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FEEDING THE ROUTER
As seen from the top of the router, the bit turns
clockwise and the cutting edges face
accordingly. Therefore, the most efficient cut is
made by feeding the router so that the bit turns
into the work, not away. Figure 14 shows
proper feed for various cuts. How fast you feed
depends on the hardness of the material and
the size of the cut. For some materials, it is
best to make several cuts of increasing depth.
If the router is hard to control, heats up, runs
very slowly or leaves an imperfect cut,
consider these causes:
1. Wrong direction of feed — hard to control.
2. Feeding too fast — overloads motor.
3. Dull bit — overloads motor.
4. Cut is too large for one pass — overloads
motor.
5. Feeding too slow — leaves friction burns on
work.
Feed smoothly and steadily (do not force). You
will soon learn how the router sounds and feels
when it is working best.
RATE OF FEED
When routing or doing related work in wood
and plastics, the best finishes will result if the
depth of cut and feed rate are regulated to
keep the motor operating at high speed. Feed
the router at a moderate rate. Soft materials
require a faster feed rate than hard materials.
The router may stall if improperly used or
overloaded. Reduce the feed rate to prevent
possible damage to the tool. Always be sure
the collet chuck is tightened securely before
use. Always use router bits with the shortest
cutting length necessary to produce the
desired cut. This will minimize router bit run-out
and chatter.
GUIDING THE ROUTER
The router can be guided through the work in
any of several ways. The method you use
depends, of course, on the demands of the
particular job and on convenience.
For routing operations such as grooving or
dadoing, it is often necessary to guide the tool
in a line parallel to a straight edge. One
method of obtaining a straight cut is to securely
clamp a board or other straightedge to the
work surface, and guide the edge of the router
sub-base along this path (Fig. 15).
FIG. 14
FIG. 15
BIT
WORK
DIRECTION OF
ROUTER FEED
START
HERE
BOARD GUIDE
SECURELY CLAMP
BOARD GUIDE
FEED
DIRECTION
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