General contractor Tom Silva shares his insights on the shop’s most versatile portable power tool. (See steps below.)
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Steps for How to Choose and Use a Router:
1. Depending on the router bit used, routers can cut a wide variety of decorative edges, profiles, and woodworking joints.
2. Straight-cutting router bits can cut dadoes, grooves, and rabbets for joining together two boards.
3. A plunge router can cut precise holes like a drill press for shelf pegs or wooden dowels.
4. Rout tongue-and-groove joints into the ends and edges of boards to create tongue-and-groove flooring.
5. Light-duty trim routers are ideal for flush-trimming plastic laminate, veneer, and other thin materials.
6. Don’t use large bits in a trim router; you could burn out the motor.
7. Medium-duty fixed-based routers offer a good combination of power and speed.
8. Some routers have variable-speed motors. Use slower speeds when cutting with large-diameter bits.
9. A plunge router has a spring-loaded base that allows you to plunge the bit down into the board, and then release it to pop up out of the cut.
10. Plunge routers are useful for routing inlays, stopped grooves, and holes.
11. Router bits come in dozens of sizes and profiles.
12. Bits come with either a 1/4-inch-diameter shaft or a 1/2-inch-diameter shaft. Match the bit-shank diameter to the collet on the router.
13. Some routers come with both a 1/4-inch and a 1/2-inch collet.
14. The ball-bearing pilot found on some bits rolls along the edge of the board to control the depth of cut.
15. A piloted flush-cutting bit has a ball bearing that rides along a template for making very precise, custom cuts.
16. With the router unplugged, push the router bit all the way into the collet, then pull it out a little bit to provide an expansion space.
17. Tighten the collet with a wrench to securely lock the bit in place.
18. Adjust the depth of cut, then plug in the router.
19. Firmly clamp the board to a workbench.
20. Put on hearing protection and safety goggles.
21. Before switching on the router, be sure the router bit isn’t touching the board.
22. Turn on the router, then slowly rout from left to right in a counterclockwise direction.
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How to Choose and Use a Router | Ask This Old House
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Also sign making
I've yet to find out if I can use a 1/2 inch round over bit on an existing Formica countertop edge. Will the Formica shred, or crack, or will I get a smooth cut? Thoughts?
Keep up the great work guys… Been watching this program since the beginning… As a young man your show helped shape my future in the trades then into an engineer…
Thank you for programming as yours…
I was looking for a different type of router how did I get here
Isn't a 'dado' a cut across the grain?
Thanks
Both of them look fresh out of the tanning salon lol
awesome video… this help a lot! thank you
Great Video! Slow explanation of how to do. Camera work is excellent too! Thank you so much!
i salute you
how lame there's not a close up of the rounded edge at the end of the video.
hoss power.
If you want to build it you can find nice instructions on the Woodglut website.
Check out the Woodglut plans if you want to make it better.
Can someone explain why reduce the speed for bigger bits? Don’t we need the inertia that a higher rotation speed provides?
Quick easy access to many projects with Woodglut plans.
Find out how to do it yourself with all the details. Just look for Woodglut 🙂
Hosspar.
Doesn’t have a lot of “Huhs Purr”
What kind of router bit would you use for those nails? Hard to look at those things.
good vid. thank you.
Here's a list that helped me out.
"whinyl.com/rtrs-guide/
In the end, I went with #3.
4:09
And they are router tables.
Don't forget to use your hearing protection. Your HEARING protection! I said "DON"T FORGET YOUR TO USE HEARING PROTECTION!"
I was in 8th grade the first time I used a router for a project I made a sign for my big sister's kitchen in her first house and to this day 24 years later she's still has it hanging in her kitchen.
Just pick one with wifi 6
That first opening statement by Kevin seems pretty funny to me. “Paraphrase “ ppl think of router as a high end tool but you use one too don’t you Tommy? Lmao. As if Tommy is a high end carpenter
Need mentioned about wear a mask while working in a woodshop. A dentist mention to me that his cousin died of sinus cancer 15 years ago. He had a full time job. After work he spent many hours building furniture with no mask.
Hoos power?
It is always useful ,and understandble
Amazing? which size of wood router for beginner ? And if I use small trimmer can I use with 6-12 mm cutting bit
Thank you for this video. I am an up and coming Woodworker, and I need to purchase my first Router.
“Haws pahah” is to this guy what “diabeetis” is to that guy
Yes great for Wifi