Unlocking the Power of the Router Table
In the hands of a skilled woodworker, a router is already a versatile tool, but pairing it with a router table elevates its potential significantly. From adding fine details to machining small, awkward parts with ease, a router table allows for greater precision, control, and safety than a handheld router alone.
1. Crafting Delicate Custom Trim with Ease
Creating fine architectural trim is challenging with a handheld router, especially when dealing with slim or intricately shaped stock. A router table offers a stable, flat surface that makes it easy to guide small pieces safely and accurately across the bit. A length timber can be transformed into an elegant custom trim, something that simply doesn’t exist commercially. A simple approach is to routs both edges before trimming to final size on a table saw. This approach not only ensures uniformity but also opens up creative options for custom furniture and cabinetry.
2. Making Dowels When Store-Bought Won’t Do
Sometimes you need a dowel of a specific size or timber species that’s just not available off the shelf. The router table makes it simple to produce dowels that match your project's requirements. By running square stock through a roundover bit in successive passes, rotating the piece 90 degrees each time, you can round off all sides to form a perfectly smooth dowel. It’s a straightforward, repeatable technique that’s both satisfying and practical.
3. Using a Router Table as a Jointer Substitute
Don’t have a jointer? No problem. Your router table can double as one with a simple fence modification. By attaching a thin shim to the outfeed side of the fence, and using a straight pattern following bit, you can joint edges cleanly. The shim creates a slight offset that compensates for the material being removed.
4. Duplicating Project Legs with Perfect Consistency
When a project requires multiple identical parts, like furniture legs, a router table and a flush-trim bit become invaluable. The process starts with a master template cut from thin hardboard and attached to the workpiece using double-sided tape. After rough-cutting the shape close to the template with a jigsaw or bandsaw, the router table is used to flush-trim the excess. The result is a perfect match to the original, allowing for repeatable results across dozens of parts. This method ensures all legs sit flat and look uniform, without tedious hand-shaping.