I need to buy a router that I can cut dovetail joints with. (mine is an old J C Penney router that the bottom plate won't work with the collar needed) I have been looking at different routers and have noticed that the hole in the plate is different on each one. (the Dwalt hole is much smaller that the Bosch) Some are bigger than others. My question is... How do I pick the right one that the collar will fit so I can cut dovetail joints for the drawers that I'm building?
Cheapest way to do it would be just to change the baseplate for one made to take porter cable style guide bushings.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shop...tml/pages/routacc2.html#brass_template_anchor
You will need to scroll down to the bottom but they are there.
To answer your question, the base plate needs a 1-3/16" hole through the plate with a 1-3/8" counterbore around that hole (leaves a small lip for the bushing to ride in).
You noticed some routers have larger holes in the base, those will likely have an adapter of some type to use the guide bushings with. The smaller hole routers are really quite constrictive as the bit diameter is limited to about 1-1/4" max. Their forte is the use of guide bushings. If you do get a router that accepts guide bushings out of the box, I would still recommend picking up an extra base plate with a larger hole, or making one.
Another alternative would be picking up a milescraft base plate/bushing kit.
Amazon.com: Milescraft 1211 Base Plate Metal-Nose Bushing Set for Routers: Home Improvement
8&keywords=milescraft+guide+bushing
Here you get a baseplate and set of guide bushings with an adapter to use the porter cable bushings. That baseplate has enough holes to fit almost any router ever conceived. I've gone through 4 of those things as the base plate makes a great universal interface for jigs.
I don't remember when JC Penney stopped selling power tools but I know it's been awhile. If you are still in the mood to shop for a router, this is arguably the best deal in todays market
http://www.sears.com/craftsman-12-a...p-00927683000P?prdNo=2&blockNo=2&blockType=G2
I got that router last March and while it takes porter cable bushings out of the box, the first thing I did was put the Milescraft plate on it.
Good Luck:smile: