Hitachi Router template guides

[Basil Rathbone]

My router came with a few template guides. I would like to use one to follow a template made from 1/4" MDF. The part of the guide that the router bit fits through is more than 1/4" long. The only way I can see to make this work, is to add some thickness to my template so the template guide clears the workpiece.

Is this the only way or am I missing something? And what is the reason for having a 51/64th template guide? I am sure Hitachi knows more about this than I do, so I could use some advice. Thanks.

[Thomas S Stockton]

Grind down the end of the template guide. I have a couple I've done this too, I use a disc sander.
Tom

[Julian Wong]

And what is the reason for having a 51/64th template guide?

Probably something to do with metric. 51/64th is about 20mm.

[glenn bradley]

I am sure there is a reason for the longer guides as they vary in length between each other. I am ignorant as to what it is. I bought a set where they are all .24" and designed to be used with 1/4" template material. An oddball that I had that was long got ground down on the belt/disc sander as Thomas states.

[Jamie Buxton]

I don't think it is metric. I have a set from Porter-Cable, back when they were undeniably American. None of them were the same length, and almost all of them were longer than I've needed. All of the ones I use have been hacksawed to be shorter.