IMPORTANT SAFETY PRACTICES
Always read the instructions that come with your
routers and cutters to ensure you are following safe
working practices.
Before making adjustments to the router or changing
a cutter, always remove the plug from the socket first.
Ideally mark the plug with the word ‘router’ to ensure
you pull the right plug.
Ensure when fitting the cutter you insert the shank
until at least the ‘K’ mark on the shank. This will
prevent vibration and/or damage to cutter or router.
FIRST STEPS TO GETTING STARTED
1
2
First run a bearing guided edge mould around the outside of a square
piece of material or against a long edge. Keep the router flat on the work
and the bearing tight to the edge and feed at a steady rate.
4
3
Practice using the fence by making a rebate and a continuous groove.
Close the fence cheeks. Keep firm pressure at the leading edge of the fence
as the cut starts. Towards the end transfer pressure to rear of the fence.
5
Using the V groove cutter, practice freehand engraving & sign writing.
Set a minimal depth of cut with the plunge stop. First sketch in pencil the
lettering required taking into account the thickness of cut you will make.
7
Using the fence, practice plunge stopped grooves. First set cut depth with
depth stop. Plunge router into the work keeping firm pressure against the
fence, move smoothly until you reach the stop point and release the plunge.
6
The V groove & fence are used to good effect to make false panels. Use
the fence to rout the outer edges to give the effect of a frame & then adjust
it to make the infill panel lines by using the plunge to start & stop the cuts.
8
Cut a circle by fixing the trammel guide to one fence rod. Mark the centre
and radius of the circle. Using the straight cutter, position trammel on the
centre point and adjust the fence rod until the inside edge of the cutter is
against your mark. Keep firm pressure on trammel point to prevent it lifting.
Always wear safety eyewear to ensure you protect your eyes from
flying debris and a face mask to stop the inhalation of fine dust
particles. Ear defenders are also advisable.
Making grooves beyond the reach of the fence is easy to achieve by
clamping a batten as a guide and running the router against it. Mark up
the position of groove required and position the batten appropriately.
9
Using a bearing guided moulding cutter, rout a mould around the edge of
the circular blank. Move in an anti-clockwise rotation keeping pressure
directly over the workpiece as you work to prevent tipping.
Templates can be easily made from 6mm MDF for replicating shapes.
Ensure any edge the guide bush has to follow is smooth as any roughness
will be replicated in the finished workpiece. Secure the template to the
work and keep the guide bush tight to the template.
TIPS & ADVICE TO GET IT RIGHT
For internal moulding or template work, feed the
router in a clockwise direction. For outside work
feed in an anti-clockwise direction.
Keep the weight over the workpiece to prevent
router tipping.
For deep grooves or edge work, take repeated
passes to prevent motor overload.
Plan the order of cuts to prevent breakout. Rout
the cross grain edge before the long grain edge.
Ensure an even feed speed to prevent burning. Burn marks often happen when the user
repositions themselves, so the router path should be planned in advance. With experience the
cutter can be pulled away from the workpiece at the crucial points to prevent burning.
To remove burning a second pass can be made.