5
Once you have routed the hole pattern
in your worktop, the indexing dog pins can be used a
low-profile bench dogs in the finished bench.
Clamp the template in place (two clamps recommended).
Position the clamps so they won’t obstruct the router
base during routing.
Fig. 1.
2.
With the router unplugged and the plunge mechanism
released (in the up position), place the router on the template
and fit the guide bushing in the bottom left hole, nearest the
corner of the worktop. Practice the motion you will use to
rout the holes: Keeping the guide bushing tight against
the edge of the template hole, move the router in a clockwise
direction until you have completed a full circle. Do this in
all template holes you plan to use. Verify that the router
will not contact the clamps at any point.
3.
Return the router to the bottom left hole of the template, with
the guide bushing in the hole and tight against the edge.
4.
Turn on the router and slowly plunge the bit 1/4" into the
worktop surface. Keeping the guide bushing tight against
the edge of the template hole, move the router in a clockwise
direction until you have completed a full circle.
5.
Release the plunge mechanism, turn off the router and
allow the bit to come to a full stop. Remove the router
from the template.
6.
Check the hole you just routed for sawdust or chips, and
vacuum out any buildup. Dust buildup could prevent the
guide bushing from maintaining contact with the template,
resulting in small or misshapen dog holes. You
MUST
check for dust and vacuum out any buildup between
every deepening pass with the router.
7.
Move to the next hole you want to rout and repeat Steps 4-6.
Follow this process until you have made the first pass in all
holes you want with the template in that location.
8.
With the router turned off and unplugged, increase the
cutting depth by 1/4" and rout the second pass in all holes.
Keep increasing the cutting depth by 1/4" and make
additional passes until you’ve cut through the entire
thickness of your worktop at all hole locations. Remember
to vacuum out any dust buildup between every deepening
pass with the router. To make sure the holes have been
routed adequately, insert an indexing dog pin in each hole
in the template to make sure the pin seats correctly.
9.
Determine whether you want to shift the template up or to
the right to continue routing the hole pattern. (You will need
to do both before moving to the center of the worktop. This
is necessary to help ensure uniform hole spacing.) For the
purposes of these instructions, we’ll shift the template up first
to address the holes along the left edge of the worktop and
then move to the holes along the bottom edge.
10.
Release the clamps holding the template to the worktop, and
remove the two edge-registration pins along the bottom edge
of the template.
11.
Keeping the edge-registration pins tight against the left edge
of the worktop, shift the template upward until the lower set
of holes in the template aligns with the upper set of dog holes
you just routed.
12.
Press two indexing dog pins tightly into the overlapping
holes to perfectly position the template, and then secure
the template further with clamps.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2
Edge-registration pins
Indexing dog pin
Route
holes
outline
in red
Clamp
