Day by day wood router bits technology are getting better. So I can say technology is come a long way. It’s good to know about the different type of wood router bits. There are several type of wood router bits you can get in the market. But we have some confusion that which router bit to use. The bits are made with tempering hit, so handle with care. If it fall down on the floor it could be broken.
Let’s have a look a couple of option in your wood router. In broad way we find two types of routers, one is straight bit and another is spiral bit.
Which router bit to use?
Straight Router Bit
Usually straight router bit has one or two flute with carbide tipped. It can use for plane edges, rabbets, cut grooves, dadoes, and slots. Moreover the straight router bit is used where the flat bottom is required like. Hope It is now clear regarding straight router bit works.
Spiral Router Bit
Spiral router bit are looking like a drill bit. So this bits are better for the plunge cutting. When you cutting a piece of wood and move the spiral router bit through an angle and started cutting it straight you will get the better surface.
Moreover we can segregate the spiral bit in two types. Spiral upcut router bit and down spiral router bit. There are many aspects for Woodworking to the selection of up up cut spiral router bit or downcut spiral router bit is necessary. You can understand these differences until you work with them.
In fact, the flutes are twisted in the opposite direction of the bits. Usually a router is turned in the same direction. In this respect down cut spiral bit are used in handheld mode and up cut spiral are using as a router table mounted. If the question is come that which router bit to use, the above para has been answered.
Spiral upcut router
The spiral upcut router which is used in router table, is very much suitable for evacuate the dust form the hole. If the hole is deeper than one forth inches then the evacuation is required.
The two flutes of the spiral upcut router are twisted in such way that the dust can come out from the hole. Generally it is used to drill deep mortises.
Down spiral router bit
To furnish a clean and crisp edge of slicing or hole the down spiral router bit is used. With the down spiral router bit the chips of dusts are not evacuate from the hole. Generally it is used in hand hold wood router.
The carpenters are use the down spiral router bit to cut visible design or slot and cut dados, rabbets as well.
Dados DesignRabbets DesignWood Design
Compression router bit
There are also a bit you can buy from the market which name is compression router bit. It is a combination of up cut and down cut bit. In compression router bit you can find two step of flutes twist. Usually, compression router bit has an up cutting single flute at the top of the bit around 1/3 of the cutting length of the bit. And the other 2/3 of the bit has a down cutting twist.
It is using for the double sided laminated board or veneer board which need the clean finishing at top and bottom
Final Verdict
I beg apology for that there are lot of thing, I cannot focus in this short description. I have tried to focus the main point of the most common spiral router bit. If it is helpful for you, my effort will be successful.
Thank you very much for reading the “which router bit to use” review. Keep comment to write more effective reviews.
It is a common question during use any router that why variable speed router is so important? Let me focus on the variable router questions.
That is called variable router which we can regulate the speed as per our need. There are some task that we need high speed rotation and we need slow speed for some other task in the wood working life.
Here we are going to discuss about the speed variation of the wood router. You can find so many router in the market. But variable speed router should be in your workshop.
Discuss About Variable Speed Router
Here are two types of router bit. One is 3 ½ inches diameter and other is one inch diameter.
The booth router bits can make different size of holes in the wood panel. We have drawn two rounded holes on the wood.
Look at the picture.
As par geometry the periphery of the 3 ½ inches diameter is near about 11 inches. And the circumference of the one inch diameter is near about 4 inches.
When any router rotate with 22000 RPM, the one inch router bit spinning speed across the cutting circumference will be 120 mile per hour.
On the other hand with the same rotation speed the cutting spinning speed will be 200 mile per hour on the periphery of the 3 ½ inches diameter hole. Which is not good for the router bit. Rule is that the cutting speed of bigger size router bit is higher than the smaller bit.
If we can regulate the speed in 12000 RPM then the cutting speed of the bigger size router will come down. And it will be near about 120 mile per hour. Which is the safe for you and for the bit also.
So for your safety and the longevity of the router use variable speed router.
My dear carpenter student, do you know how to use a plunge router? Hope you have heard the name of plunge router. A wood router is powerful wood cutting machine which has revolutionized the way the carpenters and other professionals used to work. The machine has made them more efficient and has enabled them to create great designs in no time. Wood routers come in two bases, fixed base or plunge routers. Fixed base routers have a traditional advantage of high precision over the plunge base routers.
However, the popularity of the plunge base routers is growing rapidly because of their high mobility and ease of use. A plunge base router is more useful than a fixed base router for edge shaping and plunge cutting applications. These are very useful for interior decorators, cabinet designers and other artistic purposes. For these applications there are special techniques to create special designs. A user must know the use of a plunge router to create a particular design.
How to Use a Plunge Router
Some Using Purpose
A router performs a plethora of cutting tasks, from shaping the edges to carving designs on solid wood. However, these different types of cuttings can be classified into three type of cuttings.
Straight Cutting
A fine cut is made at the center of the wooden plank to either create space for another piece of wood to fit in or to carve a design on the wood. Straight cutting requires the router to be very stable for high precision cutting.
Rabbet Cutting
The edge of the wood is cut into various shapes to give a designer look to the furniture or any other piece of wood. Rabbet cutting beautifies a simple piece of wood. Rabbet cutting becomes much easier when one can tilt the router or the router is held in hand.
Spiral-Up Cutting
When a router is used to create deep cuts or holes on wood a spiral cutting plunge router bit is used for a better clearance of wood chips which are filed out in the cutting process. Spiral up cutting is used to create holes on doors and furniture. Spiral cutting requires the router which is easy to move as it is mostly used to carve holes which are usually at a distance from one another.
A plunge router is better for both Spiral-Up and Rabbet cuttings while its precision suffers on straight cut when compared to fixed base routers. One can buy a cheap plunge router specially for rabbet cutting.
Usage Technique & Recommendations
The most important technique that you are going to learn the use of a plunge router. There are three applications which suit the plunge router more than a fixed base router. So, if you have one of the following usage, you must choose a plunge router for more efficiency. There are different applications of a plunge base wood router and for every application there is a different router technique that ensures a more efficient use of the router.
Here are some of the techniques that will help you to learn for a specific purpose.
Design Cutting
If you are an interior designer or a professional who cuts designs on wood, you should prepare guides or design patterns using which you can cut a repetitive designs in no time. There are a good number of designs which are regularly used by such professionals.
Edge Carving
Edge carving becomes very easy once you draw the guiding lines on wood using a pencil or a marker before using a plunge router. When using a plunge router with guidelines in place, you will need half the time you need without the guidelines. A single bit can give multiple designs if you know how to use a plunge router in different angles and heights.
Design Carvings
There are artists who specially use a plunge router to carve designs using best wood routers, these artists draw a design on wood and then use the router to cut. Such users need a great amount of maneuverability to ensure that they make a perfect cut with great ease. Such users should buy a router that fits in their palm and is very light weight. A compact router with a plunge base is an excellent option for such users. We are almost learn to becoming an experts on plunge router.
Best Plunge Router In The Market
Black & Decker RP250 is our pick of plunge routers available in the market. A cheap plunge router, RP 250 is a high performance plunge router. RP 250 offers only plunge base operations and has an acrylic see through base for more accurate cuts.
The router is equipped with a 10 amp powerful motor that helps it in cutting through the toughest varieties of wood with great ease. The speed adjuster offers a variable motor speed between 8,000 and 27,000 RPM’s. Gradual start feature of the motor ensures high precision cuts with better user control while cutting.
The router comes with a two year warranty to ensure customer satisfaction. RP 250 is a high performance cheap plunge router and is loved by users who need a dedicated plunge router.
Frequently Asking Questions
Q: Some Questions That We Ask Before buying that which base is better fixed or plunge?
A: Both fixed base or plunge router base are great, one should understand that they are completely different from one another and cannot be compared.
There are applications where fixed base is more efficient while there are others where one cannot make a cut without a plunge base.
Q: How can one select whether they need a fixed or a plunge base router?
A: It is very simple to select between fixed base or plunge router. Plunge router is great for mobility and handheld applications while fixed base router is better for high precision cuts using a router table.
Plunge router is also a great choice for people who wish to use the router for creative designs.
Q: Should I buy a router that offers both fixed and plunge bases or a router that offers only plunge base?
A: A router that offers both bases is always better than a router offering fixed base or plunge router. However, if you are buying a router for a specific usage and you have no other use, buying a basic plunge router will save a lot of money.
One can perform fixed base operations with a plunge base if they know how to use a plunge router on fixed base applications. Conclusion Plunge Routers prove to be better when a user has mobility and maneuverability as one of the few qualities that they seek in their router. Plunge routers are not as accurate as a fixed base router.
However, these routers are more useful when one needs to craft the edges. Edge crafting is a technique commonly used to beautify the furniture. There are many edge crafting patterns available when one chooses a large plunge router bit set. These plunge router bits give innumerable design patters by adjusting them for position or alignment.
If one knows how to use a plunge router, they can create several designs using a single plunge router bit. A plunge router is a necessity for those who wish to create their own designs using their artistic abilities. A cheap plunge router can be a good start who cannot afford a high end dual base router.
There are various type of wood router in the market. Today I am going to discuss about how to use a trim router.
A trim router (also known as a laminate trimmer or a laminate trim router) is a one-handed, light-weighted, smaller kind of portable router which offers a relatively low-noise working environment due to its one horsepower motor. At only a fraction of the cost of regular routers, this is a router for woodworking which is ideal for smaller tasks, such as edge-routing decorative work.
Because the router bits for trim are generally easy to change with the help of a set of wrenches, the laminate trim routers can become very task-specific, which we will cover in detail.
How to use a trim router
Here are four rules of thumb to follow that will ensure your success as a professional or novice wood-worker, and an expert: Advance the laminate trim router against the rotation of the bit: This will allow the bit to cut into the work while giving you full control over the router.
To make this clearer, when you look down at the top of a router you can see the router bits for trim rotating in a clockwise direction. This means that the movement you need to apply is going to be left to right. However, if you move the router so that it stands between you and your workpiece this rule is inverted.
Why?
Because relative to you, the bit is now rotating anti-clockwise, so the movement applied needs to be from right to left.
Use router bits for trim fitted with Ball-Bearing Pilots
If you are new to the woodworking business then this tip is especially handy. This way you won’t need to attach and edge guide to your router or a straightedge fence to the work.
Because the bearings ride along the edge of the workpiece ensuring the bits to remain on course and giving you total control, making your experience on a trim router much more comfortable.
Equip your router with a Template Guide
This is a steel collar which is mounted onto the router’s base and allows you to easily cut boards to any size and shape.
Here is how it works
First, you cut off the desired shape template out of Plywood or Hardboard. It is also extremely important to take into consideration the offset distance between the outside edge of the template and the cutting edge of the bit, usually about 3/16″.
Then just clamp the template in place and advance the router into the workpiece, always making sure to keep the Template Guide pressed tightly against the template.
Mount your laminate trim router upside-down on a router table
Probably the most important technique regarding a trim router using. Not only for greatly increasing the tool’s capabilities, but also because of overall safety. Because you can see the bit rotating from this position, you can know exactly what you’re doing.
Although you can certainly build your own router table, most store-bought tables will satisfy all your needs. Just make sure to read the specs, as it may not be compatible with your particular trim router. We are almost there on becoming experts on how to use a trim router.
But how do we buy the right one?
Well, here are some tips and questions you will want to ask to make sure you make the right decision.
How easy it is to see the router bits for trim while working?
Does it have LED lights?
How easy it is to adjust the bit height, including fine adjustments?
Does it include an Edge Guide?
How versatile is it, does it have a fixed base, a plunge base or both?
Considering all these aspects we have come with a top product recommendation that will make sure you have everything you need, combining the best features available on the market.
The DEWALT DWP611PK Compact Router Combo Kit, and here is why
A slightly bigger motor of 1.25HP delivers high power to handle even the toughest jobs.
Variable speed control ranging from 16,000 to 27,000 rpm.
A soft-starter motor with electronic feedback which will ensure the motor to work at exactly the desired power.
Clear sub-base along with dual LED lights for maximum bit visibility.
A spindle lock designed to easily remove and change the bits.
And most importantly, it comes with a combo fixed and plunged base, that are easily interchangeable.
Now what exactly can we accomplish by using a trim router
When they first came on the market, they were not exactly the most versatile tools available. But today they have become an indispensable addition to any workshop, and we will discuss six of the most popular uses for it and make sure you become an expert on how to use a trim router:
Round-Over and Chamfering smaller edges
Because they are so cheap and task-specific, you will always have the proper tool available no matter your specific needs.
They make quick work of routing flutes
Simply by installing a Round-Nose or a Core-Box bit, you can easily set a straightedge close to the cutting area. Because of their small squared sub-bases, using a trim router allows you to follow the straightedge perfectly, so that cutting flutes will never be a hassle again.
Routing shallow, no-tip hinge mortises
This task is especially suited for a laminate trim router because of its narrow base, portability, light weight and low center of gravity, where most full-sized routers will probably falter and quiver. Just place a template with any top-bearing dado clean-out bits and a small cutter-head. If needed you can also square up the corners with a chisel.
Working with Decorative Inlay Grooves
To ensure your final product has a professional, craftsman-like quality, by using a trim router you can access tighter and narrower surfaces. For this work scenario you will need one of the following router bits for trim: A Straight bit or a Down-Cut Spiral bit.
Butterfly Patches
An all-time favorite to cover up flaws such as knots or splits, you can use a trim router equipped with a Straight bit or a Down-Cut Spiral bit to remove the material and cut down the patch.
Flush trimming
Trim routers still excel at flush trimming laminate wood edgings. You will need some Bearing-Guided Flush-Trim bits for ideal results. Now that we have covered the basics of using a trim router, we need to discuss the proper techniques in order to make the most of it.
So no matter if you are an experienced woodworker or a beginner enthusiast, the DEWALT DWP611PK will definitely make the most out of your routing experience. Having all the mentioned easy-to-use features, this best wood router ensures that you don’t have to be a pro to know how to use a trim router.
Just set it up on a router table for optimal results and prepare to be amazed at the wonders of your skilled routing work.
Fixed base routers are there for more than five decades and have been one of the most relied tools of the carpenters all around the world. These wood routers have a fixed base that ensures a fixed distance between the router bit and the base. These routers are widely used for high precision wood cutting and crafting. However, the user needs to know how to use a fixed base router?
Fixed base routers are powerful electrical machines which use a carbide tipped bit rotated at a very high RPM to cut through all kinds of wooden surfaces to make designs and give shape to the wood. Before routers carpenters used to cut the wood manually using specially cut wooden frames. To cut wood using these frames required a lot of time and precision.
The wooden frames were large, so the carpenters were forced to have a lot of space in their workshops to store these cutting frames. Fixed base routers evolved to plunge base routers but both have different applications. Here are some of the applications of fixed base routers.
How to use a fixed base router
In order to cut using a fixed base router one has to ascertain which design they need to cut. When the design is selected one should follow the following guide how to use a fixed base router to give the perfect cut.
Install the Bit
When you have selected the design, select and replace the router bit with the design that you want to cut. One should make sure that the router is plugged out when replacing the bit.
Secure Working Table
For a fixed base router to perform, one needs a router table. However, if you do not have a router table, you will have to prepare a base that can hold the wooden piece firmly when you cut it. You can even make your own custom made base for enhanced comfort and perfection.
Mark the Cutting Paths
Before you turn on the router, make sure that you have already marked the path of the router using a marker or a pencil. A marked path is the best way to ensure precise cutting and great designs.
Wear Protective Gear
Before turning on the router, make sure you are wearing protective gears on both eyes and ears. Routers make a loud noise that can damage your ears on prolonged exposure.
The router bit throws wood projectiles capable of doing severe injuries to eyes. So, one should never turn on the router before wearing the protective wear.
Start At Right Spot
Decide a point to start cutting, always start from one corner and try to make a straight cut to the other corner, then turn the router to the other direction for a cut in the other direction. It is best to turn off the router when changing directions for a more precise cut.
Finish in One Go
When you have started the cutting process, always ensure that you do not stop in the middle. The only point to stop are the corners where one has to make a turn. Stopping at the center of a cut creates imperfections.
If you follow this step by step guide on how to use a fixed base router, you can reduce on the wastage of raw material that happens when there are wrong cuts. The guide also helps you to ascertain all safety measures are in place while cutting.
As an example a description of a fixed base router is given bellow:
Bosch 1617EVS 2-1/4 HP Fixed Base Variable-Speed Router
Bosch 1617EVS is a powerful 2.25 Hp router that runs on a 12 amps motor. The motor offers a high speed cut between 8,000 and 25,000 RPM’s ensuring that every type of wood and every type of job can be processed with high precision.
The best feature of the router is that it can work with both ¼ inches and inches shanks ensuring that you can practically do every single application with one router. The router is built to last and has a rugged aluminum body that can ensure durability in every work condition. The router comes with a one year warranty.
However, it comes from the German manufacturer Bosch which is known for its engineering and durability. The fixed base router reviews clearly give this router an edge over other best fixed base routers available in market because of its durability.
Frequently Asking Questions
Q: What kind of users should prefer this fixed base router?
A: Fixed base router is better for users who prefer to have a high precision cutting, one can easily do repetitive jobs with a fixed base router.
Q: Can I do plunge base application with Bosch 1617 EVS?
A: If you have a lot of plunge applications, you can buy an additional compatible plunge base for the router which is sold separately by Bosch.
Q: Do I need a router table to use this router?
A: We highly recommend you to buy a router table for high precision cutting. Without a router table, there is a great chance of poor cuttings with imperfections.
Q: Is one year warranty a deal breaker?
A: Bosch offers standard one year warranty for almost its every tool.
However, the professionals tell that the tools from Bosch are much durable than its competitors who offer longer warranties.
Some Using Purpose
Straight Line Cutting
There is no better cutting machine than a fixed base router for high precision cutting. One should understand that a fixed base router offers an unmatched stability which enables it to give a perfect straight cut every single time.
One should learn how to use a fixed base router for a more precise straight cutting. The fixed base router reviews indicate that there is no better machine for straight cuts than some of the best fixed base routers.
Repeat Cuttings
When you need to cut multiple pieces of wood into a specific shape and size you need to use a fixed base router for high precision. When you prepare a base to fit in every piece you need to cut, all you need to do it to put the router on the same spot to get a perfect cut.
There are many tutorials and videos on how to use a fixed base router for repetitive tasks. The fixed base router reviews rate best fixed base routers to be far more superior than plunge base router for repetitive tasks.
Symmetrical Designs
When you need to make a symmetrical design, a fixed router is the best tool you can get. It gives the designs same depth, width and every property need for a design to be symmetrical. One can learn to make symmetrical designs from how to use a fixed base router tutorials. The fixed base router reviews conclude that best fixed base routers are far more superior than plunge routers for making symmetrical designs.
Final Verdict
Fixed base routers are necessary cutting machines which completely change the lives of carpenters. One should understand that price should not be a matter of consideration when buying a router. High end equipment from top manufacturers like Bosch last for more than a decade which justifies the investment made on them.
While using, one should never even turn on the router without protective gear. One should always wear protective gear for both ears and eyes while using a fixed base router. The precision of the cut and finish depend on how comfortable you are while cutting the wood and how stable is the piece of wood that you are trying to cut. A router table enhances stability and improves the efficiency of the router.
Round-Over and Chamfering smaller edges
