TOO SLOW
Cutter
Bit shank
Cut
Fig. 8
Bit shank
Cut
Cutter
Fig. 7
TOO FAST
OPERATION INSTRUCTIONS
DIRECTION OF FEED - INTERNAL CUTS
When making and internal cut, such as a groove, dado, or slot,
the edge guide, straight edge, or board guide must always be
positione on the right-hand side of the router as you make the
cut (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5
Bit rotation
Guide outside
Thrust
Bit rotation
Router feed
direction
Guide
When the guide is positioned on the right hand side of the
router, the router travel should be from left to right and
“counterclockwise“ around curves (see Fig. 5). This
counterclockwise action around the curve could cause “Climb
cutting.“ Always be alert and exercise extreme caution to
maintain control of the router when making this type of cut
around curves. When the guide is positioned as shown in Fig. 6,
the router travel should be from left to right and clockwise
around curves.
Guide inside
Bit rotation
Bit rotation
Guide
Thrust
Router feed
direction
Fig. 6
If there is a choice, the set-up in Fig. 5 is easier to use, but there
is the posslbility of “Climb Cutting” around curves. In either
case (Fig. 5 or Fig. 6), the sideways thrust of the router cutting
is always against the guide, as is proper.
Always securely clamp the workpiece in
place, and keep a firm grip on the router base with both
hands at all times. Failure to do so could result in loss
of control causing possible serious personal injury.
WARNING
RATE OF FEED
The proper rate of feed depends on several factors: the
hardness and moisture content of the workpiece, the depth of
cut, and the cutting diameter of the bit. When cutting shallow
grooves in soft woods such as pine, you may use a faster rate
of feed.
When making deep cuts in hardwoods such as oak, you should
use a slower rate of feed.
FEEDING TOO RAPIDLY (FIG. 7)
Clean and smooth finished cuts can only be achieved when
the cutting bit is rotating at a relatively high speed and taking
very small bites. producing tiny, clean-cut chips.
Forcing the feed of the cutting bit forward too rapidly slows
the RPM of the cutting bit, and the bit takes larger bites as it
rotates. Larger bites mean larger chips and a rough finish. This
forcing action can also cause the router motor to overheat.
Under extreme force-feeding conditions, the RPMs can
become so slow and the bites become so large that chips
become partially cut off, causing splintering and gouging of
the workpiece.
FEEDING TOO SLOWLY (FIG. 8)
When you feed the cutting bit too slowly, the rotating cutting
bit does not cut into new wood rapidly enough to take a bite.
Instead, it scrapes away sawdust-like particles. This scraping
produces heat, which can glaze, bu m, and mar the cut in
the workpiece and, in extreme cases, overheat the cutting bit.
When the cutting bit Is scraping instead of cutting, the router
is more difficult to control as you feed it.
The router will make clean, smooth cuts if it is allowed to run
freeiy without the overload of forced feeding. You can detect
forced feeding by the sound of the motor. Its usual highpitched
whine will sound lower and stronger as it loses speed. Holding
the router against the workpiece will also be more difficult to do.
With almost no load on the motor, the cutting bit has a tendency
to bounce off the sides of the cut in the workpiece, producing a
cut with a rippled finish instead of clean, straight sides.
