How to Use A Router - Woodworking Beginner’s Guide 

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Thank you for time and effort in presenting an interesting and informative show.

Seeing that old Craftsman 1 1/2 HP router in your video brought back memories. I bought what appears to be the same model Craftsman router in either 1986 or 1987. I used the router for creating various things such as engraved redwood signs (using paper templates printed by a computer) and applying edge profiles to both indoor and outdoor furniture. The Craftsman routers that were sold back then have an engineering defect in their router collet design. Their collets had a single slit, meaning that the collets could not evenly grip router bits around the perimeter of their shank. Within two or three years of ownership, my router's collet lost the ability to properly maintain cutting height, often leading to the bit cutting 1/16" to 1/4" deeper at the end of an edge cut than the depth at the start of the edge cut, regardless of how tightly the router's collet was tightened. This auto adjustment "feature" ruined a few expensive boards. If I remember correctly, many of the Craftsman portable tools from that time period were manufactured by Ryobi. In 1990 I switched to using a $234 Bosch 1611EVS plunge router for engraved redwood signs, cutting 1/2" x 1 1/2" x 2" mortises in 4x4 and 4x6 posts, and some edge routing. I then bought a $225 Milwaukee 2 HP fixed base router so that I could fully decommission the Craftsman router. (Prices are from a Tools On Sale / Seven Corners Ace Hardware ad in the September 1990 American Woodworker magazine, manufacturer suggested list prices were $410 for the Bosch and $355 for the Milwaukee.) Other than the auto-adjusting cutter head depth adjustment, I liked the old Craftsman router a lot. That said, the difference in quality of the Craftsman router compared to the Milwaukee router was significant. I still have that Bosch plunge router and Milwaukee router, along with a handful of Porter Cable routers. My favorite handheld router is a U.S. made Milwaukee 1 3/4 HP body grip router that I bought 10-15 years ago. I just ordered a Chinese made Milwaukee 2 1/4 HP body grip router for $209, hoping that it will compare favorably to the older Milwaukee routers. Adjusted for inflation, this Milwaukee router is roughly the same price as that mid-1980s Craftsman router. I recommend avoiding the cheap Chinese made router bits. A low-grade carbide tipped router bit shattering at 25,000 RPM is likely to cause damage to the project, router, and/or the router operator. Spend a few extra dollars for name brand router bits. Since I stopped buying Craftsman router bits in the early 1990s, I have mostly bought Whiteside router bits, although I also bought some Vermont American, DeWalt, Freud, and Bosch router bits. If you are looking for older high-quality routers at a discount, be certain to attend estate auctions of former woodworkers - last year I picked up two Porter Cable trim routers ($55 each) and a 3 1/4 HP Porter Cable plunge router ($75) in like new condition, and this year picked up a barely used 1 1/2 HP Porter Cable fixed base router in a Craftsman router case ($35).

I have very little experience with a router, portable or table mounted. I do have a basic router and table combo, but haven't used it for anything other than putting a bit in it and trying it out after I got it setup. I need a lot of practice and guidance on how to use the router....I guess lots of practice and trial and error LOL. I have a few bits, but eventually would like to be able to do moldings and tongue and groove type joints. I think there's a router bit for doing dovetail joints too, but there's also a jig for that but I've been told you can do it with a router table somehow as well.

You should be a carpentry professor at a community college. The trades is something this country really needs to promote. Comfortably retired plumber. My body is pretty worn out, but there isn't a bill that I can't pay.

What’s your biggest challenge when using a router? Let’s help each other out-drop your questions or tips below!👇

Be great if can have close up shots.

Why did you get so much burning on the little circle piece?

Be great if can have close up shots.