How To Use A Router
Safety First! Before changing a bit, or adjusting anything, UNPLUG THE ROUTER!
To install a bit into the router, you will need a 10mm and 17mm wrench. You do not always have to take the base off (as shown in the photo above)
Righty-tighty, lefty-loosey.
To take a bit out, you only need the 17mm wrench and depressing the red side button.
This shows the proper length the shaft should be inserted into the collet.
Check and lock the base to make sure your router head is adjusted the way you want. Anytime you are using a palm router, you should clamp your work down. The direction you should go using a handheld router is from left to right. If you push too hard on the top of the palm router, the base will move up and more of your router bit will be showing.
Using a simple straight cutting bit, you can trace your design onto your wood and cut it out. If you have never used a router before, you may want to practice on scrap before hand. Instead of using a sharpy, you can tape your design down and go over it with a dull pencil. This will dent softer woods like pine and make it easy to see when you are routing. If you plan to stain your sign after, I would avoid Sharpie, as it could stain your project. We also have tracing paper available.
This video shows the importance of prepping your work before you start routering. Sanding is very important so the router base moves smoothly across your wood.
This video shows how they printed and glued pictures onto their board and used a V-bit to router out everything but the letters. You can print out your design and Elmer's glue stick it to your wood as well.
A router table has the router fixed upside down in the middle of the table. You move your work piece over the bit instead of moving the router over your clamped work piece. You should always go from right to left on a router table.
The below video answers questions #12, 13, 14, 15, and 16. WATCH THE ENTIRE VIDEO!
This video shows the importance of featherboards, as well as how to do edging and make trim, make dowels, prevent tear out, use your router as a jointer, and use your router for patterns.
