208 Agricultural Mechanics and Technology Systems
Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Like other bits and cutting attachments, router bits are available in
several choices of material. The least expensive bits are constructed of high-
speed steel. HSS bits are adequate for softer woods, but they dull quickly,
especially when used on harder woods or on knots in soft woods. Carbide-
tipped bits stay sharper and last longer than HSS bits. Solid carbide bits are
the most expensive, but are engineered to last the longest.
Router bits need to be extremely sharp for clean, effi cient cutting. When
manufactured, router bits are balanced and sharp. Only some router bits may
be re-sharpened; sharpening a router bit is a job for a professional because it
requires specialized equipment and skill to maintain the balance.
Router bits should be stored in a manner that keeps them clean, dry,
and positioned so the cutting edges are not damaged. Today, many bits are
sold in their own individual plastic box or within a boxed set. A traditional
alternative storing method is to bore holes through the top of a block of wood
to hold the shanks of the bits. The holes in the holder need to be spaced
adequately to keep the bits from touching.
Router Tables
The torque a portable router produces can easily
cause the user to momentarily lose control of the tool.
When performing edge work, using a router table may
be a good choice. See Figure 8-41.
A router table is essentially a large accessory that
turns a portable router into a stationary machine.
In this design, a router is secured to the bottom of
the table with the bit protruding through the top.
The workpiece is brought to the machine instead
of manipulating the router around the workpiece.
Commercial tables are equipped with an adjustable
fence and a groove for a miter guide to provide extra
stability. Using a router table is an effective way to shape
the edges of numerous project materials, such as top
rails for a board fence or custom trim work in a home.
Planers and Jointers
Planers are used to shave layers of wood from
lumber to smooth surfaces, remove saw marks, or
adjust the thickness. See Figure 8-42. Planers are used to
surface rough-cut lumber and to trim it to the desired
thickness. Stationary models shave the entire width and
length of a board, removing no more than 1/16” at a
pass. Handheld portable planers are limited to cutting
widths of about 3″ to 6 1/2″.
Planers work by passing the board under a
rotary cutter with two or three very sharp blades that
uniformly slice away a layer of the lumber. The result
is fi nished lumber with the same thickness throughout
Steven Belanger/Shutterstock.com
Figure 8-41. When mounted to a router table, the
router bit is the only part that extends through the
tabletop. Keeping lumber pressed flat to the top of
the table controls the depth of the cut.
Dan70/Shutterstock.com
Figure 8-42. Power planers use a very sharp
rotating blade to shave away thin layers of wood
from the surface of lumber.