Router Table Essentials
A router table adds a LOT to the shop. With the amazingly diverse availability of router bit profiles, there are many different things you can do on a router table; from edge profiling to joinery. Thanks to the high rpm of a router motor, the cut quality is great, typically requiring very little sanding. With George Vondriska as your instructor, this online video Class will give you many important tips and fundamentals – helping you to get the most out of your router table.
Safety
The same attribute that provides great cut quality can make routers intimidating to operate. Typically running at over 20,000 revolutions per minute, things can go wrong quickly if you’re not using a router correctly. This Class covers a variety of must-have safety tips including how to properly secure the bit in the collet, determining feed direction, setting up for multiple passes, and how to use feather boards and push pads. .
Buying Advice
There are lots of routers available in the marketplace. This Class will educate you regarding the best type of router to use in a table, and we’ll look at the advantages router lifts bring to router tables. .
Maintenance
While the router table itself requires little more than good housekeeping, router bits are another story. A dull or dirty bit will be unsafe to use, and will cut poorly. We’ll show you how to determine if a bit needs to be sharpened, how to do the sharpening in your own shop, and how to clean a pitch-covered router bit. .
Techniques
Dadoes, rabbets, slot cutting... these are just some of the woodworking techniques you’ll learn in this Class. We’ll show you short cuts that will make set up easier and more repeatable, so you can reduce set up time and increase accuracy.
There are over 100 minutes of hands-on video instruction in this Class. In addition to the detailed video help you’ll receive, this Class provides you with some downloadable resources and helpful information to print and keep, including: A detailed Class Guide you can follow and use as a reminder for the key points of the class instruction; a Speed Chart to help you determine the best speed to run your bits; and a resources document that will give you information on the products you’ll see in the Class.
NOTE: This Class video instruction is also available for purchase in DVD form. If you prefer to own a physical copy, you can purchase the Class DVD here.
BONUS MATERIALS FOR THIS CLASS
PRINTABLE CLASS GUIDE PDF
Download and print this PDF Guide to complement your Class. It'll be a good reminder for you on many Router Table tips.
SPEED CHART PDF
Use this handy reference guide to help determine the appropriate RPM speed to run your bits.
CLASS RESOURCES PDF
See this list of tools, suppliers and reference information related to this Class.
VIDEO: MEET YOUR INSTRUCTOR
Download this short video to meet your class instructor, George Vondriska.
VIDEO: INTRO TO ROUTER TABLES
Download this short video to hear George talk about the versatility and value of good router table skills.
Session 1: Getting Started
Fixed base, plunge base, router lift….what’s the best set up for your router table? We’ll take a look at different styles of routers to learn what’s best for you. .
Your router bit education includes choosing between 1/4” and 1/2" shanks, how to properly install a bit in a collet, determining if a bit is dull, how to sharpen it if it is dull, and more.
Once you know how to set up your router table and install a bit, we can move on to making cuts. There’s a lot involved with this including use of feather boards and push sticks and how to set up for multiple light passes.
Session 2: Making Clean Cuts
A router table can provide incredibly clean cuts, provided you use it correctly. Routing end grain often leads to chipping on the exit side of the cut. We’ll have a look at different ways to avoid this, including following the correct sequence of cuts, and using a great shop-made push pad to control the cuts and prevent chipping.
Session 3: Techniques
The router table provides a great way to make dadoes, rabbets, and slots. Even in delicate veneered material you’ll find that the cut quality is great. You’ll learn to create through and stopped dadoes, and how to make a dado or groove the perfect width. .
We’ll also teach you:
- How to use a keyhole bit; perfect for hanging things on the wall.
- Two different techniques for trimming to a pattern, providing a great way for making multiple parts.
- How to use the router table to make custom dowels.
Session 4: Class Summary
George wraps up this Class with a reminder to practice the processes and skills you learned on the router table – and you’ll be on your way to using this versatile tool for many projects in your shop.
Excellent presentation George. Every first time router purchaser should see that video.
George, Thank you for another great lesson. I wish I had seen this years ago.
Thank you, George! I'm going to start my router table build tomorrow!
Again, a great study of the Router Table with lots of applications. George's demonstrations are easy to follow and are explained well.
Excellent training videos. I learned a lot of new tricks. Thanks!
Great video series! I picked up several tips and techniques. Glad I watched before learning these things through trial & error!
As usual your always great thanks again
As always, great show with safety as the watch word.
Some good safety tips about feed direction and fence adjustment. But everything was shown with small pieces that fit on the table. In reality if you were making a shelf you would have dados away from the ends. The ones in the middle would be difficult to make on a router table. You could try with a miter gauge and no fence but with a tiny miter gauge and a long board good luck. Same goes for the dowel technique. Keeping both square ends on the table only works if they both can sit on the table.
This information is very helpful. I wish I had come across this, or something similar, about 20 years ago. I believe my router table wouldn't have remained unused in the corner of the woods