Router Table Tricks

The portable router is one of the most versatile woodworking tools. This versatility can expand by mounting the portable router in a router table. This frees the hands of the woodworker to feed wood stock through or around the router bit, allowing for more eloquent and elaborate designs. Another benefit of mounting a portable router in a router table is some router bits can only be used safely on a mounted router.

Auxiliary Router Top with Miter Slot

Woodworkers often need to rout across the end of a narrow piece of wood. However, most standard router tabletops do not come with a miter slot. To eliminate this situation, build an auxiliary router top with a miter slot to straddle the router table and attach a fence to it. Now you can rout across the end of the piece by putting the stock against the fence and sliding both the auxiliary top with the miter slot and the wood stock across the router bit.

Protect the Router Guide Bushing

Template guide bushings can jam tight after being use for a while, making it hard to unscrew them without causing damage. To eliminate this frustration, drill a 1/8-inch hole close to the center, missing the threads. Next time the bushing get stuck, take a 2-inch-long, 1/8-inch finishing nail and bend it about a quarter of an inch from the head at 90 degrees. Insert head-end of the nail into the 1/8-inch hole in the bushing and turn counterclockwise against shaft on the bushing.

Perfect Router Fence Measurements

Setting the distance from the router bit and the router fence is tricky. However, there is a secret, which all master woodsmiths use to get an accurate gage -- a drill bit. When a inch depth is needed between the router bit and the fence, place a -inch drill bit snug against the router bit. Then move the router fence up against the drill bit. Remember not to push the fence so tightly against the drill bit that it cannot be removed.

Turn a Router Into a Jointer

Turning a router into a jointer can save hundreds of dollars in new equipment. This is done by adding a piece of laminate. The thickness of wood to be removed will determine the thickness of the laminate. Add the laminate to the outfeed side of the router fence. Remember to set the router bit high enough to trim the whole edge of the board.