Router Archives | WoodWorkers Guild of America

Workaround: Cut Biscuit Grooves with a Router

September 6, 2017 By Bruce Kieffer & filed under Joinery, Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

So you need to cut a few biscuit grooves but don’t own a biscuit (plate) joiner — No problem, cutting the grooves with your router and a slot-cutter bit is easy. So I’ll bet you’re wondering if it’s so easy then why even own a biscuit joiner? Well there are pros and cons: Pros: Great…

Router Woodworking Basics: How to Use a Router

August 26, 2017 By George Vondriska & filed under Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

Want to use a router, but don’t know where to start? Learn how to use a router with these router woodworking techniques and tips. Boy, I use routers a lot. They can do so much. From adding a profile to an edge to cutting dovetail joints, a router is an incredibly versatile machine. But if…

Custom Cut Butterfly Joints

December 2, 2013 By Seth Keller & filed under Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

Handmade Graduated Butterflies Are Stunning The butterflies or ‘dutchmen’ embedded in this desktop are custom sized and cut on a bandsaw. Butterflies stabilize the crack and also provide a focal point on top of the desk to highlight your woodworking skills. When making butterfly joints, I tend to avoid templates available at woodworking stores. In…

Jointing with a Router

February 8, 2012 By Seth Keller & filed under Joinery, Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

Here’s the situation: Lumberyards and hobby/hardware stores often sell lumber S2S, which means the wide surfaces are jointed and planed, but the edges are rough from the sawmill or follow the shape of the tree. Do you pass these boards up because you don’t have a jointer? If you own a router, start buying that…

Accurately Routing Large Circles

August 24, 2010 By Jerry Seabaugh & filed under Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

The problem – a poorly framed hole. I’m sure most of us have seen or used a router mounted on a pivoting board or arm to cut circles. This past spring I was handed a difficult assignment. Some one needed to mount five, 20″ diameter Tiffany glass circles in the walls of a new restaurant.…

Creative Designs with Router Templates

January 23, 2009 By Jerry Seabaugh & filed under Portable Power Tools, Router, Skill Building.

Using a Router and Template to Make Creative Designs. I would like to share some thoughts about creating repetitive designs with a router and a template. To make a template, we embrace the skills of our ancestors – the pattern makers. I am referring to the folks who carved patterns by hand, before the age…

6 Router Safety Tips

October 28, 2008 By Bruce Kieffer & filed under Portable Power Tools, Portable Power Tools Safety, Router, Woodworking Safety.

Whether you’re a seasoned woodworker, or just starting out, these router safety tips will help you work safer in your shop. I’ve been a woodworker for 30 years, and trust me… I’ve made every mistake told here at least once. Fortunately, other than bruised pride and wasting some wood, I haven’t been hurt. Keep yourself…