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Check your clearance.
Adjust the height
of the template so at least half the bit
clears the bottom of the workpiece before
the bearing bottoms out in the slot. Make
sure the router doesn’t hit the bottom
of the templates and adjust so the guide
bearing reaches all slots. With thicker
stock, a maximum of seven template seg-
ments will be possible.
Cut the first side.
You can cut a stack of
parts at this point. Note how the bearing
goes over the top of the templates for 1/2”
box joints.
For 1/4” box joints you’ll cut up from the bottom using each of the
slots.
Tip:
To get tighter box joints, “trace” only one side of the template. Use a
light touch and don’t go back over the cut. Routing is subtractive so
every pass of the bit over the wood will remove slightly more material.
Generally, whatever you do to any one cut should be done to all.
