Customer Reviews

Porter-Cable 42690 Edge Guide (for Models 100, 690, 691, 693, 891, 892, 893 Routers)

5 star:		(28)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

This is edge guide is very accurate, it's easy to mount and use.

I originally bought the smaller cheaper guide. It was too small with only a narrow contact against the wood. It wasn't very long so it was harder for me to feel it making contact with the wood. I ended up getting this at a later time when I large project came along.

This guide is more substantial. It has larger contact surfaces, great adjustment and some weight which helps you maintain control of the router. I don't feel that it's awkward weight, just something substantial that helps control the tool.

I actually ripped a long piece or material and screwed it along the edge to increase the stability. It has holes machined in its face which allow you to do just that if you think you need it. Most cases you probably won't. I just happened to need a longer fence.

Another plus is that it will fit the new 890 series so I didn't have to get another fence when I added this router to my collection.

This Edge Guide is very easy to mount to your existing router. The instructions are precise and the material is made of a high quality metal to last for numerous years. As a professional woodworker, I am impressed with the accuracy and easy set up with this tool. The micro-adjusting knob really helps in close tolerance projects. I am very happy with all of my Porter Cable tools and would highly advise anyone, novice or professional, to add these instruments to your woodworking shop!

I'm going to take the contrarian view on this edge guide. I'm pretty much a gadget freak, and this guides combination of sturdy construction, lockability, and fine adjustment won me over enough to buy one for my 690. On use, I found it is a mixed blessing.

I have a pretty solid router table setup, so by primary use for this kind of widget is on wood pieces that simply can't be worked that way, i.e., edging tabletops. What I found is that the guide takes my 690, which serves as my simple lightweight hand tool, and makes it a bit awkward and weighty. Admittedly it is more accurate once set up, but so is my older, far less flashy edge guide once I get it set up. Think of it as one step forward, two steps back.

And the real truth is that relying on a heavy aluminum straight edge guide or using bits with standoff bearings really does everything I need. A lot of your reaction to this guide will be determined by how you work. For me, nearsighted and chubby, it forces me to far back from the edge to feel comfortable. Someone who is comfortable working a router from the side might think this is the cat's pajamas.

Which brings up my final point. Don't assume that, just because a tool is cool or feature heavy that it will work for you. Take the time to think about how you work and if it will fit in. Too often something I thought was going to be utterly wonderful wound up living on the top shelf.

Excellent router positioning guide. The micro adjustment feature makes lining up your rabbets, dadoes, etc. very easy. I would recommend the guide for anyone who uses their router for edge work, especially on longer pieces that are awkward on the router table. If interested, many dealers are offerring the guide with the purchase of the 693PK package of routers.

Aside from using a router table/fence arrangement, this edge guide does a great job. Like any other tool you have to make note of the direction the bit is rotating relative to the piece so that it pulls the guide tight to the edge of the work.

I used it on my PC 890 (yes it fits the 890 even though it doesn't say so in the item description) and was very happy with the prescision of the unit.

This is a very sturdy, accurate, and versatile piece of gear. My only wish is that it should come in a protective case.

This is a moderately priced router attachment. It's easy to attach and relatively easy to adjust. The adjustment is fine enough for most work on flat surfaces that fully support the router base.
If your trying to route something like the front end of a cabinet (thin, isn't wide enough to support the router base) the method you use is to extend the guide is to screw a piece of wood to the adjustable plate. This plate can be thrown off because the guide plate shifts up and down because it doesn't meet the base of the router. I solved this by attaching a piece of plywood for a guide and making sure it was fully up against the router base otherwise the fence can shift.
I've had the more expensive magic circle router jig (I can't remember the exact name) and it did more things that I never used. It dropped it. It broke and I looked for something else, less expensive. This jig is reasonably priced and does the job.

Granted this thing is accurate and well made (almost bomb proof) but why so heavy and bulky.I dont think it's necessary.I love porter cable products and have used them for years.My edge guide came as a freebie with a package deal I bought.I use it and have no complaints about it other than it being just too big and heavy.If and When I buy a new edge guide it will be the porter cable model# 5043,it offers the same level of accuracy but without all the bulk. Now get out there and round something over.

I have just spent about 4 hours experimenting with the 42690 edge guide in two of my three Porter Cable routers. The edge guide sticks out too far for good vision and feel of close in work. Its length suggests it was intended to allow long reach lengths. I found it wobbly unless very carefully set up and well torqued. It will allow the router to twist and "jump" unless you really torque the screws and force the guide well against the router base. For long reach jobs, it would be smarter to clamp a straight edge on the work piece. For close in work, clamp a short strip of wood to the router base. This you can trust and do cheap. The edge guide itself is short, narrow in height, and will not permit larger bit diameters (I wanted to use it for a slot cutter for bread board joints on a table top.) I botched several work pieces with it and finally resorted to clamping a strip of wood to the router base. This product has now joined the sawdust in a garbage can!

Here's something I never thought I'd never use because I thought 'skiddling' with templates, guide bushings or t-squares would do all I wanted. To be sure, those things did work and I do still use them; however, I think there are instances where this guide can do the job quicker and easier.

Porter-cable has a no-frills less expensive model. After using this one though I don't think I'd ever consider using the cheaper model. This one is so easy to adjust into position I couldn't imagine the cheaper one would be better.

One other thing, holding the fence with one hand against your work to keep the fence tight against the work.