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Climb-Cut Routing
WARNING! Climb-cutting with a router increases
the risk of serious injury. Read, understand, and
follow all of the warning messages below:
► The router bit can grab the workpiece at any time,
resulting in a loss of control.
► Never attempt climb-cutting with large diameter bits.
The larger the bit, the more likely it will grab the
workpiece.
► Never, under any circumstances, attempt to climb-cut
with a table-mounted router. The workpiece will catch
and will be propelled off the table.
► Never climb-cut around an interior cutout in a
workpiece. The bit can easily catch in the corners.
► Friction mats alone are not sufficient for securing a
workpiece. The workpiece must be fully secured in
place with clamping devices.
For the reasons stated on this page, Festool
recommends against the practice of climb-cutting
with a router, especially for inexperienced users.
What is Climb-Cutting
Climb-cutting is feeding the router in the same
direction as the rotation of the bit. The primary cut is
made as the tip of the cutter enters the edge of the
workpiece (as shown below) instead of exiting the
edge of the workpiece. The result is that the wood
fibers are being compressed and sheared during the
cut instead of being pulled apart. This compression
during the cut results in less tearout of the wood
fibers, except when cutting end-grain.
18 OF 2200 EB Router
When climb-cutting end-grain, the fibers are
compressed longitudinally before being cut, and this
will result in an uneven surface and damaged fibers.
For best results, do not climb-cut end-grain. Carrying
this concept a step further, if you are routing a non-
rectangular workpiece, such as a circle, then best
results will be achieved with a combination of climb-
cutting and push-cutting. In the example circle shown
to the right, note that the transitions between climb-
cutting and push-cutting do not occur at 45° positions
as you might have expected. This is because climb-
cutting has a greater benefit in the end-grain-to-edge-
grain transition, and push-cutting has the greater
benefit in the edge-grain-to-end-grain transition.
Aside from the increased risk for loss of control, a
drawback to climb-cutting is that the router bit will
tend to push the router away from the edge of the
workpiece. This can have two consequences regarding the
quality of the cut. First, the router will not cut as deeply as
expected. Secondly, the routed profile will tend to have a
scalloped surface, called chatter (see page 17). To overcome
these conditions, it is typically necessary to make a second,
clean-up pass across the cut. This second pass can be either in
the climb-cut or push-cut direction.
Notes and Tips
► As with any power tool, respect the danger, but do not
operate the tool if you are
afraid of the operation. If you
are afraid of the tool or the procedure, your reactions will
be controlled by fear, not rational thought, and your
reaction may actually create a greater danger.
► Do not rely on your reaction-time to control the router feed
rate, use friction. By holding your forearm (while grasping
the router handle) firmly to the workpiece you use friction
to assist in keeping the router under control (see the image
and discussion on page 17).
► You will have greater control of the router when you route
away from your body (with the router pulling against you,
versus pushing into you) with your arms outstretched.
► When routing a multi-sided workpiece, first push-cut the
end-grain, and then climb-cut the edge-grain. The end-
grain tearout will be removed by the edge-grain profile.
► Make multiple shallow passes when feasible.