| Location | St. Paul |
| Location Code | M2 |
| Manufacturer | Bosch |
| Model | 1604A |
About:
A router is a power tool with a flat base and a rotating blade extending past the base. The spindle is usually driven by an electric motor. It routs (hollows out) or trims an area in hard material, such as wood or plastic. Routers are used most often in woodworking, especially cabinetry. They may be handheld or affixed to router tables. Some woodworkers consider the router one of the most versatile power tools.
This Unit:
25,000 rpm
1/2" collet ONLY
6 AMP
Operation:
Common uses include,
Edge profiling or shaping: The most common application in the home shop. A nice roundover or a clean chamfer (a small bevel) can be made in minutes with an appropriate router bit.
Joinery: This is where the router really earns its jack-of-all-trades badge. With the appropriate fence or shop-made jig, a router can reliably cut any number of joints with relative ease, including dadoes, rabbets and mortise-and-tenons.
Flush trimming: This is when you cut one piece of material flush to another with a flush-trim bit, i.e. a router bit with a bearing at the top or bottom. I mainly do this in jig making or veneering, although it’s commonly used to flush-trim laminate on countertops as well.
Hinge mortising: This can be a labor of love with hand tools. But a good trim router can make fast work of a hinge mortise and let you hang a door in minutes.
Inlays: Like hinge mortises, these can be roughed out quickly with a router to create an impressive showcase for your woodworking skills.
Understanding the answer to “What does a router do?” means properly using the tool. You could run a router quickly along a board to get done faster. However, if you take your time, the project will turn out much better.
As with many power tools, practice makes perfect:
Try your technique on scrap wood to get used to the router. If possible, use the same wood and bit you’ll be using on your project.
Always make shallow test cuts to determine a safe feed rate.
Figure out the cut-speed and amount of wood to remove with each pass.
Once you’re comfortable with the tool, use it to finish your woodworking.
Use a push stick when your wood is nearly through. It will protect your fingers from the bit.
Safety Tip: Recklessly running wood through the router could injury you, the project or the tool. Always carefully run the wood against the spin of the blade. Slow and shallow cuts are key.
Feed a table router slowly from right to left for best results. The wood goes in against the direction the blade is spinning. You should feel light to moderate resistance as you work. The resistance means the router is doing the work. Feed speed is determined by the wood and the type of cut you’re making.
If you push the material with the spin of the blade, it’s called climb cutting. This is dangerous and should be avoided. The blade might pull the material from your hands. It could even pull your hands or fingers into the blade.
If you’re working too fast, you’re force-feeding the router. Force-feeding stock means the bit touches the wood fewer times per cutting pass. Avoid doing this. It often bogs down the machine. Put another way, it slows down your router in a way that you can hear it struggling.
Force-feeding gives a rough surface. It also leaves wavy lines called chatter marks. They’re unattractive and you’d need to sand them off for a smooth finish. Working slowly means you’ll have less to polish up when you’re done.
Feeding wood too fast could give you these unwanted results:
Snap the bit off at the shank
Damage your router
Overheat the bit and char the wood
Give you an uneven cut and chatter marks
Damage your project
Injure you
Make shallow passes for smoothest results. Try to resist the urge to make a cut in a single pass. The larger the bit, the deeper the cut. Work even slower on harder materials. For a successful deep cut, you’ll need to make more shallow passes.
Safety:
Wear safety glasses or goggles, or a face shield (with safety glasses or goggles) and appropriate hearing protection.
Disconnect the power supply before making any adjustments or changing bits. Inspect bits carefully before installing
Ensure that the bit is securely mounted in the chuck and the base is tight.
Put the base of the router on the work, template or guide. Make sure that the bit can rotate freely before switching on the motor.
Secure stock. Never rely on yourself or a second person to support or hold the material. Sudden torque or kickback from the router can cause damage and injury.
Before using a router, check stock thoroughly for staples, nails, screws or other foreign objects.
Keep all cords clear of the cutting area.
Loan Notes: