Thread: More to having an Ideal Router table

This is what I have been submitting for a number of years.

I have been spending some time with my family on the other side of Australia for the past few weeks and I have had the opportunity to sit and design a jig capable of producing a of number of processes with the same Jig.When I return home I will put it into practice and let you know the results.

Have a Happy Christmas and a good New Year
Tom

Originally Posted by Template Tom

"...but I have come to the conclusion that more can be achieved if we take the router in the hand held position."
Tom

My thoughts as well Tom. I have often wondered if I need a router table with the conclusion being NO, as the thought of having to push a piece of timber into the cutter scares me a bit compared to holding and pushing the router/cutter into a piece of timber gives me the sense of having control of the situation.

If the timber is not a 100 percent true then when using a router table (large surface area) one would have to be forcing/pushing the timber down into the cutter to maintain a constant profile. Where as the hand operation the router with its smaller surface area follows the contour of the timber, if you know what I mean.

For me the router table is critical in finishing and shaping some pieces of furniture that I make a LOT of. I do have a very specific need and have turned custom alluminium bushings to help with repetitive tasks. I also run templates on the table (occasionally running the workpiece free hand), this ensure I get it right every time and also keeps my fingers away from the bit (which has bitten me a number of times). I also run two routers at the same time in my finishing table. Like I said, a very specific requirement.

However, the more I explore the router in the hand held position the more I'm amazed at what can be achieved with good jigs and templates.

I see a place for both uses of the router and feel the hardest thing anyone has is determining which approach is best for their particular project. It would be very easy to look at a router table and say 'yeah, that would make my life so much easier'. Especially if you're struggling with balancing the router in the hand held position. Tom's efforts in educating people on the use of jigs and templates is going to be a valuable resource to anyone who owns a router.

Originally Posted by newflavour

For me the router table is critical in finishing and shaping some pieces of furniture that I make a LOT of. I do have a very specific need and have turned custom alluminium bushings to help with repetitive tasks. I also run templates on the table (occasionally running the workpiece free hand), this ensure I get it right every time and also keeps my fingers away from the bit (which has bitten me a number of times). I also run two routers at the same time in my finishing table. Like I said, a very specific requirement.

However, the more I explore the router in the hand held position the more I'm amazed at what can be achieved with good jigs and templates.

I see a place for both uses of the router and feel the hardest thing anyone has is determining which approach is best for their particular project. It would be very easy to look at a router table and say 'yeah, that would make my life so much easier'. Especially if you're struggling with balancing the router in the hand held position. Tom's efforts in educating people on the use of jigs and templates is going to be a valuable resource to anyone who owns a router.

I also see a need for both uses of the router and when I make a decision on what method I will use I ask myself "IS IT SAFE" if not then I do not proceed. I have produced a great number of projects/routing processes In the hand held position that I considered was unsafe to be done in the table. Little has been written on the use of the guides over the years and that is where I have spent most of my time devoping new Routing Techniques.
With the router in the hand held position controlled with the template and guides a better finish can be achieved when routing thick material (see enclosed pic)
Tom

nice work Tom. when you finish the arms of your chairs (pictured) do you use the router and a flush trim bit in hand held or do you take it to the table? For me, in that scenario I go to the table with the workpiece held securely in a jig with toggle clamps.

Well believe it or not I do not take it to the router table I have developed a simple idea of 'Overhead Routing' for that purpose. Lots of people are not in favour of taking the router out of the table then putting it back. The method I have developed when trimming the final section i introduced to the class I was teaching at the Association For the Blind where they could not get their fingers near the cutter. the method has been displayed on a number of my You Tube videos 'routing with Tomo'donnell'
[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Couy2OQ2yuI]YouTube - Routing with Tom O'Donnell Balloon Clock[/ame]