Setting Up and Using a Router Table - A woodworkweb.com woodworking video 

This video should be supplied with every router sold on a USB drive to watch for every person who buys one. Great job Colin!

I am new to router tables - just bought one - so found this video very useful with its simply explained set up details. Many router table videos do not explain the basic principles anything like as good as this. Thanks!

Whenever I get a new tool for the shop I always check your channel for setup and safety tips. Every video has quality information explained succinctly and yet in depth so I feel confident getting started safely. Thanks as always Colin.

Thanks for the note, yes routing is a whole new area of woodworking for many. Great to have you with us ... and maybe you will show us some pics of your projects one day :) Thanks again, Colin

I usually set up my router plugged in with me blindfolded. More of a challenge that way. Great vid! Thanks as always

This may be a 10 year old video, but still relevant today with my Bosch Router Table that I purchased recently. I wanted to thank you for having this informative video available. (If you see this)

Thanks for the note Josh ... appreciate you taking the time Colin

Yup, setting up an auxiliary table or support is perfect .. well done! Thanks for the comment, others will learn from your experiences, great to have you with us Colin

In all my years of using power tools, I’ve never heard that perspective on using PPE. Makes a lot of sense. Thanks for that motivation.

Just brought a router table to start small projects and found your video. This was a great tutorial for me a beginner. Glad I found it.

Never used a router before. I just recently purchased a Bosch router and table. This video was very useful in getting me up and running. I know it's an old post but still quite helpful. Thank you!

I'm fairly new to woodworking and have watched many how-to videos on routers and routing tables. This is hands down the best video I've watched. It covers all the questions I had about routing tables. Great job!

I had follow Colin's videos since I took up carpentry work last year and he is the reference. Thanks Colin.

This series on routers is fantastic, I just setup my table with a Jessem lift but have been doing things freehand in the past. These have helped a lot, now I need to make myself a fence

@phonebluejob I have been quite happy with the Freud routers. The thing I particularly like about this model is that you can raise and lower the the router with a special tool, through a hole in the top of the router plate. Every other router that I have seen, to do this same thing you need invest in a router lift (the hole does not affect the routing). Thanks for your comments, great to have you with us Colin

I’ve been watching your videos Colin, in no particular order. Apparently, this one is an oldie, but goodie. You have come a long way since this, both in terms of your video quality/finesse and your personal confidence in front of the camera. God on you! Thanks for the good education.

I just built my first router table, and I'm so appreciative of this video- this is by far the most helpful explanation of how this tool works and how you set it up. Thanks for the help!

Hi Todd, thanks for the note, I will check out the Bosh units, but you are right, having a built-in, above the table lift in routers would be really nice feature. Colin

Thanks for taking the time to comment ... we all have to start somewhere, and we are all novices at something :) Great to have you with us Colin

i'm glad you said that it does not really matter if the fence is not perfectly squared. i almost bought the kreg with self squaring fence system for over $500 so thank you!

A great intro I have just bought my first router table can't wait to get started. Thanks Colin

Thanks again Chris ... glad it was helpful. Maybe you can show us pics of your scrolling and router work Colin

This video was very helpful to me...

you are one of my favorite presenters. thanks for all the help.

I'm building a diy router table and your set-up video, especially the "why" explanations have been incredibly informational. Thank you so much for taking the time to teach us.

Thanks Michael, for taking the time to comment ... great to have you with us. Colin

@shark4493 No prob ... glad this was of some help. Great to have you with us Colin

Novice to woodworking. Really learning a lot of you! Thank you Colin!

Almost 9 years later and it's still a reference video for me.

I'm as new as it gets to woodworking and I've found your videos to be extremely helpful and informative. Thanks!

Colin, great lesson, I learned quite a bit, especially after playing with my router table, then listen to your detail explanations. Everything starting to make sense. Thanks.

Thank you for the many tips. I have been wood working for 40 years (Armature woodworking) and I still learn things from you, Just fun sometimes to watch you particularly when I am not fully awake and can just relax and listen with a cup of coffee. I have a couple DIY router tables - one on each end of my saw and a shaper as well. But I have finally broke down and bought a JessEM Rout-R_Lift for the 3.5 router motor. So I thought I would watch a couple of how videos first. Thank you sir.

I agree with Martin, I have viewed a number of these videos now but yours was the one I have been looking for. Thanks!

Thank you so much, you showed me exactly what I was looking for on the bit and fence set up. I just bought my table and look forward to doing so much with it. I will be watching all your videos as you explain in detail just what we need to see and hear.

Colin, you've come a long way since 2012. Keep up the good work.

Thanks, I just bought a router table. Your video was fantastic, you explain everything in so much detail. So easy to follow. Thanks for your time.

I also just got my first router table and this video is precisely what I needed to get started. Well done.

I just bought my first router table and your video was invaluable! I learned a lot! Thank you!!!

I'm just getting started in the router dept, and about to build my table and fence. This was an excellent tutorial. It answered just about all of my questions, as well as removing some of the mystery I was suffering from. Thank you Sir!

Loving all your videos Colin and learning so much. Thanks for all your great and informative videos. From a very newbie woodworker!!

Colin- Very well done! Excellent explanation, Excellent video! Thanks!

I really thank you for this video. I just bought a router to do small diy projects and this was absolutely amazing because I had no idea of the name of parts and how to use them .Thank you so much.

Thank you very much for helping us newbies. Great videos

Thank you for this video. We have had a router for a few use and is intimidating to use but after watching this video I am a lot less intimidated. Extremely informative! Thanks again!

I was watching building the table, top, and the lift. I loved the video`s and really liked them. I built one several years ago similer to the one Norm Abram built but I`ve moved a couple of years ago and sold the desk like table so these gave me some ideas. Thanks

Good one. You've covered all of the issues, including the safety concerns.

This is such an awesome video. I just dove in and got a router and table and have zero clue. I figured a lot of stuff out by reading the manual and using common sense. But this video is awesome in that it is informative and gives confirmation to some of the things I've been doing, which will only make me more confident. Immediately in my first few practice cuts, It felt uncomfortable towards the end when the piece finally exits the bit. I was getting what I now know are called "tearouts" thanks to this video. And I also now know how to prevent it. This video is much appreciated. Thank you.

Thanks, Colin. I am just getting started on a router table and your video was a big help for me, including the safety tips.

You are a fantastic instructor. I like that you explain every detail as you go along. Your whiteboard really makes it easy to understand. Keep up the great videos!

this never gets old, thanks for your efforts.

At last a comprehensive video on this, well done and thank you

Thanks Nab for commenting, we appreciate you taking the time Great to have you with us Colin

Thank you for this detailed video... Very helpful even in 2021!

Even your old videos are so great! Thanks!

Thanks Colin, Your videos are very clearly explained - looking forward to more easily setting up and using my router table !! Phil

Thanks for the very informative how to video. I’m still learning. The router and table I’ve only used for little over a year. Your presentation is my training. I will get a table when I can. I made one, it’s not too bad. I’m ready for my next lesson. Thanks again.

Fantastic job. Exactly what I was looking for to safely and knowledgeably use my new router table. Thanks!

Very informative. I’m a novice who just bought a router table. After watching this I have a much better idea how to use it! Thank you!

Hi thanks for all the info just bought a cheapo router table and you have answered a lot of questions I was puzzling on thanks again

Amazingly helpful video. Very much appreciate you posting it!

Thanks for a thoughtful and articulate presentation.

Thanks Colin. Thats was a great introduction. I learnt so much as a newbe to the router table, Thanks.

Hi Eve, there are a variety of very good router tables on the market, and you having a router table will open up a whole new world. Basically you need to decide if a bench top is OK or if can afford the room get a floor standing unit. You already have a router, so only need the table and I would tend to say that as long as you are around the $200 price range, give or take you should be good, also check ratings if you can. I often see good used ones for sale to so that' s another option.

Thank you, I'm new at working with wood and your video was very helpful for avoiding accidents after having few with the table saw.

I wanted you to know I really appreciate your time and help, all of your videos are very informative and because of your personality, very easy to watch. Thank you sir.

This is great info new wood workers like myself. Thank you for taking the time making this video.

I think is a really good video, I am totally new to carpentry. Thank you

I am buying a router table and this was a fantastic review on how to use it. Terrific video as always.

Thanks for the great presentation. I'm a newbie and all of the beginner videos I've seen so far haven't helped as much as this one. Keep up the good work.

I like this guys videos. He reminds me of a teacher in high school that hates his job but loves teaching. Lol.

Thank you for taking the time and effort to produce this excellent video tutorial on the use of a router table.

Best video of how to use a router table, thanks...

Thanks for the upload Pal . Very much appreciated

That's an excellent question, thanks for asking, I get asked this quite a bit at the shows. Just like on a table saw you never use a mitre gauge with a fence, the same is true on a router table. The only time to use a mitre gauge on either tool, is when the fence is removed. On a router table the problem is trying to set a mitre gauge so that it either doesn't bind on the fence on one side or the other, which leads to bad cuts and safety issues. Thanks again for asking

brilliant demo, thanks for this, cant wait to get mine set up now :)

Thanks for this video, you are such a good teacher

i am new to routering and with you help and videos it has made me more confident in using my router thank you so much

Excellent tutorial! I have really enjoyed your videos. It is nice to be able find good, instructional videos on wood working when there are no classes nearby! Thank you.

Very detailed and informative. Thank you!!!

ROFL...I think I should have found this video like a year ago. Bought a router as I was making a computer desk and wanted to use it to dress up and also make cuts for joinng my ends and top etc... well my 1st few attempts didn't work out so well, I actually started on the wrong side and my boards kept flying into the wall across from me...I had no idea how to properly set up the bit and or the fence. Call me a moron, I'll accept it! Great instruction buddy, I believe I will take my router out from the dust bin and try over.....I still need to buy some of those gauges though, until I get a feel for the settings. GJ!

I am a novice. This video was great. You organized your presentation so that it was very easy to follow. Your presentation was clear and to the point. I subscribed to this channel and look forward to watching more videos here.

Just got my bench top KOBALT been watching tutorial videos so far yours is the best thanks

Thank you for explaining that the alignment of router fence to the bit doesn't matter like it does with a table or miter saw. I suspected it, but glad you confirmed it.

Thank you for making this video, It is a great help for a total novice to woodworking.

Thank you for this video. Very informative. I have experienced wood being thrown from the router table. Not fun at all. I'm hoping to see lots more videos like these from you!

Thanks Todd, you are right on :) Colin

Thanks for taking the time to comment Colin

Nicely done Colin! You explained exactly what I was looking for! I was making the mistake of not properly setting the bearing properly and I also did not know that the fence does not have to be perfectly aligned as it depends on reference to the cutter. Again, thank you so much for a very informative video. Oh, and you showed me that it was important to do the end grains first. Thanks.

@mrjllj68 Thanks for your comments, we appreciate you taking the time, and thanks for your suggestions, we listen to and consider all idea and suggestions. We haven't done very much with finishing, I think you might be right, maybe we should add some finishing techniques to our mix. Thanks again, Colin

Nice video! Very well.explained! Thank you!

You're welcome Feras, thanks for taking the time to comment Colin

Very good video. I learned so much from this and I know it will save my projects and more important my fingers. I normally look at your short vids but in the future I will check you more in depth. Thanks again.

Well done explanation for setting up a router. Thank you.

Wow great video! Very thorough thank you!

I love your videos...wow, they have come a long way!

A wooden top would be fine, but you will need to make it in such a way that it won't cup or bow, that is why most manufactures us high density MDF materials, then cover them with arborite or other plastic substrates, to keep them flat. You might have better luck with a material like this, and you can often buy half or quarter sheets to work with so it is not expensive. Hope this helps .... great to have you with us Colin

Excellent and very helpful video. I found this so much more helpful than the instructions booklet that came with my Kobalt router table. Many thanks!

well presented ..great job, Colin

Just got my first router table with virtually no operating instructions. The picture had the mitre on left side. Assuming going left to right. I figured that was wrong. Also nothing in instructions about plastic insert were for go over router bit. I thought were adapter for vacuum connector. Made one practice cut last night. . Really glad i saw your video this morning. Thanks so much.

@jpheisz Thanks for the note, great to have you with us. Colin