Just joined, here's a creative woman whose into art, photography, a variety of building and design projects who is totally NEW to using routers! I have a Milwaukee #5616-20 mounted on a Bosch RA1181 Router Table, and am finally trying to finalize set-up and start using it. I know it will take me to the next level, but have a lot to learn. Hoping y'all can help. Thanks in advance.
New in Colorado
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Welcome to the forum Jenny . There’s a great bunch of people here who are eager to help .
Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do . Ps, if your shops not insulated, it’s best to keep it to yourself lol
Hope you enjoy it here as much as I do . Ps, if your shops not insulated, it’s best to keep it to yourself lol
Joined
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22,921 Posts
Hi Jenny, Stick's stuff is really worth reading. I want to suggest a couple of things. First, I recommend you buy some OK wood to practice on. Don't have to be expensive, but hopefully knot free and a grain pattern you can see clearly on the edges and on each face. Using a router in the table is pretty darn safe compared to freehand use. Watch some videos on YouTube of people using their routers. It will help you to see how they hold and move things.
I rarely do routing without using a pad with a handle on it. I don't like haveing my hands withing 6 inches of a bit or saw blade--inattention can ruin you day (and fingers). I like to watch the videos by Marc Sommerfeld--who sells router related stuff, but was a long time cabinet maker before that. Notice how he uses square pieces of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) to both push and back up the cuts he makes. That helps keep the bit from tearing out a bit from your workpiece.
I also urge you to get a dust mask. I use the power air respirator in the picture, from Rockler Woodworking, which has a built in fan behind the filters to put positive pressure into the mask to keep sawdust out or your lungs. I keep a couple of sets of rechargeable AA batteries on hand so I can work for a long time. Well worth getting right away. You can never clear your lungs of the kind of dust MDF puts out.
Here's the link: Power Air Respirator | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware
I rarely do routing without using a pad with a handle on it. I don't like haveing my hands withing 6 inches of a bit or saw blade--inattention can ruin you day (and fingers). I like to watch the videos by Marc Sommerfeld--who sells router related stuff, but was a long time cabinet maker before that. Notice how he uses square pieces of MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) to both push and back up the cuts he makes. That helps keep the bit from tearing out a bit from your workpiece.
I also urge you to get a dust mask. I use the power air respirator in the picture, from Rockler Woodworking, which has a built in fan behind the filters to put positive pressure into the mask to keep sawdust out or your lungs. I keep a couple of sets of rechargeable AA batteries on hand so I can work for a long time. Well worth getting right away. You can never clear your lungs of the kind of dust MDF puts out.
Here's the link: Power Air Respirator | Rockler Woodworking and Hardware
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15,464 Posts
Hey, Jenny; welcome!
Read (and follow!) everything you can on using routers safely...they bite...hard. Lots of opposing opinions amongst the members here, but in my opinion using a table mounted router is more dangerous because BOTH your hands are exposed. Free hand routing, both hands are on the router and the bit is shielded. Keep in mind I'm only talking about the safety aspect; clearly the usefulness of a table mounted router is exceptional.
Read (and follow!) everything you can on using routers safely...they bite...hard. Lots of opposing opinions amongst the members here, but in my opinion using a table mounted router is more dangerous because BOTH your hands are exposed. Free hand routing, both hands are on the router and the bit is shielded. Keep in mind I'm only talking about the safety aspect; clearly the usefulness of a table mounted router is exceptional.
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