I have heard SO MANY people and even knowledgeable and experienced woodworkers who say, "I am afraid to use a router, they scare me". And there are so many things that routers can do, it's a sad that so many people cannot benefit from using them, so this video is meant to help some who fear using routers and show some of the many benefits that can be gained by overcoming that fear ...
And where better to start, that with what routers are available and some of the bits that can be used ...
If you are new to woodworking, you should know that there many different kinds and types of routers but basically they fall into 2 areas, those that take only 1/4" router bits and those that can take both 1/4" and 1/2" router bits.
Of course larger, heavier routers are the ones that can take both bits and these generally start at at the 2 horsepower stage, routers that can take only 1/4" router bits are generally in the 1.5 horsepower and under and these include the Trim or Laminate Routers shown in the picture below.
If your router only came with one "Collet" like the one with the smaller hole, pictured below, your router is probably one of the smaller routers that only takes 1/4" router bits and the reason it did NOT come with a 1/2" collet is because the motor is not strong enough to power larger bits, which would mean even if you could find a collet to fit, you would likely burn the motor out very quickly by over taxing it's ability.
One the biggest fears of people who try to use a router is not knowing which direction the wood should enter the bit when it is spinning. There is a VERY EASY way to figure this out by simply looking at the router bit. First of all you should know that ALL routers will spin the router bits in the same direction, and that direction is towards the flat FACE of the router bit. The FACE of the router bit is where the cutting action happens, just the same as it is your Jointer, Planer and Table Saw blade.
This means that the wood needs to enter the side of the router bit where the bit can cut INTO THE WOOD.
If the wood is pushed toward the bit from the back of face side, it basically cannot cut the wood, and will often just burn the wood.
(Note: like many things in woodworking there are exceptions and yes you can reverse cut "some" woods, but as a general rule we always push wood into the Face of the cutting edge of the router bit)
There are many different types and kinds of router bits, including
Router Bits With Bearings - these are use either free hand in your router, or they can also be used in a router table as long as the outside of the bearing is aligned evenly with the router fence.
Router Bits Without Bearings - these can only be use in a router table, or in some sort of a specialized router jig to accomplish something like - Cutting Joint Mortises, Making Dovetail joints, Cutting Dados, Circle Cutting and Design, Planing surfaces Flat and other special and custom Router Jigs.
Below are a handful of special router bits that can be purchased for a variety of unique router jobs, including from left to right: A Finger Joint Bit, Chamfer Bits (which are available in many different angles), Straight bits for Box joints, Dados, Rabbet cuts etc., Planing bits for planing down rough lumber and many, many more kinds of specialty bits.
There are a variety of shop-made and commercial router jigs that can be made to make woodworking more accurate, easier and most of all, more innovative for all those creative woodworkers and design people. Check out this website by using the search box for router jigs, to get a better idea of what jigs can be made and how they are used.
And of course last but not least is safety
1 - Always unplug power of every router when changing bits
2 - Always wear eye and ear protective gear
3 - Take your time in using the router
4 - Know ahead of time what you want to do and visualize the out come
5 - Clamp wood or use push blocks to keep fingers away from spinning bits
Taylor Tools Affiliate Store - https://lddy.no/18zkg
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