Master the Router Table || Pattern Routing Made Easy 

Jason - you have one of the best channels on RU-vid. Every week I not only learn several new things, tips and techniques but also am entertained. Education with humor - the best. However, I have to say this week's video went even further. When your wife casually interrupted your filming and the resultant look on your face is priceless.... Very funny and, honestly, appropo for you. Keep'm coming.

Some really good advice, A few years ago, I was asked to build a social club bar for a local basketball team. The bar took up an area of approximately 6m x 2m with a sloped front that turned 90° . I designed it like an aeroplane wing, lots of ribs to form the shape, and then clad with laminated mdf followed by timber veneer . I made a pattern for the ribs out of 16mm mdf with an attached bracket to hold it in the vice, the hold down mechanism was an old fridge compressor used as a vacuum pump to a small hole in the centre of the pattern, a thin rubber seal was used around the edge of the pattern and one after another the blanks were seated and routed, the quickest pattern cutting ever.

Two simpler ways to perhaps think about preventing a climb cut: 1) remember to push against the direction of rotation of the router bit. 2) If you have your template to the right of the router bit (i.e. you are routing on the left side of your piece) you are routing on the wrong side. My 1 1/4 cents (due to inflation). Love your channel Jason.

The "peg" as you mention is called a "starter pin". I can confirm it is MANDATORY when using a straight knife cutter bit. With this type of bit, you need to realize that the full length of the cutter comes in contact with the piece when engaged. It tries to bite very aggressively and try to pull the part or kick it out. It is very dangerous. I strongly encourage people using the compression or at least the spiral bit type. At all time, there is less cutter length inside the wood which provides a more constant pull torque on you. Thanks for the video, I am pretty sure this will save a few fingers.

Comprehensive and entertaining. I watch a ton of RU-vid and this may be the best, most concise and complete info on template routing and routing in general. We'll done Mr. Peech

Bushing suck because of the sizing issue, but, you will never wear out your template. I use CA glue on the edges of MDF templates to harden them so the bearing doesn't slowly eat them.

As a CNC freak, using templates cut on the CNC with a real router can actually be faster than using a CNC to cut the entire piece. This is especially true when there are inner pockets involved, which take forever on the CNC. With a nice fat router base and a beefy bit, a plunge router will fly through those.

Nothing like a little Bourbon with my morning coffee

Man I wish I could post a pic here of the cabinet bases and built in shelves (backlit w/ WLED) I built using your videos. You help us normal DIY people build amazing things, please keep up the great work!!

Jason!!! Jason!!! Jason!!! Great tutorial!!! It's so nice to have all that info in one place. And, your style of presentation provides plenty of memory anchors. Way to go!!! 👏👏👏

Just wanted to say a big thank you for explaining the whole bearing mounted orientation as well as the upcut/downcut/compression difference. This video finally made it make sense.

For the direction, I just marked an arrow with sharpie on my table to show the rotation and the direction in which to feed material.

Carpet tape: 'round heah, comes in "light", "medium", and "heavy". If you use "heavy" on wood, you're pulling splinters off the surface of your workpiece when you pull it off. If you can pull it off at all. "Light" works just fine, and you really only need tabs of it, not continuous lines.

Wow! Nothing left you didn't mention 👏👏👏 thanks

The first templates I made, I just sent the SVG file to SendCutSend and had them cut it out on 1/4 MDF on their laser and send it to me for like $25. Not the cheapest option, but the results were great. Once I had a jigsaw and a nice belt sander, I was able to print out templates myself, rough cut with the jigsaw, and shape with the sander. It's a little more effort, but it's also a bit quicker and definitely cheaper!

2:36 the video literally jumped to an ad right after “the end” popped up almost like it really was the end of the video. It got me for a second.

Dude!!!… you are freakin hilarious!! You make these videos so entertaining the whole time you are educating the masses. I had a drafting teacher in high school that had a fantastic sense of humour that made learning so fun. You are the same.

Most excellent video. I have been making sawdust for 35 years now and have never seen this much authentic information in so little time. I have been using carpet tape for over thirty years now, and doubt I'll ever even try the CA/blue tape trick. I trust carpet tape. Don't necessarily trust blue tape. I'm good with CA...just kinda sketchy with the adhesive power of a tape that is designed to be removed easily. A roll of carpet tape is a couple bucks more that blue tape, and I can spend a couple bucks more to save my digits.

Just take a contrasting sharpie and draw an arrow on your router table for feed direction on each side of the bit. Then you don't have to stop and think about it every time :) And if you built your router table you can put a clear coat of finish over the sharpie to protect it from wearing off.

16:30 this actually is a very interesting bit. Not the router bit, the bit in the video, about upcuts and downcuts. And the bit about the special hugs leading to kids - very useful too, Jason!

Jason, the best explanation of use of templates on the router that I have seen. I now have the confidence to use straight bits in my router table on very small pieces end grain while feeding by hand! They call me twoey.Just kidding, much better understanding for me as a new woodworker to get these things accomplished. Going to start on a jewelry box for my wife the has rounded drawer fronts. Now I know how to do it. Thanks and please keep providing these videos.

TIP: you can also take the file for the paper templates to an Office Max or other office supply store that does large size printing. They can print it to size on some nice paper that won’t tear easily. And they usually give it to you in a cardboard tube so you can store it neatly.

Hi Jason! Big fan from Croatia here. I love your videos and I must admit that Ive learned a lot from you. I would like to ask of you one favor though. Could you be so kind and put on a screen metric units when you talk dimmensions. That would help a lot since I get lost in your quarter eights of an inch units. Thank you very much and keep on keeping on!

10:04 I just perked up moments before you said what just happened.. lol

Here's a tip I saw: Cover the wood with contact paper before gluing the pattern on. The pattern then comes of easy and with no residual glue. I use this all the time for scroll saw projects.

This might be the best , most informative channel on all of youtube, thank you!

MORE OF THIS PLEASE! I love my router, but I honestly am winging it when I use it, apart from working safe I really have little idea how to get the most out of my tool, this video was 100% useful to me. Thanks Jason!

Probably the best router tutorial I've seen so far. Everything you said made perfect sense especially explaining the different bits and how they each work, great for a newby like myself. Keep up the awesome work and like everyone else on here l always look forward to when you post

Great stuff. This is the most comprehensive explanation of routering (is that even a word?) I have ever seen, thanks. The tips are really useful, but I have a tip for you, Jason . . . When Mrs Bouron Moth comes into the workshop, make sure she brings a sandwich - and a beer.

Thanks for running into this risky endgrain cut. By the way I've never had a chance to use compression bits but you convinced me to buy one pretty soon.

I love watching you, Jason. I'm starting into my woodworking journey this year to honor my father. I love that I can watch you on RU-vid and The OldMakers Channel. When I head down south, I'd love to see your workshop. Keep them coming!

I tried to count how many times you said cut.......too hard. your awesome Jason. thanks for the great content.

I wish I knew about the compression but years ago. Thank you.

As usual, I learned something appreciate it compression bit. It is making outdoor furniture with templates. I definitely needed that piece of knowledge. Thank you Bourbon Moth

That's the first time I've heard a really clear explanation of template router cutting. Thanks! I learned a lot!

Only one big complaint about your video. A coping saw clearly makes a pew, pew pew sound not whatever you were making. Thanks so much for the video. Loved it and learned a lot.

Fantastic video, Jason, with excellent instruction and examples. Keep up the great work! 👾👾👾

The sound effects are absolutely epic

Another great video, Jason!! Thank you.

Extremely helpful. Thank you!

That back wall gives me clamp envy lol

I was lucky that I was introduced to the concept of climb cuts when I was using a belt sander in the wrong direction. The cost of my education was a couple of badly skinned knuckles, rather than the lost fingers a router would have cost me.

As someone who just had surgery due to a woodworking injury, I really appreciate the focus on safety! Thank you!

Hey Jason it was great seeing your main squeeze as she ventured through the shop! We all have a “Project Manager” asking for all the “stuff” that “can you bouild me a …”. Great job on the template routing class

I just buy the 2" golf tape, and use a wheel marker to cut a few desired widths on the roll. Usually 1", 5/8", 3/8". It only lasts a few turns but you can just line it up in the groove and cut again.

The sound effect guy is very talented!

It's worth pointing out that if you use mdf for your template, over time the bearing will dig into the side of the mdf template as its really soft, either use ply or you can spread glue round the outside edge of the mdf to make it a bit harder.

You, my friend, are so entertaining. It's easy to listen to you explaining things, I love it. 😂😎😎

Thumbs up for the sound effects at 32:00! Seriously, great tips. I recently purchased a router table and you've given me some great ideas.

Super informative-and entertaining too boot. Thanks bro!

This was really helpful, thanks!

Starting my Saturday with a little Bourbon…? Ok!

Great class. If I could take you back in time, I’d make you my shop teacher because I would have listened to you. You’d be the most popular teacher in the school. Lol

I’ve been using different types of routers for many years, always nice to have a little refresher course to remind me of the things that I don’t do very often. Nicely done, sir.

Two comments. First, when using a router table, why not change your right hand rule to a left hand rule. Second, when cutting a very small piece on the router table, could you attach it to a vertical guide that allows you to keep fingers above the bit. Of course, keeping the workpiece level could be a challenge, but just maybe it would work. But I have to say that I always find your videos very well done and informative.

Thank you very helpful to us new guys.

One additional tip is to not be afraid to stop the cut, reposition hands, and continue, for safety or better control of larger pieces, or to adjust for grain. Cant do that with table saw!

Great video, I prefer the masking tape and super glue method over double stick tape only because in the UK our double stick isn't that good and the template can " giggle" a little as the tape is a bit spongey, I would recommend burnishing the masking tape down on both bits to get good adhesion. Also router speed and feed rate is important too 👍

This was a video I didn't know I needed until I watched it. As usual, very thorough and entertaining at the same time. Thanks for putting it out there for us!

your right hand trick works for router tables too. but its the wood you move in that direction. basically whatever you move, router or wood.

I like watching videos where I made all those same mistakes like the POS trim router bit that jumps across end grain. And then loaded up on bits and bits router bits last year. Lol

Great router template video. Another method is using an L fence with table saw: zero tear out and quick. Am now a Patreon supporter!

I think this is your best "how to" video yet.

Excellent training, as always

Thank you. I now thoroughly understand how a compression bit works, and the reason to use one.

Hi Great Router Bits Video Very Important Safety Tips Thanks

If using a straight bit leave a little extra at the corners of the stock when cutting at the band saw. Router the end grain first, so the tear out happens on the excess waste. When you router the long grain the tear out will be trimmed off.

Well, I learned a lot Happy Days

Thank you for sharing these tips on router templating. Also it's cool seeing your wife in more of your videos.

Stunning sounds effects !

Excellent. Thank you. One video I would like to see is on using an electric plane for fine woodworking or, at least, for more than rough carpentry.

Great video. I’ve been doing a lot of template routing lately and I’ve watched lots of videos. This was great to have it all in one place. Still learned some things and reinforced some others. Great stuff. And… entertaining. LOL And… it’s a starting pin. LOL.

Jason, Thank you! Very much appreciate the break down on routers. So much good info, I will no doubt be watching it multiple times in the next few months and maybe even years. I'm new to this sawdust making hobby (yep, retired old fart) and am simply fascinated by what can be done with this medium called wood.

Loved this video. You’re a really great teacher. Please make more instructional videos. They’ve helped me a lot

This was a really informative video.

Hey mate, greetings from the UK. Love all your vids, but simply cut from left to right no matter which way your router is orientated and your going the right way 👍

Good stuff, thanks Jason!

If you have a problem with the direction to go put a little arrow on the plate Not the dinner plate the router plate Thanks for the info my friend

Thank you so much for the deep dive into template routing. I always enjoy all the great information that is delivered with just the right amount of humor. Thank you!

Hi Jason, have enjoyed your channel for years now. That was a neat overview of template routing, but I beg to differ about end grain routing - well at least slightly: Depending on the shape of the pattern and what's actually necessary, sometimes I start on the end-grain and go back to do the long grain afterwards. This works especially well doing decorative mouldings (with a guide bearing). I often make hardwood mounting plates for things like water taps (known as "bib" taps here in the UK), and cabin hooks, and sometimes display plinths. These will often be a qudrant moulding with quirks though, so there will be some uncut material left to support the cutter. That way, any small tearout gets milled away on the long grain passes. But you're spot-on about not having blunt cutters for end grain! Also, you don't _have_ to do your cross-grain stuff with a template cutter - you used the mitre saw in the early part of the video, making your template, and that's by far a better approach if it's a simple squared-off profile . If it takes one quick extra step to get the corner crisp (router table then table saw or mitre saw), it's probably worth it.

Lots of great tips as usual

Omg thanks so much for this video. I really needed that

Great video, Jason~!

Great video Jason! Thanks.

Commenting away... hope engagement increases

Thanks for the great instruction!

Very good info. Thanks!!!

Now I know why I have not had very good luck using a router. All my bits are straight cut bits. They don't work very well as you have demonstrated. I don’t have a router table. I just have a 1/4 " cordless ryobi router. Every time I use it I feel like it just messes up the wood. I will have to invest in some better bits. Thanks for the tips.

Great content as always . Thanks Jason

Two things about the straight knife bit. Just used one earlier today just to flush trim in a hand held router. It was a small amount so I used my little straight knife flush trim bit. I noticed it did this on the router table as well when you did the white oak. It kind of splinters the wood out. And on my piece… it splintered out and took a chunk out beyond the template. And that wasn’t on the end grain. It was the long grain. I was so mad. I never have that issue with compression bits. Also… that jerking that it did when you did the end grain. Just makes me cringe even just watching it. I hate it when it does that. It just scares the daylights out of me. After making some cheese and cracker trays and using a flush trim bit on the handle… I jumped online and ordered a compression bit. The thing is a beast!

Hi Jason. Great video, as always. Kind of want to trow a challenge out there for you... Can you make a video on YT woodworkers who become arrogant after reaching 900k subscribers? I know it is a little bit out of the pattern, someone to make a such video must posese a great deal of big balls, but still, think on the brighter side of a video like that... views, controversial, reviews and so on... So, what do you think? I can even propose who you can start with... J. M.? Thanks and keep up the nice job you are doing. Have a good one!

So well done, as always. Love it!

Thank you for this guide, now I need to save up and buy new router bits to replace all the cheap strait cuts that keep causing tear out and kick back.

Your best video for ages ... thanks Jason.

Really nice video, thanks!

Awesome tips!

Excellent tutorial!

nice job. Very enjoyable and informational

Great Info. Thank you!

Incredibly helpful!! Many thanks for sharing!