Router Bit Safety Hazards

When your slot cutting router bit arrives, simply pick the router bit up and have a look at it from every angle. Be sure to wear protective gloves, bit blades are extra sharp for hardwoods.

Does it appear balanced and even? Any dings, dents, blemishes, cracks or broken in any manner? Then spin the router bit in your fingertips to see if you observe anything irregular such as out of balance or out of round. If you do, do not use the router bit and contact the manufacturer for a replacement bit.

Continually check your bits to make certain that they are clean, relatively free of pitch, and most of all, razor-sharp. In case the bit's cutting blades are dull, chipped, exceptionally burnt or possibly has any other deficiency, it should be sharpened or even replaced before use.

Check the condition of your router and power cord. Make certain the handles, power switch as well as thumb locking screw is tight. Check that the plug electrical power cord as well as the cord reliever are not frayed, cut or perhaps pulled loose.

In order to use any type of router bit safely and in order to get the best results, the router bit must be installed correctly into the router's collet chuck. Improper installment of your bit could easily cause excessive chatter and might increase the likelihood that the bit could break while in use. Router bits must always be run at the suggested manufacturer's RPM in addition to wearing appropriate safety gear, such as safety glasses, gloves and hearing protection. Always adhere to all manufacturer safety measures.

When installing the bit or even adjusting the router bit’s cutting level, be sure the electric power cord unplugged. When installing the bit inside the router collet, never tighten the chuck with the bit "seated". What you want to do is insert the bit in until the arbor (shank) hits the bottom of the collet chuck; then ease it out to about 1/8" to 1/4" before tightening the collet. Once the bit feels tight, there should be no less than a 3/4 of an inch of the router shank inside the collet. If your bit comes with an arbor that looks too short to guarantee 3/4" is encased inside the collet, the bit should be replaced with one that has a longer arbor.

Make certain the bearing screw looks well made. Does the router's wrench slide in and out easily to tighten the bit? It should. Take the bearing in your hands and turn it slowly so that you can feel it spin. There should be just a small amount of drag which means that it is tight and secured. It should feel consistent while spinning all the way around and should certainly not spin/rotate freely.

The carbide of the bit must be the same from one side to the other side - sometimes called the wings. This is very crucial regarding balance because carbide is 50% heavier compared to lead. The carbide must be the exact same thickness on each wing where it is attached.

From time to time you could see the carbide may look thinner in the center or perhaps at one end. This condition considerably increases the possibilities of the carbide snapping anytime in use. Generally speaking, thicker carbide is much better because it is a great deal stronger. It additionally gives you the opportunity to dress or possibly re-sharpen more times. Nevertheless, dressing and honing the carbide helps it to clear away material while routing, therefore uneven carbides could change the type of cut the router bit will create. Depending on how good or bad you are at grinding and sharpening, carbides can always be reshaped.

For the "depth of cut" adjustment, always test on a scrap piece of lumber to make certain the bit is cutting correct. If even more adjustments need to be made, disconnect the router's power cord first!

Following that, be positive to set your router device to the manufacturer's suggested RPM speed. Setting your router to an incorrect RPM speed will not only affect the router's performance, but also could cause the bit to snap much more easily.

Always feed the router from the left towards the right on the board. Feed your router in the exact same direction as the wood grain using a consistent motion. Feeding too slowly may cause the router bit to burn the wood and moving too fast may result in rough cuts as well as excessive wear.

Important Information

Immediately after completing any kind of cut, turn off the router motor but never lift the router off your work until the bit has stopped spinning. As soon as the cut is accomplished, disconnect the electrical power source, take out the bit and thoroughly clean the router.

Proposed Maximum Router Bit Speeds

Keep in mind that the suggested RPM speeds listed on this page are only suggestions! Your equipment or situation may require a substantially lower RPM speed for general performance and safety!