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Here are some of the worst routing mistakes made by new woodworkers and how to avoid them. Jack, the host of a popular woodworking and DIY channel, shares some of his personal experiences and tips to help beginners achieve better results with their projects.
From biting off too much at once to routing in the wrong direction, Jack covers a range of common mistakes that can affect the quality and longevity of your router bits. He also emphasizes the importance of practicing on a scrap piece of wood first and investing in a good set of router bits that you actually need. With a humorous tone, Jack provides practical advice and insights to help new woodworkers improve their skills and avoid costly mistakes.
Key Takeaways
- Avoid biting off too much at once and route in various stages to achieve a better finish.
- Practice on a scrap piece of wood first and invest in a good set of router bits that you actually need.
- Be aware of the direction and bearing of your router bit, and avoid overtightening the collet to prevent injury.
The Perils of Excessive Routing
Take It Slow, Win The Show
One of the biggest mistakes that new woodworkers make is biting off more than they can chew when it comes to routing. This can lead to a subpar finish and even ruin the entire project. Instead, it’s recommended to route in various stages, gradually working your way up to the final depth. This not only improves the quality of the finish but also prolongs the life of your router bits.
Practice Makes Perfect
Another common mistake is not practicing on a scrap piece of wood before using a new router bit on a final project. This can lead to disappointment and frustration when the finish doesn’t turn out as expected. It’s always best to test the finish on a practice piece of timber first to ensure that you’re happy with the result before applying it to your final project.
Only Invest in What You Need
New woodworkers often make the mistake of buying a large set of router bits with many options, only to find that they only use a few of them regularly. It’s important to think carefully about which router bits you’ll need and only invest in those, to avoid wasting money in the long run.
Beware of Router Burn
If you’re seeing router burn on your project, it’s likely that you’re going too slow or the router is set too high. It’s important to refer to the manufacturer’s recommended settings when using a router bit to avoid this issue.
Mind the Bearing
Be aware of the bearing on your router bit, as it can leave visible grooves in softwood if too much pressure is applied. To avoid this, simply use masking tape along the edge that the bearing will be rolling through.
Don’t Overtighten the Collet
When swapping out router bits, it’s important not to overtighten the collet, as this can lead to painful knuckle-bouncing when trying to loosen it. Instead, finger tighten the collet first and then give it a slight turn with a spanner to ensure it’s secure.
Remember, by avoiding these common mistakes, you can improve the quality of your woodworking projects and prolong the life of your router bits. Practice makes perfect, so take it slow and invest in only what you need to achieve the best results.
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Direction Dilemmas
Against The Grain
As a new woodworker, it’s easy to make mistakes when routing, especially when it comes to routing in the wrong direction. One crucial error that beginners make is routing in the same direction as the bit’s rotation. This can cause the router to run away and ruin the project. To avoid this, it’s important to move the router against the rotation of the bit, allowing it to cut into the wood and giving you full control over the router.
Climb Cutting Caution
Another mistake that beginners make is climb cutting, which is when the router is pushed in the same direction as the bit’s rotation. While more advanced woodworkers may use this technique, it’s not recommended for beginners, as it can be dangerous and cause the router to run away with you. Instead, it’s important to practice the right technique by moving the router against the rotation of the bit.
It’s also essential to invest in a good set of router bits and only buy the ones that you need. Buying a large set of router bits may seem like a good idea at first, but in reality, you’ll likely only use a few of them on a regular basis. Quality bits are essential for good results and can make a significant difference in the ease of cutting.
Finally, it’s important to practice on a scrap piece of wood before using a new router bit on your final project. This allows you to see what the finish will be like and make sure that you’re happy with it before applying it to your project. By avoiding these crucial mistakes, new woodworkers can ensure that their projects turn out beautifully and that they have a great time doing it.
The Bit Debate
Quality Over Quantity
As a new woodworker, it can be tempting to buy a large set of router bits, but this can lead to wasted money and unused tools. Instead, it’s important to invest in a good set of quality router bits that you actually need. This can make a significant difference in the ease of cutting and the quality of the end result. Jack recommends the Trend router bit set, which he has been using for years with great success.
The Essential Selection
When routing, it’s crucial to avoid biting off too much at once, as this can affect the quality of the finish and the longevity of the router bits. Instead, it’s best to route in stages, slowly working your way up to the final depth. It’s also important to practice on a scrap piece of wood first to ensure that you’re happy with the finish before applying it to your final project.
Another common mistake is routing in the wrong direction. To ensure full control over the router, it’s important to always move the router against the rotation of the bit. This allows the bit to cut into the wood and prevents the router from running away with you.
Additionally, it’s important to be aware of the bearing on the router bits, as this can leave a visible groove in softwood if too much pressure is applied. Jack recommends using masking tape along the edge that the bearing will be rolling through to avoid this issue.
Finally, it’s crucial to avoid overtightening the collet on the top of the router, as this can lead to painful knuckle bumps when swapping out the router bit. Instead, it’s best to finger tighten the collet first and then give it a slight turn with a spanner to ensure it’s secure.
By following these tips, new woodworkers can avoid some of the worst routing mistakes and achieve great results in their woodworking projects. Don’t forget to smash that like button to help spread the word and stay tuned for more woodworking and DIY tips from Jack.
Burning Desires
Speed It Up
New woodworkers often make the mistake of going too slow when routing, resulting in router burn along the edge of their project. This burn can be avoided by simply speeding up a bit. If you have an adjustable router, make sure to refer to the manufacturer’s recommended settings when using a router bit. If you’re still getting burn, it might be time to increase your speed.
Adjustable Settings Insight
Investing in a good set of router bits is essential for quality results, but it’s also important to only buy the bits that you need. New woodworkers often make the mistake of buying a large set of router bits and only using a few of them. Trend offers a great router bit set that has been highly recommended by many experienced woodworkers. When using new router bits, make sure to grab a practice piece of timber first to see what the finish is like before applying it to your final project.
Another mistake new woodworkers make is overtightening the collet on the top of the router. This can lead to knuckle injuries when trying to swap out the router bit. Finger tighten the collet first, and then use a spanner to give it a slight turn to make sure it’s secure.
Lastly, be aware of the bearing on the router bit. If you’re routing softwood and apply too much pressure, the bearing can leave a visible groove in your woodworking. To avoid this, use masking tape along the edge that the bearing will be rolling through.
Remember, practice makes perfect. By avoiding these common mistakes, new woodworkers can achieve better results and enjoy their woodworking projects even more.
Bearing The Brunt
Softwood Suffering
New woodworkers often make the mistake of applying too much pressure while routing softwood, which can leave visible grooves on the woodworking. However, this can be easily avoided by using masking tape along the edge that the bearing will be rolling through. This will help prevent the bearing from leaving an imprint on the softwood, which can ruin the project or require additional sanding.
Masking Tape Magic
Another common mistake made by new woodworkers is overtightening the collet on the top of the router. While this may keep the router bit in place, it can make it difficult to swap out the bit and can cause harm to the knuckles. To avoid this, it is recommended to finger tighten the collet first and then give it a slight turn with a spanner. This will ensure that the bit stays in place without causing any harm to the knuckles.
In addition, it is important to invest in a good set of router bits and only buy the ones that are needed. Quality bits are essential for good results and can make a significant difference in the ease of cutting. It is also crucial to practice on a scrap piece of wood first before using new router bits on the final project.
By avoiding these common mistakes, new woodworkers can achieve better results and avoid unnecessary frustration in their woodworking projects.
Collet Conundrum
Tightening Tantrums
As a new woodworker, it’s easy to make mistakes when it comes to using a router. One common mistake is overtightening the collet on the top of the router itself. While this may seem like a good idea to keep the router bit in place, it can lead to a painful experience when it comes time to swap out the bit.
To avoid this, it’s recommended to finger tighten the collet first and then use a spanner to give it a slight turn. This will ensure that the bit stays in place without causing any unnecessary pain to the user’s knuckles.
Spanner In The Works
Another mistake that new woodworkers make is not using the right tools for the job. When it comes to router bits, quality is key. Investing in a good set of router bits can make a significant difference in the ease of cutting and the overall results of the project.
However, it’s important to only buy the router bits that are necessary for the project at hand. Many beginners make the mistake of buying a large set of router bits, only to find that they only use a handful on a regular basis.
In addition, it’s important to practice on a scrap piece of wood before using a new router bit on a final project. This allows the user to see what the finish will be like and make any necessary adjustments before applying it to the final project.
By avoiding these common mistakes and following these tips, new woodworkers can ensure a successful and pain-free routing experience.
Tool Collection Tales
Penny Pinching Projects
In this section, we’ll be discussing some of the worst routing mistakes that new woodworkers tend to make and how to easily avoid them.
The first mistake that new woodworkers make is biting off more than they can chew. This mistake affects the quality of the finish as well as the longevity of the router bits. It’s important to route in various stages, especially when routing towards the edge of the piece of timber, to avoid chipping off the entire edge.
The second mistake is not practicing on a scrap piece of wood first. When using new router bits, it’s important to grab a practice piece of timber first to see what the finish is like and make sure that you’re happy with it before applying it to your final project.
Another big mistake that new woodworkers make is routing in the wrong direction. It’s important to always move the router against the rotation of the bit to allow the bit to cut into the wood and give you full control over the router.
Not investing in a good set of router bits is another mistake that new woodworkers make. Quality bits are essential for good results and can make a significant difference to the ease of cutting. It’s also important to only buy the router bits that you need.
If you’re seeing router burn on your project, it probably means that you are going too slow or if you have an adjustable router, it might be set too high. You should always refer to the manufacturer’s recommended settings when using a router bit.
Be aware of the bearing on the router bit. If you’re routing softwood and you apply a lot of pressure, you might find that the bearing leaves a visible groove in your woodworking. To avoid this, you can use some masking tape along the edge that the bearing will be rolling through.
Finally, overtightening the collet on the top of the router itself is a mistake that new woodworkers make. Finger tighten the collet first and then give it a slight turn with a spanner to make sure it’s not going anywhere.
Remember, you don’t need to spend a fortune to begin woodworking. By starting with a penny and aiming to create £1,000 with no tools, you can prove that it’s possible to penny-pinch your way to success.