[Mike]

Hiya Tom. Based on the fact that you cut from left to right free hand, method 2 would be indicated. I have seen Norm Abrahm cutting opposite to this with the explanation of less pull into the work. When using the fence as a guide is there a right or wrong way? This same question came up under cutting dado's and I suggested having the guide above the work and cutting left to right. My reasoning was your router is flipped and the cutter is rotating in the opposite direction compared to when it is table mounted. And table mounted routing is done from right to left.

 

[Mike]

Herb, its your lucky day! One of the best projects you can build is your own router table. To make life simple for beginers, Rousseau sells mounting plates, a template and guide bushing set, and a kit for centering your router on the mounting plate. Some double sided carpet tape, 4 small allen screws for leveling, a 1/2" straight cutting bit and you are ready to go. Installing the mounting plate into your table top is a breeze. If you have any doubts of the quality of these products, this is what was used on the New Yankee Workshop for 10 years. I think it would be great if Oak Park offered a similar kit for the vacuplate. The two piece guide bushing with the removeable collar takes all the guess work out for first time users. By the way, make sure you keep the template and guide bushing handy, you will be making tables for your friends before you know it!

 

[Mike]

Ok Tom. What you are saying is making sense to me now. With the fence on the right side I can see how the clockwise rotation would help pull the fence tight to the work piece.
When you go to cut a dado across a board, IE a cabinet end, you will use a clamped straight edge as a guide. Following the logic that you want the cutter to pull you towards your guide, it should be on the left side and you should be pushing away from you. Correct?