Using A Wood Router

Using a wood router to shape an edge, plow a dado, or perform some other cutting task is an important requirement of many woodworking projects that youll come across. Even a project as simple as the toy blocks can be greatly enhanced by employing a wood router to soften the edges with a roundover bit.
If youre completely new to woodworking, or even just new to wood routers, this series of videos should prove to be very useful to you. Woodworking routers are dangerous tools, and operating them with good results can be a mysterious endeavor.
Although there are numerous online videos that demonstrate great tips on using wood routers, most of them are targeted more towards people who already have a basic knowledge of router operation.
This series of videos takes a slightly different approach. The videos teach the very basics of operating a router, including a strong emphasis on safety. Theyre produced by an industrial arts instructor so its just like being in shop class!

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Brad’s Router Table

From: Brad Lockwood

Location: Stratford, CT

Hobbyist or Pro: Hobbyist

Project Name: Router Table

Wood Species: Birch Ply/Maple/Polar

Finish Used: Standard Stain with General Finish Dye stain, 3 coats of General Finish Wipe On Stain. I also used Shellac on the top.

Project Description:
This was my second project and I needed a good Router table. I wanted to see the effects of different finishes on different woods and what happens if I don’t do the light sanding after the water base stain. I also wanted to practice dovetail, rabbet joinery, inlay (t-tracks for the miter and fence). I also ordered and installed the Jessem Router Lift, which I bought after watching Marc’s router lift segment. Marc was right on with his analysis in my opinion.

As you can see from the full front photo, I fully integrated the dust collection using hose connected to the fence and a pickup from the router cavity. I placed plexi-glass on the door to the cavity and placed a light in there as well that turns on when the router is on. The very bottom door area is for storage. The left side drawers are sideless as I drilled holes to hold the bits. The Top right side drawer is a false front to hold the switch and the 3 lower drawers are half blind dovetails using the MLCS jig.

I learned a lot about finishing, dovetailing, drawer guide mounting and many other techniques as well. Now I have a top-of-the-line table and lessons learned. So as my friends say, this is the most furniture like router table east of the Mississippi.

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Book Giveaway Shop Improvements Outstanding ideas from the worlds finest woodworkers from Fine Woodworking magazine

June 26th, 2011 in blogs         1 user recommends $(document).ready(function() {$("a.popit").fancybox();}); Photo: Matt Berger

Shop Improvements
Taunton Press, 2007
$19.95; 224 pp.

We have an extra copy of this book in our library so we’re giving you an opportunity to win it. Leave a comment here for your chance to win.

This book is a collection of articles from past issues of Fine Woodworking covering all sorts of things for the shop. There are lots of jig articles for the tablesaw, bandsaw, planer, router and the drill press. Also included are smart storage solutions and improvements to workstations and shop aids, like a tilt-top shop cart that handles plywood and a rock-solid plywood bench. Like Fine Woodworking articles over the years, these articles include detailed drawings and photos to help with step-by-step instruction. Quite simply, Shop Improvments is full of great ideas and would be a great help to just about all woodworkers.

Leave a comment on this post by 12:01am Eastern Time, Tuesday, July 5, 2011, and you might just win this book.

And after you’ve won the book and read it, we would love for you to come back and post another comment and tell us what you think of it.

A winner will be chosen at random and announced on Wednesday, July 6, 2011.

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