How to Use a Router for Woodworking

An essential woodworking tool, a router is ideal for making joints, creating decorative designs and adding details to furniture and cabinetry. For home improvement projects, a router can help you make your own trim, cabinets and moldings.

Before using a router, be sure to carefully read the instructions provided with your router. The operating manual provides router tips, instructions on how to use a router and safety instructions to protect you against injury.

As with most power tools, when using a router it is important to keep safety in mind. Be sure to protect your eyes and hearing by wearing appropriate safety goggles and hearing protectors. A dust mask or dust-collection system can also help protect you from wood dust.

General Tips on How to Use a Router

Avoid wearing loose clothing and jewelry when using a router to prevent items from getting caught in the tool, where clothing that will not get in the way. Long hair should be pulled back as well.

Grip the router tightly by placing hands on the knob or router handle as instructed in the owner's manual.

Router tips for choosing the right bit for the home improvement project or woodworking job you are working on. There are router bits for virtually every woodworking project imaginable. Bits for making decorative grooves, edges, cutting dadoes and others uses are available.

Router tips: Determine depth of cut is another tip for using a router. After you have determined the bit you plan to use, determine the depth you would like to cut. Use a scrap piece of wood and make a practice cut to make sure you achieve the desired results.

Determine direction to feed the router. On hand-held routers, the bit rotates clockwise so when routing an outside edge, the router should be moved in a counterclockwise direction. End grains should be routed first.

Router tips for figuring out speed. The size and type of bit you are using often determines the speed you should set your router at. Many routers have adjustable speed controls that can be matched to the type of bit and material you are cutting.

Clamp wood down before routing. An important router tip, clamping wood down securely helps prevent the wood from moving while using a router so your cuts look the way you intend them to.

Router tips for cutting straight lines include using a straightedge guide. Clamp a straight board along the wood you are cutting and run the router base against the board to create a straight cut.

Router tips for cutting joints. A router is ideal for cutting basic joints. With the right bit, a router can be used to cut tongue-and-groove joints, rabbet, dado, mortise and tenon joints. Special jigs and accessories can simplify the process.

Use jigs to help simplify routing. Many jigs are easy to make or available for purchase and serve as a useful aid when routing.

These are just a few router tips to help you create something original for your next home improvement or woodworking project. As with most power tools, practice and patience will help you learn to how to use a router.

Many instruction books, magazines and videos with router tips and tips on using a router can be found at your local library or book store.

Sources:

Spielman, Patrick, The New Router Handbook, New York, NY, Sterling Publishing Company, Inc. 1993