A hand-held wood router is rightfully considered one of the most popular home craftsman tools. Moreover, we will emphasize the semantic emphasis here on the word “master”. As a rule, the question of purchasing one arises when the capabilities of other hand tools for wood processing, including their electric counterparts, have been exhausted.
Meanwhile, the capabilities of a manual wood router, even with its most primitive use, are impressive. Even the simplest models allow you to perform a huge number of types of work. But first, let's talk about their main technical characteristics and design features to help you navigate the choice of tool.
Manufacturing process of accessories
Manufacturers of milling cutters, taking care of consumers, include in the kit a simple set of tools that make the work of milling cutters easier. You can acquire the rest of the necessary equipment in two ways:
Accessories for wood router
- purchase ready-made;
- make it yourself.
If financial capabilities allow, then there is no need to waste precious time on making tools. But most home craftsmen still prefer to do them themselves. Moreover, the process of their manufacture is not particularly difficult.
Homemade devices do not require preliminary drawing up of drawings. You can make them using a simple drawing, understanding the principle of their operation, and having a minimal set of tools.
Difficulties can only arise in the process of making a table for a manual router. Here you will need to make every effort to make calculations and indicate the dimensions of the table. Therefore, it will hardly be possible to do without a drawing.
How to do it yourself?
From the very beginning, it’s worth making a reservation that you shouldn’t make a universal carriage for a hand router yourself. This is an almost precision product, and it is almost impossible to make such a model at home. If you need to carry out important work at a professional level (for example, produce and install doors on a large scale), then you can get by with simpler solutions (which will be discussed now). We are talking about sets of templates that are made from:
- become;
- plexiglass;
- textolite.
But it follows precisely from this that it is stupid to limit yourself only to the offers of official suppliers. They mainly sell carriages for the most popular hinges and other parts, and the range of such types of fittings is not even covered by a third.
When making a template (carriage), you should ensure that the dimensions are set as accurately as possible from the very beginning. The simplest design, designed to work with workpieces from 50 cm and larger, is made from:
- metal corner 30x30;
- studs category M10 (complete with suitable washers and nuts);
- plywood sheet 60x20 cm with a thickness of 0.8 cm.
The studs should be secured to the tabletop. To fix them, use holes for bench stops. The nuts are tightened from below. The work takes approximately 2-2.5 hours. Since the carriage is movable, it is easy to adjust it to a certain height.
You just have to move the nuts on each of the studs. In the same way, it is possible to set a slight tilt of the router. To work with workpieces that require fastening under the carriage, the edges are clamped with clamps on the workbench. An alternative solution is to pull the edges to the studs. The choice depends on your own taste and technical feasibility.
It is imperative to use drawings of milling carriages. The photo shows one schematic version - without indicating the dimensions, but everything should be clear. Alas, you will either have to draw diagrams with dimensions yourself, or search long and hard - it is quite difficult to find ready-made samples in open sources. Another manufacturing option is possible - obtaining a carriage with a slide. It will be able to level the surface over fairly large areas.
For completely independent work you will need a circular saw. If you don’t have it, you can always order a complete set of parts from the nearest furniture manufacturer. In addition to the circular saw, you will need to prepare:
- MDF in sheets;
- wood screws;
- a router for which the carriage is prepared (as a sample, for precise fitting);
- miter saw;
- set of clamps;
- drills and a screwdriver for tightening them;
- Swenson's square;
- construction tape;
- pencil or marker;
- ruler.
The width of the strips is determined by what height of the sides is considered optimal by the craftsmen themselves. The next step is to measure the width of the router base. A wide strip should be made with some margin to guarantee freedom of maneuver during work. The preparation of the milling carriage is completed by sawing out the sides. What remains next is:
- mount the base, tightening the sidewalls with clamps;
- check the exact fit of the corners;
- punch pilot holes for screws;
- attach the sides using 5 cm self-tapping screws;
- cut the panel to length;
- cut the sides;
- If desired, trim the walls along the edges (if this is aesthetically necessary).
Manual milling machine - basics of operation
Before you begin, you must complete the following steps:
Scheme for creating a platform for a router
- secure the cutter in the collet;
- make sure that the device matches the power and speed of the hand router;
- adjust the required milling depth;
- If you plan to use cutters for edge processing, you need to install a guide ring or bearing.
It should be remembered that the workpiece must always rest securely against any surface. The immobility of the part must be ensured even before turning on the milling motor.
Main types of nozzles
A cutter is a rotating part that is dotted with teeth over its entire surface. Such elements can be found in different configurations. Using a cutter, you can process not only wood, but also plastic or metal, but they are still usually used for wood.
There are the following types of products:
- End.
- Edges.
- Grooved.
It should be noted that it is worth periodically applying lubricant to the support bearing. Thus, the parts will last much longer.
End mills
This type of part works not only because of the use of axial load. Such cutters involve the use of side edges, which makes it possible to move the cutting element within the support area. The result is neat selections that are formed in the tree.
The number of cutting edges may vary and this will affect the cleanliness of the cut. Typically, this type of attachment has a monolithic design, but there are also crown attachments that are used for wood drilling. This option should be used in a situation where there is no router at hand.
This category has several varieties:
- Spiral.
- End
- Burrs.
- Conical.
- Profile.
- Spherical.
End ones are used to form grooves that have different configurations and sizes. They can be used not only for processing wood, but also to create a groove/tenon.
A profile cutter can perform certain tasks:
- End processing.
- Creation of grooves with a rather complex configuration.
- Decorative design of ornaments.
Wood edging
Edge cutters for hand routers represent the largest group and are most often used for hand tools. They are used to make edges on wood. This option is often preferred by home craftsmen, since even in the largest sets the bulk of the parts are edging attachments. It is much easier to purchase such a set of cutters than to select everything separately.
This variety includes:
- Profiles, which are used to create complex shapes of the edges of parts.
- Shaped or molded, which are indispensable for rounding and rounding edges.
- Conical, which are used to remove the corner chamfer.
- Disc-type, with the help of which grooves are formed in the edge parts.
- Rebated ones that remove quarters in the edge parts.
- Wood fillet cutter. Typically used to make grooves.
- Figirey, used to create panels.
Typically, edge cutters are equipped with a bearing. This way you can limit the stroke of the tool, and thereby prevent excessive penetration into the surface of the tree. It is worth noting that the cutting edge will not be placed at the same level as the bearing. Using the support platform, you can adjust the depth into which the cutter will plunge.
If the nozzle produces too large cuts, then the work must be done in stages, each time deepening the tool into the material until the desired configuration is achieved.
The figurine cutter has a large weight, as well as a diameter. With the help of such tools you can work on stationary structures.
Grooving equipment
Using a wood groove cutter for a hand router, grooves are created. There are several types of nozzles:
- Fillets, with the help of which semicircular grooves are made.
- Conical, thanks to which you can apply threads to a flat surface.
- T-shaped, creating a corresponding pattern.
- Shaped.
- Elements called “Dovetail”.
- Straight grooves, which are intended for cylindrical parts.
- Combined, with the help of which large-sized wooden panels are connected.
Features of manufacturing a rip fence
The rip fence is the most common attachment for a hand router. It allows the cutter to move in a straight line relative to a reference surface, such as the edge of a table or guide rail. Using the rip fence, you can mill grooves located on the workpiece or edges.
This device is almost always supplied with a hand router. But in its absence, you can cope on your own. The parallel stop has a simple design, so it will not be difficult to make it yourself.
It includes the following elements:
Scheme of a rip fence on a manual router
- rods inserted into the milling cutter body;
- a locking screw that secures the rods;
- an adjustment screw that allows you to adjust the distance of the cutter from the surface being processed;
- support pads, thanks to which the device rests on the surface being treated.
First you need to select a flat base that runs parallel to the line of movement of the cutter. Any oblong object can be used as a stop, which is connected to the router with one, or preferably two, fixed rods.
To prepare the stop for work, you need to insert the rods into the holes located in the base of the router and secure them with a locking screw. Next, proceed to adjust the distance between the cutter and the stop surface by engaging the adjusting screw.
Using the rip fence, you can create not only straight, but also shaped cuts. To do this, the device is supplemented with one more detail - a wooden block. One side of the part should be straight, and the other round or angular. The block is placed on the working surface so that its straight side rests against the stop, and its curved side rests against the base surface.
Guide rail
When it comes to straight lines, a guide rail is a good alternative to the rip fence. It is fixed at an arbitrary distance from the edge and at any angle to it. Instead of a stop, a special shoe is installed on the rods - it slides along the tire and sets the position of the router. Due to the support on the guide, a height difference may occur as the machine is raised above the workpiece. To avoid holding it suspended, extend the support leg (if provided).
In a special configuration, such guides also serve for precise milling of holes, which is especially important when making furniture (the ruler has holes with a standard pitch, the machine has a stopper; all you have to do is select the desired positions and drill).
Important note: a set of parts for working along the guide is not purchased in all cases; it must be included in the manufacturer's list of accessories and be suitable for the specific router. The tire is fixed relative to the workpiece
The router is positioned along it using a “shoe” similar to a side stop, and can be placed at different distances from it. Since only part of the platform rests on the tire, an additional “leg” is extended
The tire is fixed relative to the workpiece. The router is positioned along it using a “shoe” similar to a side stop, and can be placed at different distances from it. Since only part of the platform rests on the tire, an additional “leg” is extended.
Manufacturing of devices for processing poles and balusters
Each master can independently make accessories for a hand router that will satisfy his personal needs. For example, a milling machine is used to process bodies of revolution—objects that have a round shape. These include pillars, balusters and other wooden elements that have a similar configuration.
But in order to achieve a positive result, it is necessary to prepare a device that makes it easier to cut grooves in the rotating bodies. With its help, it will be possible to make longitudinal grooves and process along a circular contour.
Wood router attachments
The design of such a device consists of the following elements:
Woodworking device in detail
- housings;
- mobile milling carriage;
- disk for setting the rotation angle;
- fixing screws ensuring immobility of the workpiece being processed;
- locking screw.
To get started, you need to place the baluster into the device body, securing it with screws. Using a rotary disk, the part is placed at the desired angle and secured with a locking screw. Next, a carriage with a milling cutter is set in motion, which cuts a groove along the entire length of the workpiece. To cut the next groove, the fixation of the product is loosened and it is again positioned at the desired angle.
It is advisable to perform all these operations with an assistant who will slowly rotate the workpiece. The operation of the device can be automated by equipping it with a drive from an electric drill or the most primitive screwdriver.
Tool table
Milling table with stops
The very first necessary device that makes it possible to conveniently work with such hand tools is a milling table.
The simplest table design consists of a table top, which can be a sheet of chipboard or other similar material with holes for installing tools, as well as a guide that is attached to the table with clamps.
Having made ordinary legs, we get the main device for our hand tools - a table on which we can install any other devices.
Secrets of milling tenons
“Tongue and groove” is the most reliable way to fasten wooden parts. It is used in the construction of timber houses, flooring and other household needs.
Product for making spikes
To make such a locking connection, it is necessary to maintain high precision when cutting tenons. And the best assistant in this difficult task is a tenon-cutting device for a hand router.
General view of the tool for making a dovetail
Thanks to its versatility, it is possible to mill various joints, including straight and more complex ones, such as dovetails.
The main element of the tenoning device is the copying ring. It ensures the precision of the cutter's movement and moves along the groove in a special template for the router. You can make a copying machine with your own hands. To do this, you need to select groove templates that will be cut using a milling machine.
Special kits
Separately there are kits for performing special work - for example, a device for inserting hinges. The device is an individually made or customized template for this type of milling, equipped with specially designed fasteners that secure the tool at the end of the door leaf.
Homemade device for inserting loops
As a rule, such templates are made independently. Any highly specialized carpenter tries to have an individual set, especially if the work is carried out on the customer’s premises.
Hinge cutters
There are also standard accessories for hinges, in the form of special cutters. You don't need a template to work with them.
Door hinge cutter
When performing home renovation work, you can get by with simpler methods of cutting niches for hinges or grooves for a lock. It is enough to install a second parallel stop on the rods and then the router will be securely fastened to the end of the door leaf.
This method is less convenient and is not suitable for mass production of doors, but for one-time work it will save money on purchasing a special kit.
Binding cutter set
A set of cutters specifically for a specific type of work
There are also sets of cutters, each of which cannot be used separately. In such sets, the sharpening of the tips is synchronized, and each subsequent cutter complements the work of the previous one. Let's take a bookbinding kit as an example.
Binding made by a set of cutters
It is by using all the cutters from the set that you can get a joint without gaps. To increase the versatility of application, typesetting cutters are available.
Universal typesetting cutter
Several complementary cutting attachments are attached to the axis, the arrangement of which can be combined. At the same time, with one set you can perform work that requires several attachments.
Thus, using a variety of devices for a manual router, you can do complex woodworking with your own hands without using stationary milling machines. This issue is especially relevant when living in an apartment, when it is impossible to find a place to place the machine.
And with the help of a hand router with a good set of attachments and additional accessories, you can organize a mini-workshop on the balcony. Only when working indoors, it is necessary to ensure removal of dust and sawdust.
Why do you need a router?
Without a router, it is impossible to make high-quality furniture according to original sketches or intricate wood crafts. Of course, an experienced master will make do with a non-specialized tool, but in this case it will require much more work and time with an unpredictable final result.
The most popular among amateurs, vertical milling cutters are capable of performing many different operations. They cut grooves, edges, splines in wooden products and parts, chamfer, and select quarters. In addition, vertical milling cutters are used for making longitudinal edges and forming complex joints on tenons (straight or dovetail type - we mentioned it in the article “Do it yourself frame”) and tongues.
"Specialists" in milling
Versatility also has a downside. Undoubtedly, vertical milling machines can do a lot, but they are inconvenient to use in cramped conditions. Here you need compact edge routers.
Such tools are easy to hold even with one hand. At the same time, they provide high precision processing - they remove the edge without a hitch and strictly to the specified size. The position of the cutter is changed using a scale and an adjustment wheel.
If you are not sure that there will be a lot of work for an edge router, then you should take a closer look at combination routers. Such machines are equipped with two bases - for plunge milling and edge processing. True, in difficult situations, an edge router is still more convenient.
Furniture maker
Also on sale are dowel milling machines, which are also called filler or lamella milling machines. Such tools are used for milling grooves for flat dowels for corner and edge joints (lamella routers), as well as for making holes for furniture dowels and dowels (filler routers).
This is a standard operation in furniture making. It must be said that making grooves with a conventional tool is a very tedious task. And with an additive milling machine, everything is resolved in the shortest possible time and, moreover, with impeccable quality.
Link on topic: Working with a lamellar router - what can be done with it
