How to Use a Router Table -- WOOD magazine 

I met Jim Heavey at a woodworking show several years ago. He is as nice in person as he is in this video and probably one of the best instructors ever. His enthusiasm and positive approach make him a gift to the profession.

Too bad all instructional videos aren't as well produced as this one. Great video, audio and clear explanation. Thank you!

I'm a UK Carpenter, too many years in to say,..... pitchin roofs mainly, Can I just say that this kind of video is Top Notch, even as experienced as I am, I still found this nice to watch and have showed it to my son, well done and keep up the good work. Outstanding. Bonsai!

Jim thanks so much for this video! This is one of the few power tools my dad left for me in his passing. I haven't figured out how it works and haven't quite had the courage to use a router yet so this will be nice to incorporate into my woodworking.

Old but Gold!

Man, you're instructions are crystal clear and very easy to follow

Hey Jim Heavey, thank you so much for the tutorial on use of the router table safely for creation of trim moulding, dowels, jointed edges, and free hand routing. Really appreciate the time and effort in making this tutorial.

wow crazy good video, just bought my first routing table, bit set and router. (expecting delivery tomorrow) I am a keen upcycler and diy-er and i cant wait to add flourish to all my creations. I hope i get a tenth as skilled as you. your video certainly has given me ideas to cusotomise my table

Loved your video. Just bought a router and a table and I'm setting it up this weekend so I have been binge watching everything I can about routers.

This guy is awesome - solid information, good educator, and left with a motivational snappy feeling Top Marks Sir!

I love watching Jim's videos- Master craftsman!

Clear and concise. Thanks for not including music.

THANKS FOR THE dowel TIP- that hs become my new GO- TO for oversized Dowels

Thanks for providing examples following your verbal instructions. Very helpful!!!

I have recently inherited a router table have a couple of minor repairs to do and need a new collet nut for the router but will certainly take on board a few of your ideas brilliant enjoyed it

Great video. Loved the jointer tip. My old jointer never got a great edge like that could.

I've been welding and fabricating for over 35 years. I've been working with and building with wood almost as long. No matter what tool I'm using, I have the upmost respect for each one. I bought a Ryobi router about 20 years ago and tried using it one time, however it scared me a little, and being respectful of all of my tools, I never used it again. I'm planning on getting into building various projects using both metal and wood. My question is: " Would it be better and/or easier for me to use a router table for my projects, or should I learn how to use a handheld router? Great video 👍👍. Consider me a subscriber.

Cannot overstate how much I love this video. Thank you!

I just got my first router table. I found this video extremely useful. Well done!

Years ago, I built my own router table. Now, thanks to this video, I know how to use it. This is a well-made video, with good camera work, excellent commentary and instruction, clear audio, and no distracting background music. You have earned my subscription.

Thank you for a very good video... without background music!

So many things that can be said but to sum it up - inspirational -

Very useful info for those new to woodworking such as myself.

Best Routing video I've watched. Got some new ideas for setups.

That tip on how to prevent chip out on pieces was great I will definitely have to use that technique because I have had chip out on my ends quite a few times!

Must admit, this was quite informative. Thanks from South Africa 🇿🇦

Great video. Thanks. What I wanted to work out was how to secure the template to the piece by a means other than gluing?

Very cool. Very impressed. The bit about making dowl gave me new ideas on how to make a hickory scalloped lacrosse shaft. I can now make 4 less difficult rips and have no need to jig or clamp for the routing.

"What a beautiful jointed edge" This guy's the Bob Ross of woodworking :)

Great training video, it is refreshing to see someone passionate about the same things we are.

Well done video! Thank you for a no-nonsense, easy to follow and understand tutorial. Learned so much.

You've given me quite a few good ideas, nice job.

Great video. Infectious enthusiasm!

Thankyou for this presentation . . . Chris . . . Norwich, England

Thanks for sharing.. From Philippines

Great video! The pattern bit makes sense for the first time ever.

This is one of the best made videos out there. Very good tips and the pattern template thing is so incredibly useful. Thanks!

Great video and instruction. Thanks!

nice steady explanation. Thanks

Excellent and concise. Thank you

Ooh! I like the dowel bit! 👌👍

The people below have already expressed my thoughts. ... A pleasure to listen and learn... Only ever used my router for door hinges and lock plates on sites... for years.. Now with new D.I.Y .table I can have great time !

Nicely done some good tips thanks for sharing

thank you. I learn a lot from this video.

Good tutorial! Good job very well explained and good results. Thank you for sharing.

"And of course the object is to have all four legs on the floor at the same time" LOL. Thank you for an instructive video. The close up of the feather boards was helpful. Thank you!

Great Tutorial. Thanks.

This was a very helpful video! I just purchased a router and router table, so this was a great introduction.

I learned more on routing technics, Thank you.

Awesome video. Very clear and concise.

It's got to be a pleasure to create something like that and especially how to use the table and the bits

An excellent video. Very useful tips explained clearly and concisely.

Good video presentation . Thankyou !

Just what I was looking for. Thanks!

Great video, I found the booklet of directions confusing. An old trick I used to install the router was turning the table on its side. Then I used an awl to line up one hole. Your video has helped me. Thanks JLH

Thanks for the video. I am just starting out messing around making floating shelves, shelves in my wife's laundry room. If I knew you could do all this will allow router table I would have saved a lot of $ on other tools I bought. Do you have a video on how to know what to adjust you router and router table to when working on pieces, or is it mostly trail and error?

What a great video, thank you !!

Really well done. Thank you for being direct and clear. Please make more, lol.

That dowelling technique. OP

I love these videos, well done and easy to follow so thanks for that. How about a video with instructions for making a magazine rack and folding table for the wood workers wash room? You'd be surprised how many plans are completed in the wash room or orifice office as I like to call it. The folding table would attach to the wall opposite to the toilet and have storage for pencils and a small square etc. That's where I keep most of my wood working magazines, I've committed many plans to memory in there. I went to the web page to see the router table plans, it's cheaper to buy the back issue with the plans than the plans alone! The magazine will have more to keep me busy so I'll go with that and save a couple bucks in the process!

Always enjoy your videos. Great tips! Question.....you mentioned to always feed your work from right to left when using the fence. What rule applies when working freestyle without the fence (example...making the legs for the table)? Thanks!

Great tip Jim! Thank you my friend

Way to go Mr. Heavey. Love it

Your video is informative and very easy to watch. A “Pro” job. I’m putting my new router table together today and have been reviewing tips on how to make the most of the table. I will look into your magazine and other informative clips you have. Thanks !

I like the formica tip. When you think about it, getting a straight edge the full length of the piece is practically impossible but this would be as close as you'd get without a CNC.

SIMPLY BRILLIANT July 2020 Cheers 👍🏻

Very good info I put all my attention to the instructions Thank you Sir

Just a note, the feed direction is actually *relative to the router bit from the perspective of the work piece* . What does this mean? Well in many cuts, your router bit will be buried into the fence, so both you and the workpiece will share a perspective, meaning you will move the material from right to left. But what about router tables where the fence moves back to allow you to make offset cuts? Well, if you're putting the material in between the router bit and the fence, then actually your perspective has flipped. It's still right to left from the perspective of the workpiece, but now you are on the opposite side of the bit from the material, which means from *your* perspective you'll actually be feeding left to right. If you are ever unsure, put yourself physically on the side of the bit that the material is on, and move your hand from right to left to see which direction the material moves. Now move to the actual position you will be standing from -- in front of the router table -- and don't change that motion.

Please clarify this for me. I have used routers a lot, and I recently purchased the Bosch RA1181 table and have successfully mounted my new Skil 1322-00 router underneath it. The router table's center aluminum plate (on which the router is mounted) reads "Rotation" on its surface with a counterclockwise arrow. As your video states, the work should be fed right to left. However, feeding it right to left with the bit spinning counterclockwise creates the situation of the work being pulled away from the operator and. possibly, being shot out as if from a slingshot. This seems counter intuitive because the operator doesn't have complete control over the work and tool. What am I missing here? I love woodworking but don't feel completely comfortable with this table. Thank you for your assistance.

Really appreciated the jointer and template tips.

Awesome video

Excellent video and explanation- Many thanks 🏆

Awesome. Just what I needed

Great video. I all the bits. Just have to build a table.

Well done

Can you recommend a good pattern bit to purchase? Do you need multiple length bits or one about 1 1/2" long be good. Appreciate the help

Excellent tutorial Sir! Thanks a lot for uploading it!

Brilliant video

Great video. Thank you sir

Thank you, very well done great vid! This guy is right on!!

Excellent, thanks for the help

Good job..

I’ve always been intimidated by legs until this video! Awesome.

thank you so much for the video.

thx. great tips

I loved your video!

Ok mind blown...using it as a jointer is an awesome thing to learn...and you can make a dowel using it?? whoa...

Brilliant thank you

that bit on using the laminate is gold. Saves me from buying a jointer

How thick of a piece of wood can you use to do trim. I am new to this so I need help. Can you use a 2 x 4 for example?

yooooo woodshop pretty fire ngl

Thank you for posting

Thanks

Great video 👍

This guy rocks

Great video. Thanks!

Amazing, thanks you sir!!

That’s awesome. I hope I can get to doing this stuff one day

thanks friend....by Luc from Italy

Great. Video