Power ToolsRotating cutting tool
Router
A spinning cutter whose height above the workpiece is set exactly, used to profile an edge, cut a groove or rebate, or trim a laminate flush. Where a dimension has to be held by the tool.
What it does
- Cutting rebates, grooves and hinge recesses
- Profiling and rounding an edge
- Trimming overhang flush to a template
Materialswhat it is used on
All materialsWhat to look forthe judgement calls, before the spec sheet
- The cutter sets the geometry. A bearing-guided cutter follows a template or a straight edge and needs no fence, which is why the same cut in different places can be identical.
- Cut depth per pass is the limiting factor, not the machine's rated power. Removing the full depth in one pass is how cutters break and how edges burn.
- If the router is mounted in a table it becomes a spindle shaper and the feed direction reverses relative to the cutter. Feed with the cutter's rotation, not against it.
Misuse and safetythe ways this tool causes rework
- Cutting against the rotation grabs the work and throws it. The correct feed direction is the one where the cutter pushes the work against your hands, not away from them.
- Deep cuts on a cantilevered part chatter. Support both sides of the cut and take it in passes.
Frequently asked questions
What is a rebate and a groove on a router?
A groove is a slot in the face of the work; a rebate is a step at the edge. Both are cut with the same cutter plunged to different depths, which is why one tool covers joints, panel backs and door glass.
Why does the router burn the edge?
Too slow a feed or too deep a cut. The cutter rubs rather than shears, and the surface scorches. Take shallower passes and keep the tool moving.