How To Set The Depth On A Router

fourteen Fuss-complimentary router-scrap setup

Unless yous're making many multiples of project parts, it nearly e'er takes longer to fix for a cut than information technology does to actually rout the workpiece. Fortunately, over the years nosotros've discovered shortcuts to brand virtually setups a breeze.

Shim your fence for disappearing edges

When routing certain border profiles on your router tabular array, such equally the door lip shown, the bit removes enough stock that the profiled border no longer bears against the outfeed fence. In these cases, shim the outfeed argue-we attached ¹⁄₃₂ "—thick plastic laminate with double-faced record-to provide a bearing surface for the workpiece beyond the chip. Without this, y'all'll end upwards cutting a snipe-similar gouge when the edge clears the infeed fence.
Add a temporary depth stop

If a router bit hits the lesser of the collet, y'all can't tighten information technology fully, creating the potential for the chip to piece of work loose in use. And with some routers it's difficult to agree the bit at the correct depth while simultaneously tightening the collet nut. To prevent this, slip a snug-fitting O-ring onto the bit shank to hold it in place while you tighten the nut. Yous could also driblet a small prophylactic grommet into the spindle to prevent bits from bottoming out. When you tighten the nut the rubber volition flex every bit the bit shank draws against it. (You'll find O-rings and grommets at nearly hardware stores.)
Trim but what you need

Flush trimming solid-wood edging on veneered plywood or MDF is a expert job for a trim router because of its small base and low center of gravity. But fifty-fifty if you lot use a midsize router, set the bearing depth of the flush-trim bit just beneath the edge to be trimmed. This style, if you accidentally tip the router, you lot won't cut into the plywood'southward veneer. And when trimming away edging, rout in a climb-cutting management, right to left in this case, to avoid violent out grain on the forest edging.
Save article of clothing and tear and get cleaner cuts with incremental routing

When possible, trim away excess fabric from your workpieces at the tablesaw or bandsaw earlier routing. Trace the profile of the bit onto your stock to forestall overcutting, as shown. Whether you're routing an border profile, sliding dovetail, or whatsoever other task that removes a good scrap of wood, doing this volition save you time, vesture on your bits and router motor, and a pile of shavings.
Flawless surfaces

For a flawless surface, always leave a tiny corporeality— ¹⁄₆₄ " should do it-for a last routing pass to remove burn or churr marks. On a router table, before making the cut, apply masking tape to the workpiece edge or router-table argue, as shown (two layers if the record is ultra-thin). Before the concluding pass, remove the tape for a whisker-thin shave. For handheld piece of work, attach two or three business cards to your router's subbase for the majority of the routing, and then remove them prior to the final pass.
Tabletop spacer

Rather than adjust the bit's height every bit y'all remove cloth incrementally, ready it to the exact height from the kickoff and apply removable shims on the tabular array surface. Stack layers of ¹⁄_four " hardboard or plywood on the tabular array using double-faced tape, with cutouts around the flake, and and so remove one layer after each pass. This proves specially helpful if your router or router elevator is fussy to fine-tune because y'all ready information technology in one case and lock it in.
Achieve dead-on measurements without a ruler

Use machined contumely setup confined, typically sold in kits from ¹⁄₈ " to ^ane⁄_ii " in thickness, to set bit depths with expressionless-on precision. For case, when using a tongue-and-groove bit set on ³⁄₄ "-thick stock, gear up the groove cutter ^ane⁄_iv " from the subbase or table surface, equally shown. And so rout the tongue to fit the groove.

Brass setup confined: part #144932, Woodcraft, woodcraft.com.
Examination-stock approximate blocks

Later perfecting a setup, specially for mating 2-scrap setups, such equally cope-and-stick bits or tongue-and-groove bits (shown), keep a slice of test stock from each bit to apply as estimate blocks for quick setup on future jobs.
Dead-on depth cuts

When routing through dovetails on a router jig, use your bodily workpieces to accurately set up the bit'southward cutting depth. Offset, tape a slice of scrap onto the confront of the workpiece that will mate with the 1 you'll rout, letting it extend 1" or and so from the end of the workpiece. Next, set the router in position on the jig's template with the chip tightened in the collet. Lower the bit until it touches the scrap piece for a dead-on setting. If you prefer to brand your tails and pins a little proud to be trimmed later on assembly, simply lower the bit another one-8th plough of the router's depth-adjustment dial, and then lock the router'south base.
Correct-on swivel mortises

Anytime you're routing hinge mortises, unfold the hinges and set the router onto one leafage of each. And so lower the bit until it touches the benchtop for the verbal cutting depth for those hinges.
The dominion rules

The gap between the bit and opening in the router's base sometimes makes it difficult to accurately ready a chip's depth by standing a steel rule on end. Instead, use a dominion with scales marked vertically on the ends, preferably in ¹⁄₃₂ " increments.

Steel rules: 6" dominion, part #13394, 12" rule, office #13404; Hartville Tool, hartvilletool.com.
Subsequently market centering cones

Many of today'southward routers come up with a centering cone, used to middle the subbase to the spindle. An exactly centered bit proves critical for joinery tasks that involve guide bushings, such as dovetails or box joints. Without existence centered, your joints will probable non fit perfectly. If your router didn't come with a centering cone, get an aftermarket one.

Router centering cone: part #RA1150, Tool Barn, toolbarn.com.
Flushing your fences

To position a router-tabular array fence flush with a bit's bearing or a detail betoken on a bit'southward profile, become it shut by eyeballing it, and then tighten down 1 end of the fence. Holding a steel rule confronting both fence faces, pivot the loose end until the rule hits the marking you lot want. Tighten the other end of the fence when the infeed and outfeed faces line upward with your registration bespeak on the bit.
Make a mark

When fine-tuning a fleck's height with an in a higher place-the-tabular array adjustment tool, such as the one shown here, brand a pencil marking on the tabular array and line it upwardly with the scale's nada reference. At present when making fine adjustments up or down you will always know where y'all began, to avoid overshooting the starting indicate should you accept to support.