Safe use of router help - absolute beginner

FJM123 · 9 Jul 2015

Hi all - I have done quite a bit of woodworking over the years, but my latest project really requires a router, and that is something I am not comfortable with attempting without a bit of experienced help! I have searched for local short courses, but they are few and far between - does anyone know of a club in the Lancaster area that might be able to help, or is there an experienced woodworker around who could offer an hour or two's tuition in safe handling? I don't want to do anything very advanced - just rebates and rounded edges - but I would prefer to have all my fingers intact after attempting it!

Paddy Roxburgh · 9 Jul 2015

probably get more answers posting this in the general woodworking section as the hand tools section is mostly for unpowered tools.
For roundovers and rebating with a router you need bearing guided cutters (they have a bearing on the bottom to run against you're work) and make sure you go anti clockwise around the work so the rotation of the cutter is pulling the router toward the work. Also make sure that the work is well supported.
Have you considered a rebating plane for rebates and a block plane or no4 bench plane for roundovers. Much safer quieter and cleaner and not really much slower. there is slightly more skill involved, but as with many of these things it is more of a "knack" than a skill and a lot more controllable. If you are interested ingoing down the unpowered route then post a question here on which rebate plane to buy and you will get many answers, I have an old wooden filister plane I use for rebates that cost about a tenner (I can't actually remember but I wouldn't have spent much more).
Paddy

lanemaux · 10 Jul 2015

Hi FJM and welcome to our little haven. If you Google " The Router Workshop" you should find Bob and Rick Rosenthals old TV show website. If they still sell DVDs you can get a master class in router work. If not , then you could try searching them on youtube or other video sites. And if the seamy underbelly of the world wide web does not cause you unease , you might find something on the torrent sights of theirs to download. Also using router tips and tricks as a search in youtube will give you hours and hours of stuff to look through. Remember , safety first is a priority for all tailed devil tooling. And Norms rule is right , the most important safety device is safety glasses. A router that finds a bit of staple can cast it an amazing distance or riccochet it right back to you.

Peter Sefton · 10 Jul 2015

Chris Yates who teaches my routing courses has just completed a series of articles in Furniture and Cabinetmaking which you might find useful but if you would like a more hands on course check out our short courses.

Cheers Peter