Changes

When using the fence, always feed the workpiece from the right side of the router table to the left. The bit spins counterclockwise. The rotation of the bit pushes against the feed direction and pushes the workpiece into the fence as the user feeds the workpiece from right to left. This is the proper way to make a controlled cut on the router table. It is dangerous to feed the workpiece from left to right because the router bit will pull the workpiece out of your hands and fling it across the room.

When using the fence, always feed the workpiece from the right side of the router table to the left. The bit spins counterclockwise. The rotation of the bit pushes against the feed direction and pushes the workpiece into the fence as the user feeds the workpiece from right to left. This is the proper way to make a controlled cut on the router table. It is dangerous to feed the workpiece from left to right because the router bit will pull the workpiece out of your hands and fling it across the room.

The feed rate is how fast the workpiece moves through the router bit. A feed rate that is too fast can cause the surface of the wood to tearout. In other words, the surface of the wood will be rough or chipped. A feed rate that is too slow can cause the wood to burn.

The feed rate is how fast the workpiece moves through the router bit. A feed rate that is too fast can cause the surface of the wood to tearout. In other words, you will get a poor cut and the surface of the wood will be rough or chipped. A feed rate that is too slow can cause the wood to burn. See the troubleshooting section for more info on burning.

 

Occasionally routing can leave burn marks on the workpiece. This can happen when the workpiece is fed through the router too slowly, but it can also mean that the bit in the router has become dull. Let a shop supervisor know if a bit seems dull. Sometimes the burning is due to build up of resin and other gunk (a technical term) on the backside of the blade which insulates the bit and allows for heat to build up. Inspect bits before using, and make sure they look clean. If the bit seems both clean and sharp, the cause of burning on you workpiece is either a feed rate that is too slow or a router bit speed that is too high.

Be mindful of how much material you are removing in a single pass. If you attempt to remove too much material, you could end up straining the router motor, putting sideways pressure on the router bit, or cause tearout/burning on your workpiece. If you need to remove a lot of material, break it up into multiple smaller passes. If you are unsure how much material is "too much," ask a shop supervisor for assistance. Unfortunately, there is no magic number that indicates you are removing too much material. It's based on the cross-sectional area of the material you plan to remove, the shape of the router bit, the speed of the router bit, the hardness of the wood, and experience.

Be mindful of how much material you are removing in a single pass. If you attempt to remove too much material, you could end up straining the router motor, putting sideways pressure on the router bit, or cause tearout/burning on your workpiece. If you need to remove a lot of material, break it up into multiple smaller passes. If you are unsure how much material is "too much," ask a shop supervisor for assistance. Unfortunately, there is no magic number that indicates you are removing too much material. It's based on the cross-sectional area of the material you plan to remove, the shape of the router bit, the speed of the router bit, the hardness of the wood, and experience.