Читать книгу Practical Weekend Projects for Woodworkers - Phillip Gardner - Страница 20

The router has—in recent years—been wholeheartedly embraced by the weekend woodworker. It is a sort of cross between a drill and a jigsaw, but on the other hand, like neither. It is actually a handheld version of a machine from the joiner’s shop called a spindle molder, with a chuck, like a drill, called a collet. Cutters are placed in the collet like a drill bit, the main difference being that once the cutter has entered the surface of the wood, you can move the tool and cutter in any direction. This enables you to cut channels through the middle of the wood or intricate moldings on the edges with superb accuracy.

While the router is often used as purely a means to machine decorative parts and edges, by far the most useful aspect for the weekend woodworker is its ability to cut precise joints every time, thereby overcoming a major skill barrier and allowing entry for all into the craft of woodworking. The array of cutters available will give you the capability to cut housings, rabbets, mortise and tenons, and dovetails—in fact, any of the simple joints used in this book.

Even though these tools have only recently started to have a huge impact on the hobbyist market, they have been in existence since the early 1900s. Consequently, the range of accessories and cutters is vast, with constant additions to both. This enables the weekend woodworker to have access to the sophisticated machining possibilities of the joiner’s shop, resulting in great savings of time and money. However, they can appear to be mysterious and intimidating machines. This chapter will help you to understand how the tool works and learn how to use it safely and effectively.

Routers are produced in a range of different sizes. The smallest, shown on the left, is easy to handle and economical to buy, though only powerful enough to cope with light jobs. The midsized model in the center is a versatile machine with a more powerful motor and sophisticated features, suitable for more sustained use. The machine on the right is a heavyweight tool with a ½ in. (12 mm) collet. It can cope with most jobs and is powerful enough to drive the largest cutters.

This router is a medium-size model with a fully adjustable fence. Also shown is a small range of cutters and guide bushes (to be used in conjunction with plywood templates).