A wood router is a power tool used for cutting or routing grooves and moldings into wood. It comes in fixed spindle, plunge, and combined versions and uses different cutting bits. Fixed spindle routers are best for accuracy, while plunge routers are suitable for deep cutting and starting in the middle of lumber. Variable speed controls and soft start features are common, and operators should use ear and eye protection due to noise and dust.
A wood router is a high-speed, hand-held or bench-mounted power woodworking tool used to cut or route straight or decorative profile grooves and moldings into the surface or edges of wood. It is available in fixed spindle, plunge and combined versions. The wood router uses a variety of cutting bits of different sizes and profiles and can be used to machine most types or grades of wood as well as other materials. It may feature variable speed controls or soft start systems that allow for better control at extremely high speeds.
The router is a power tool that is usually hand operated or bolted to a workbench for static use. Uses profiled cutting bits at high speed to produce U, V and square slots, dovetail joints and many different decorative edges on wood used for furniture and cabinet construction. The wood router generally features operating speeds of 8,000 to 30,000 revolutions per minute (rpm) to cut lumber cleanly without gouging or splintering. The router can be manually advanced to complete the cut or set on a bench where the wood itself is moved onto the tool.
The two basic types of wood router available are the fixed spindle and piston variants, each of which has specific advantages. Fixed spindle routers have a set depth of cut that cannot be adjusted. These types are best suited for routing work along wood edges and for applications that require high levels of accuracy in depth of cut. They are also the only type of wood router that can be table or bench mounted. The fixed depth wood router is the best choice for general purpose applications and the most common type for DIY (Do It Yourself) enthusiasts.
Plunge routers have adjustable chucks that allow the user to change the depth of cut. These variants are particularly suitable for deep cutting applications where a gradual increase in depth of cut allows for cleaner milling and less bit wear. They are also useful for jobs where the cut starts in the middle of the lumber. In these cases, the plunge feature allows you to lower the bit into the wood while keeping the router base flat on the surface. This gives you more control over the machine and produces an accurate, clean path. The routers can also be purchased as combined units supplied with fixed and plunge bases, allowing for greater flexibility.
Wood router bits are available in a wide variety of profiles suitable for groove and edge cutting jobs. Bits designed for edge profiling usually have a steel or nylon bearing or wheel on their bits that act as a guide as the bit drives along the edge of the wood. When cutting slots or grooves in the surface of a piece of wood, it is common practice to use a pliers guide to ensure straight and accurate cuts.
Wood routers often come with variable speed controls to accommodate all materials and depths of cut. The soft start features are also common features on larger routers and allow for a smooth speed increase as the machine starts up. This allows the operator better control of the high starting torque generated by the tool. Routers can be used on a variety of wood types, plastics and, in special applications, some non-ferrous metals. Due to the very high operating speeds, wood routers generate a significant amount of noise and dust; operators should always use ear and eye protection during use.
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