Customer Reviews

Bosch RA1150 Centering Cone

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This centering cone should be standard equipment with any router. It's absolutely essential for accurate template guided work. I made a lot of firewood before I realized that my baseplate and template guide were not centered on my bit. It's especially frustrating when doing inlays and your work pieces don't mate perfectly. This simple centering cone fixes all that and you don't necessarily need a Bosch router to use it.
Most higher-end routers come with baseplates that have two sets of holes to mount it to the router base. One set is fixed and is used at the factory to align the baseplate close to center. The other set is elongated and allows you to fine tune the placement of the baseplate on the base. The factory holes are close, but not perfect. If you need to do precise work like inlays, you'll want to use the second set of holes, and to use those, you NEED this centering cone.
Attach a medium-sized template guide to the baseplate, say or 3/8" or 1/2" then attach the baseplate to the router base loosely using the elongated set of screw holes. Gently push the long end of the centering cone into the router's collet and tighten the collet to the point where the cone is snug, but can be moved in and out of the collet with a little force. Now continue to push the cone into the collet until the cone comes in contact with the template guide and keep pushing until the cone can't be pushed in any more. This will pull the baseplate into exact center on the collet. Before removing the cone, gently tighten the baseplate screws without moving the baseplate. Remove the cone, chuck a bit, and you're ready to do some precision work.
Remember, all template guides are not made alike, so it' a good idea to pull out this cone and re-center whenever you change the template guide.

My Bosch 1617EVSPK has a smooth base attached to the bottom of the router.
Bosch is very careful to center the base plate on the base (in case you say remove it to attach to a router table). Although it is easy to provide a very close center, it is not as good as the factory center.

Using this centering cone, you can easily provide an improved center for the base for better algnment. Then again, the routers shipping now include the centering cone.

If you ever take off your sub-base you will need this to recenter everything, and its a must for centering your collars for accuracy went doing dovetails and other precision work.

Whenever I got it I took it out of the package and wondered why I had to pay 7.50 plus shipping for this little piece of steel. But it is a must for your router work and a worthwhile buy however simple and somewhat overcharged (ok I am a grump about it, its not the mild extra money its just the principle of what you give for what it is) this item is.

If you use a router with a template guide of either type (PC or Bosch) this little beauty will simplify your life. It is simple and easy to use:

- Loosen the base plate.
- Mount the template guide in the base plate.
- Chuck the cone into the router (one end is a 1/4 inch shaft an the other end is a 1/2 inch shaft.)
- Position the cone area in the middle of this device such that the template will ride on the cone.
- Let the template guide and base plate "center" on the cone. Jiggle the base plate if necessary.
- Tighten the base plate.

When this simple task is complete the router will follow the template perfectly, regardless of the position of the router to the work. If the template is not centered, the cut will be either closer or farther from the edge of the template as the router rotates with respect to the template.

Having a centered bit is absolutely critical if you are trying to cut inlays, but it improves accuracy for all cuts and I use it now for all template setup (e.g., dovetail cuts).

The centering cone works well by insuring that the base is centered on the bit so that you can do a perfect route job regardless of which side of the router you use.

I am very pleased with the centering cone I recently purchased. I can be sure my router is properly aligned when mounting it in a stand.

It seems like a lot for an odd piece of steel but it does exactly what its supposed to. I was able to center my bit exactly for a rub collar insert on a Bosch plunge router. I suppose it will come in handy again one day and it will probably never wear out.

Some background first. I am an experienced woodworker, not professional but able to do most wood projects. I've used routers and guide/bushing sets for over 30 years. Recently I purchased a Bosch Colt and the round base to do some door hinge mortising. The full size routers are cumbersome for this task and the Colt is easier to control. Since the round Colt base uses the standardized bushing mount system, I purchased a set of brass router guides.

My original routers used plastic guides which are held on the base with 3 screws. I've never had an issue centering mortising bits in these guides. Never broke or chipped one in the probably the 100 or so times I've used them. So I really couldn't see the reason for this accessory. But since I'm getting lazy in my old age, I decided to get one. Not cheap, but reasonable with free shipping (you can get it cheaper on the web including shipping outside Amazon. I prefer Amazon because I am familiar with them and returns usually are not an issue).

Well, to be honest, I still cannot see the real advantage of using the centering cone. If you are careful and test the bit by turning it inside the guide, you will not have any issues. You can actually save money by purchasing a cheap dovetail bit (around $5 steel) which is tapered and will work with all but the largest guides. In theory, you can center the base with the smaller guides and that will take care of the rest (base centered).

The cost of this cone seems a bit high. If you are planning on getting a set of guides, there are sets that include the centering cone. Sears sells a set of guides (chrome plated steel) with a centering cone for $29.99 including a case. Home Depot sells a set by Ridgid for I believe $39.99 that also includes the centering cone. I paid $26.99 for a set of brass guides (Kempston) plus the $15.99 for this guide ($42.98 total).

If you really feel you need this, then it does what it's suppose to do, center a base on a router. I just don't think it's really necessary.

Nice centering cone...it really...centers. Yeah
Too bad Bosch wouldn't include one with the router. Gee whiz.