what is
routing?
The electric router is now
accepted, by both amateur and
professional woodworkers, as an
essential tool for the workshop.
outing encompasses a wide
range of skills, not just in
handling the router itself, but
in using it to its best advantage in
conjunction with various, guides, jigs
and other ‘routing devices’, as well as
the extensive range of router
cutters now available. Routing is
also about innovation in both the
methods and applications to which
the router is applied and in the
aesthetic and technical design
that it is used to create.
R
lots of accessories?, Do I need to buy
lots of cutters?
Self Assessment!
How much power? - This depends on
the type of work that you intend to
use the router for.
If you are cutting dolls house
The Router
Most woodworkers turning to routing
have some idea and experience of
working with power tools.
Most householders will have
occasionally used a jigsaw or electric
drill and will know that power tools
come in a range of power ratings and
capacities - the more power you have,
the faster and harder you can go
about the job - well that’s the
theory anyway!
However, as if you are
buying a new car, computer
or washing machine, you will
still want to know just what to
buy to suit you and your pocket.
Accordingly, the questions facing the
newcomer to routing are most likely
to be:
How much power do I need?, What
collet size do I need?, Do I need
variable speed?, Do I need to buy
mouldings or trimming veneers or
laminates, there is little point in
buying a heavy duty router. It will be
too heavy and clumsy for the
purpose. Conversely, if you are
making doors and window frames,
you would not be able to remove
enough material efficiently without
overloading the motor. This would
cause the cutting speed to drop,
resulting in a poor finish and possible
premature burn-out of the motor and
bearings.
Router Power
(746 watts = 1 HP )
Light Duty Routers
400-750 Watts
Medium Duty
750-1200 Watts
Collet Capacity
For many applications the
strength of a cutter
often depends on the
diameter of the cutter
shank. The thicker the
cutter shank, the more
wood you can remove
and the deeper you can cut on any
one pass, with less risk of the cutter
flexing excessively or breaking.
Light duty routers are generally
supplied with 6.5mm (1/4”) collets
although some models can be fitted
with an optional 8mm collet. The
introduction of 8mm shanks has
allowed many of the larger diameter
cutters to be used in light duty
routers, although particular care must
be taken when using them and any
manufacturers recommendations
concerning cutting speed and depth
of cut must be closely observed.
Most medium and heavy duty routers
can be fitted with alternative
diameter collets of 6.35mm (1/4”),
9.5mm (3/8”), 12.7mm (1/2”) and
8mm diameter, although most are
supplied with only 1/4 inch or both
1/4 and 1/2 inch collets. Alternative
size collets are available for most
makes and models of router. Do
remember that small diameter cutter
shanks will flex more, with a greater
risk of breakage under the increased
load from a heavy duty router.
Heavy Duty
1200 and above
6
INProfile
Winter 1997