench as soon as I feel like I have collected enough knowledge about using your patterns. you recommend using spiral up cut bits which leave a bit of tear out on the top of the cut. In your opinion would a down cut bit be better? or do you cut from the bottom of the plywood to leave the finish side clean? Great videos and plans. I'm stoked to start the build and use the bench. Thanks a bunch.

Thank you for the detailed video. I have torn up a few guides not leaving enough gap. I should have had more common sense. In regards to your new mobile work bench, have you tied storing it vertically?

What is the preferred thickness of material you like to use when making templates?

where can i find bushing for Milwaukee m18?

Just ran into a hitch! On my cordless, with the 1/4” bit, I noticed something was off. After close inspection I noticed that the bit had cut through the guide bushing! The result was a fair amount of damage to a couple of the holes on my pattern. I think I can patch up my pattern, however, are there any tips to avoid this problem in the future? Maybe I’m using too much pressure? Maybe I’m taking too big of a pass? I usually try to take 18 mm in 3 passes. Should make it 4 passes instead? In the future I’m definitely going to use my bigger router with the 1/2” bit everywhere I can and only use the smaller one when I must. Please tell me I’m not the only person to ever burn through a guide bushing!!

Thank you for making this video and I am working on building my own Smart Big Bench. I'm curious about the inner diameter of the 5/8" guide bushings you use. All of the 5/8" bushings I can find seem to have a 17/31" inner diameter. I tried this with my DEWALT 618 router and it chewed up the bushing and chipped the bit. Are you using bushings with a larger inner diameter? I am new to woodworking so it is possible I am doing something wrong.

Any suggestions or tips on centering the router sub base that holds the bushing? I have tried using the plastic cone that came with my dw618 but it is very finicky. Thank you for all you do.

Great video. New to using a router. I need to plunge into wood and route a rectangle box approximately 1.5 in deep. Would this approach work for something that deep?

So, if you are using a pattern to cut around instead of a hole, would you make the pattern 1/8” smaller all the way around to account for the bushing?

Thanks voor the video. One question: why aren’t you using router bits with ball bearings on the top? Then you don’t need a bushing anymore. It’s more accurate because you don’t have to account for the difference between the bushing and the router bit. Also, there’s less play with a ball bearing bit. I’ve used bushings, but since I’ve started to use ball bearing bits, I don’t look back anymore. And you only need e few ball bearing bits of different sizes.

Ron, is 1/2" MDF a good option for pattern templates? I am getting ready to build your smart station and want to start out on the right foot

What do you recommend for a good quality but not outrageously priced cordless router and bits?

1. Why not use the miter saw to make the final guide? Just doesn’t look as clean? 2. Why it use a bushing and a router bit of the same size? (Nvm was thinking of a pattern bit, your following video why not to get a CNC has a great explanation)

Newbie here. As long as you're using a template on top, wouldn't a simple flush trim bit do the job?

Are you using the OF1400 router? Have you been bothered by the movement in the guide bushing insert?

What happened to your Kapex?

Why didn't you make your permanent pattern using the same miter saw technique? I know it's ugly, but seems like making two patterns is unnecessary. Or am I missing something?

Sweet video, good stuff. Will there ever be a time when you yanks decide to use metric, it will change your life, for the better.....

Good explanation but jees life is so much easier in metric

Have you ever chewed up a bushing with your bit after you have been using it for several cut outs?

you look like robert redford