Router Table Tune Up article

Simple Tune Up for Router Table Operations

There are number of things that you can do before operating your router table that can help
you immensely. It’s all in the details that give you some you that extra bit of accuracy and
longer life from your router.

This article will break down the focus into two different groups, the router and the router table.

The Router Table

I believe in the adage of keeping things simple. There are some simple things you can do with
your table that can help your routing accuracy.

Keep the table clean. I am a huge believer in dust collection. Not only is it good to
have the table clean but it also is good for your lungs. A good dust collection system
helps keep the dust out of places that can affect the accuracy of your work. I always
take a small broom and remove the dust from the crevices of the fence and around the
areas of the dust collection input. Somehow there is this magical area that the chips
can get into that avoids being sucked into the dust collector. Even using a shop
vacuum for dust collection can have a huge advantage. I believe in custom dust
collection for the router table. I especially like have dust collection at the fence and
down below the table. Routers have this unique ability to throw wood dust everywhere
in the shop.

Another area that I routinely check is between the insert and the table. How the dust
gets in this small area I will never know. I do know that it lodges under the insert and if
allowed to stay manages to lift the insert slightly above the table top. This makes and
uneven surface which can affect your edge profile work. I love having compressed air
in the shop for this very purpose. One quick burst of air and the area is clean and
ready for the next pass.

There have been many arguments about whether to have an open table or bench top
router table or a closed one. I myself lean on the open table concept so that the router
can get some good clean air. I believe in this concept for a couple of reasons. My
Bosch router got so gummed up with sawdust in the on/off switch mechanism that it
would not start anymore. It took me weeks to figure out what was wrong with it. I now
always blast that area with the compressed air for preventative maintenance. The other
area is the area underneath the router. It should be kept clean. The router sucks air
into to for cooling, and if the area underneath is littered with sawdust, guess what goes
into it? I started to blast the inlet air on between routings with air and noticed a huge
difference. Now to protect my tools I make sure I do it a lot.

The Router

I have already touched on the importance of keeping the router clean previously. I also am an
advocate on cleaning the whole unit itself after use. Again compressed air is a great asset in
doing this particular chore. Reading the manual and keeping up with the recommended
maintenance procedures and lubrications is also a pretty good idea. As much as it pains me
to read the manual, it is a good idea.

1.    Router bits. I have a lot of bits and like the way they look perched and ready in my
shop. I don’t like it when they don’t do a good job of cutting whatever it is that I am working
on. I use to have my bits sharpened on a regular basis and spent a good amount of money
doing just that. I have switched approaches somewhat to that mindset. I never used to clean
my bits. I just let the sharpener do that. What a dummy. An incredible amount of gunk gets
built up on the bits that can really hamper performance. Cleaning them on a regular basis is
one of the best things you can do. I use a blade and bit cleaning fluid out of a can and an old
box. Once in a while I get an old box and spray the heck out of all my bits and use a gentle
brush to clean them up. After that I wipe them clean and give them a few strokes on the
diamond hone sharpener and it makes an amazing difference. I highly recommended doing
this since it extends the life of your bits between sharpening. (which will cost you less)

2.    Cleaning    Profile bits have a bearing on them that needs some attention from time to
time. There are several places that sell kits that you can own to maintain or replace them on
a regular basis. These are a good idea to have on hand. Having a bit gone useless because
of a bad bearing is a wasted bit. Bearings are in the need of replacement and cleaning just
like the bits themselves. If you look closely you can see the gunk that builds up on them as
well. Cleaning them with a blade cleaner or appropriate cleaner is a good insurance policy as
well.
See router bits here

3. The stock

Men are impatient by nature and I am no exception. I want to get the job done as quickly as
possible so that I can enjoy the finished product. I have learned over the years that the
quality comes when you slow down. Take less of a bite out of the wood by lowering the bit in
the table.   This makes it much easier on the router and increases the life of it. If you’re
routing a hardwood, this makes a very big impact. It also helps prolong the life of your bits as
well.

4. Router Speed

The speed of the router is one of the most overlooked items in operation on your table. Next
to direction of feed it ranks right up there with neglect. Look at the size of the bit. The bigger
it is, the slower it must go. There are several good guidelines in how fast you should spin a
bit. We have a reference included in our shop reference guide.

5.      Collet

Make sure the collet your using is clean and in good shape. If your router is older and you
have been using the same collet forever, than it might be a good time to replace it. Think
about its work conditions. Its harshly used, and spinning at a million miles per hour. Regular
inspection is a great idea.