WOOD Magazine – October 01, 2019

Find out about table-

mounted routers.

woodmagazine.com/

tablerouting

woodmagazine.com/

tablerouter

Learn more about

guide bushings on

page 62.

See how fast you can

spin various router bits.

woodmagazine.com/

routerbitspeed

Quickly, without tools, slip the motor into whichever base your task calls for. Kits provide full-featured fixed

and plunge bases for maximum versatility.

Produced by Larry Johnston

D

Depth-adjustment

Depth

port

FIXED BASE

PLUNGE BASE

woodmagazine.com 35

■ Collet. Full- and midsize routers com-

monly take bits with^1 ∕ 2 " shanks, but usually

come with a collet or collet insert that grips^1 ∕ 4 "

bits. When a router accepts both sizes, opt for

a^1 ∕ 2 " bit for greater stability and less chatter.

Changing bits goes more quickly on a

machine that employs a single wrench and

a built-in arbor lock instead of two wrenches.

■ More favorable features. Soft-start,

which ramps up the router speed rather

than slamming you with full torque and

speed at startup, helps you keep the router

under control. The more powerful the

router, the more you need it.

Variable speed control helps you match

motor speed to the bit size and workpiece to

achieve cleaner, burn-free cuts. Some rout-

ers continuously vary speed across a range,

some have fixed intermediate speeds.

Other worthwhile features include a work

light that illuminates the bit area and a dust-

collection port; both help you see what

you’re doing. Dust collection with a router,

though, is pretty much hit-and-miss.

■ Accessorizing. If a router will mount in

a table, pay attention to depth-adjustment

features. A rack-and-pinion adjuster makes

it easier to make fine adjustments when the

router is mounted upside down. Some rout-

ers offer a provision to adjust bit depth

through the baseplate with a hex wrench, a

boon to table mounting. Or consider a sepa-

rate router lift that fits your tool.

Make sure you can easily install guide

bushings on a router that will see duty in a

dovetail jig or other use that requires follow-

ing a guide or template. Common two-piece

guide bushings mount in a standard-size

hole in the subbase of most routers. Some

routers use brand-specific guide bushings or

require adapters for common bushings.