OPERATION
DEPTH OF CUT
As previously mentioned, the depth of cut isimportant be-
cause it affects the rate of feed which, in turn, affects the
qualityof a cut (and, also, the possibilityof damage to your
router motor and bit). A deep cut requires a slowerfeed than
a shallow one, and a too deep cut willcause you toslow the
feed so much that the bit is no longer cutting, it is scraping,
instead.
Making a deep cut is never advisable. The smaller bits--
especially those only 1/16 inch in diameter -- are easily
broken off when subjected to too much side thrust. A large
enough bitmay not be broken off, but if the cut is too deep a
roughcut willresult-- and it may be verydifficulttoguideand
controlthe bitas desired, For these reasons, we recommend
that you do not exceed 1/8 inch depthof cut in a single pass,
regardless of the bit size or the softness or condition of the
workpiece. See Figure 16.
To make deeper cuts it is therefore necessary to make as
many successive passes as required, lowering the bit 1/8
inch for each new pass. Inorderto savetime,do all the cutting
necessaryat one depth setting,before loweringthe bitfor the
nextpass. Thiswill also assure a uniformdepthwhenthe final
pass is completed, See Figure 17.
DIRECTION OF FEED AND THRUST
See Figure 18.
The routermotorand bit revolve in a clockwisedirection. This
gives the tool a slight tendency to twist (in your hands) in a
counterclockwisedirection, especially when the motorrevs
up (as at starting).
Because of the extremely high speed of bit rotationduring a
"proper feeding" operation, there is very little kickback to
contendwith under normal conditions. However, shouldthe
bit strike a knot, hard grain, foreign object, etc. that would
affect the normal progress of thecutting action,there will be
a slightkickback-- sufficientto spoilthe trueness of your cut
if you are not prepared. Such a kickback is always in the
directionopposite to the direction of bit rotation,
To guard against such a kickback, plan your set-up and
directionof feed so that you will always be thrustingthe tool
to hold it against whatever you are using to guide the cut
-- in the same direction that the leading edge of the bit is
moving. Inshort, thethrustshould be ina directionthatkeeps
the sharpedges ofthebitcontinuouslybiting straightintonew
(uncut) wood.
ROUTING
Whenever you are routing a groove, yourtravel should be in
a direction that places whatever guide you are using at the
dght-hand side. In short, when the guide is positioned as
shown in the first part of Figure 19, tool travel should be left
to right and counterclockwise around curyes. When the guide
is positioned as shown in the second part of Figure 19 tool
travel should be right to left and c{ockwise around curves. If
there is a choice, the first set-up is generally the easiest to
usa. In eithercase. the sideways thrust you use isagainst the
guide.
Page 13
DEPTH _OF CUT
_UT V/////A,,I Fig,16
2ND. PASS
°
ROUTER FEED
DIRECTION "
I.U
I /T
ROUT I H.B_tA_'_TJUO.] __ | o==-
END __
GRAINS
FIRST
_ BIT
ROUTER FEED ROTATION
DIRECTION
GUIDE OUTSIDE
GUIDE FEED
ROTA__
THRUST'J_=_
FEED
GUIDEINSIDE
Fig. 18
Fig. 19
(24 pages)
(26 pages)
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