Thread: Router Direction

Edit. Just reread what you're doing.
I can't see a difference there as both flutes are hitting the timber at same time, assuming they're accurately ground
Instinctively I think I'd still do what I've described below.
One of those things I think instinct kicks in.

The only difference will be a pull will become a push away/towards you if fence is reversed.
Fence on left router pulled towards you to avoid the blade trying to fling the wood in the direction of the rotation of the cutter. Reverse that if fence on right.

I occasionally use a "reverse" cut where I do push in direction of cut to just shave off a final trim cut to make a cleaner job

Google feed direction router, cheers

When routing on a table, that is with the router mounted beneath it, the feed direction is always from right to left (against the face of the fence). This ensures that the workpiece is pushed by the cutter against the table fence. If you attempt to feed from the opposite end, the workpiece will be pulled away from you.

I completely understand table routing. But when portable with 2 cutters, does the direction of feed change if the guide or fence is on the left or right?

Originally Posted by garryjc

I completely understand table routing. But when portable with 2 cutters, does the direction of feed change if the guide or fence is on the left or right?

If I’m understanding you with a router hand held, ie the bit is now on the bottom, it’s left too right opposite of being table mounted, it’s doesn’t matter if you are using a fence or Pattern bearing bit,

You always want the router pulling into the work, not pushing you out of the work,

Hope that all makes sense!!

Left too right

Cheers Matt.

What router have you got?, not that it makes much difference to the feed direction, however it should have a rotation mark on the base telling you which way the router bit spins and which side of the router to cut from.

HandheldRouting6.jpg

Rick

If you are routing a groove or dado where the groove is the exact same width of the cutter then feed direction is pretty irrelevant as both flutes are in the cut. However if you are cutting a rebate or other edge work then feed direction is extremely important to avoid the router digging in and running away from you…

So for cutting a 1/4” wide rebate with a 1/2” router bit and the fence mounted on the left you should be pulling the router towards you.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

If you are routing a groove or dado where the groove is the exact same width of the cutter then feed direction is pretty irrelevant as both flutes are in the cut.

Not sure I agree with this. The cutter at the front of the cut is doing the work. And it will tend to push the timber in the direction of rotation.

Originally Posted by warrick

HandheldRouting6.jpg

Rick

Picture=1000 words

Originally Posted by r3nov8or

Picture=1000 words

Yep. The pic on the right is relevant here. The leading edge of the cutter is doing the work and pushes the router into the fence.

Using your right hand, make a pistol with your thumb and index finger and then place the tip of your thumb against the piece you wish to route. Your finger will always point in the correct feed direction.

Thanks for all the suggestions. What interested me more was where there was a difference with two flutes and fence location.
Warrick posted an excellent image of the correct router movement. But there is no mention of fence location or the number of flutes.

Thanks to Carbitool I believe I have the answer.

My first concern was as there are two flutes, will each flute balance the forces of the router cutter? It seems that even though there are two flutes the cutting done by only one flute at a time. Assume the two flutes are parallel to the end of the board. One will rotate into the wood and start cutting while the other rotates around to meet the wood. When the second starts cutting the first is out to the wood. So, there is only one flute cutting at a time and hence there is no “balancing force” from the second cutter. Therefore, as shown in Warrick’s upload if the fence is on the left the router is pushed away.
But I have a situation where a dado requires the fence to be on the right. In this case the router movement will be toward the operator. If I could operate from the other side of the board the fence would be on the left and the router would be away. As I am on the other side of the board the movement is opposite and the router is pulled to the operator.

Thanks to all.

Originally Posted by Chief Tiff

If you are routing a groove or dado where the groove is the exact same width of the cutter then feed direction is pretty irrelevant as both flutes are in the cut.

No. The forces of the flutes in the feed direction cancel out, true, but the 'leading edge' is still acting in a single direction perpendicular to the feed..

You want to feed your timber so this leading edge pulls the timber against the fence, not pushing it away. Or else you're depending on your muscle power to keep things against the fence and the cut straight.

This is true for all through trenching.

When routing an edge, it also holds true if the timber's being passed between the bit and fence. I feed in the opposite direction when the fence is set "over" the bit else it can pull out splinters and I can always run the piece through a second time to clean up any lumps left from the piece moving momentarily away from the fence.