Recently upgraded from a trim router to a full size one, the Hitachi/Metabo KM12VC which has been really nice to work with. I was recently "jointing" the edges of some 1.5" thick butcherblock countertops by running the router along a straight edge. I had a few questions:
1. I did a couple of passes so as not to remove the entire depth all at once. I've read about making multiple passes rather than taking all the material at once. Does this apply to depth as well as how wide of a path you are removing? I figured the more bit making contact, the more power needed. Also didn't know if there were any ways of determining how much to take off based on HP, bit size, etc.
2. When I did the second pass (basically taking off the bottom half of the thickness) it left a little ridge, and the lower portion was proud of the first pass/top portion. Is this common? I made sure to push all the way against the straightedge, but I couldn't make a difference. It was very consistent and a very neat line, also a very small difference in material, but I couldn't figure out what had changed.
3. For one of the passes, I had a certain side of the router towards me (happened to be the one with the logo). Got everything flush. Then I needed to clean one area up, but happened to turn the router around, so the locking mechanism was facing me. This time, it took off more material! I tried a couple different ways, and it kept seeming to happen, and I could definitely tell it was happening by the sound. I'm guessing the bit sits closer to one side than the other. Is this typical? Didn't see any way to adjust this, so thought I would just need to be consistent, since I hadn't really thought of it as having "sides" before.
Thanks for the help and all the inspiration around here!
1. I did a couple of passes so as not to remove the entire depth all at once. I've read about making multiple passes rather than taking all the material at once. Does this apply to depth as well as how wide of a path you are removing? I figured the more bit making contact, the more power needed. Also didn't know if there were any ways of determining how much to take off based on HP, bit size, etc.
2. When I did the second pass (basically taking off the bottom half of the thickness) it left a little ridge, and the lower portion was proud of the first pass/top portion. Is this common? I made sure to push all the way against the straightedge, but I couldn't make a difference. It was very consistent and a very neat line, also a very small difference in material, but I couldn't figure out what had changed.
3. For one of the passes, I had a certain side of the router towards me (happened to be the one with the logo). Got everything flush. Then I needed to clean one area up, but happened to turn the router around, so the locking mechanism was facing me. This time, it took off more material! I tried a couple different ways, and it kept seeming to happen, and I could definitely tell it was happening by the sound. I'm guessing the bit sits closer to one side than the other. Is this typical? Didn't see any way to adjust this, so thought I would just need to be consistent, since I hadn't really thought of it as having "sides" before.
Thanks for the help and all the inspiration around here!