An exercise for the Router Enthusiast…

We we have been talking about the mass production project and the importance of being able to change your router bits safely and efficiently. This post is about the changing router bits and how to get practice doing the process. This post is about a small assignment that is good for everybody. It requires 10 pieces of 5 X 7 X 3/4″ MDF, a series of 5 X 7 Photos, a spray adhesive, a small piece of each 1/8″, 1/4″ thick plywood, and two router bits (the 1/4″ round over and the 1/4″ cove bit) Plus of course your router in a router table.

Now on with the assignment:

Step One: Cut the MDF up into 10 pieces that are at 5 X 7 X 3/4 inches.

Step Two: With your 10 – 5 X 7 photos use the spray adhesive to mount the one photo to each piece of the MDF. Let these dry completely.

Step Three: Now for the router assignment, you are going to set up using set up (A) and make four cuts on the face where the photos are glued to the 5 X 7 piece with the round over bit. Then you are going to change to the cove bit and using set up (B) set up and cut the back face with the cove bit. Once done the cove cut on the four edges of the back face stop and re-set the round over bit.

Step Four: Change the bit back to the round over bit and again set up using set up (A) cut the second 5 X 7 photo piece and continue the changing of the router bits and cutting of the pieces until you have finished cutting all the 5 X 7 Photo mounted pieces.

Please note: the exercise here is to change router bits and that means set up and cut with the round over bit on one piece then change to the cove and set up and cut with the cove. For every piece cut you change the router bits, then you compare the molded edges to see how accurate your cuts are with both the round over and cove cuts.

The Router bit set up:

A) Set the router up with the round over router bit and use the 1/8″ plywood as a router bit gauge to set the height of the profile line. (See Photos) 1) a photo of the wood gauge and the 1/4″ round over bit, 2) a photo showing the set up with the wood gauge, 3) a photo showing the use of the safety guide pin.

B) Set the router up with the cove bit and use the 1/4″ plywood as a router bit gauge to set the height of the cove bit. The plywood must be set just under the bearing. (See Photos) 1) a photo of the wood gauge and the 1/4″ cove bit, 2) a photo showing the set up with the wood gauge, 3) a photo showing the use of the safety guide pin.

The Router Bit Change and Set-up Challenge:

Finally, I would like to issue a “Router Bit Change and Set-up Challenge” to those out there that figure they can create 5 separate set up and cuts accurately and safely using their own way of setting up router bits. Or you can use my method of the set-up and change as shown above and your talents. Beginners are all welcome as well…

To record and post your talents:

I was thinking of using the point and shoot camera set on the video feature, a tripod and Youtube to document each of the people interested in showing their talent. The idea is to show how you change and set up your router. Remember Youtube has a maximum video length of 10 minutes and a maximum size of 2 gig. The video has to be taken in one continuous take with speed NOT being a factor. We are looking for video showing the best way to change router bits that are completed with both safety and accuracy the main focus.

As the reward to the winners I will feature the top three Youtube videos on my Blog and give the lifetime membership (Total value, $189.00) to our TRW video.

I will do the winner blog posting on September 01, 2010, hopefully we will have YOU the interested router enthusiast joining in on the challenge. SO, get your router and camera out and start practicing. Once you have completed your video, upload it to my Youtube group called routerworkshop.