Using the router to fit the hinge…

Today we are using the router to make the hinge fit in the box and lid. Watch this slick way to make sure your piano hinge fits perfectly. This tip is one of many in the Router Workshop Video Series, Episode 506. To join today just click on the photo below, then fill out the subscription form and you will be sent your first episode as soon as your payment has cleared.

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/Routertips/hingegain.flv

What kind of router should I buy?

We constantly are being asked this question by prospective router users. Today’s post is about a possible tele-seminar between Dad, me and up to 20 router enthusiasts. If we get more than 10 and less than 21 interested router enthusiasts that want to talk about routers this tele-seminar will be a go,

What is a Tele-seminar?

It is a phone conversation between US and the participants where…

1. Each can ask any questions about purchasing a router on the market today and
2. You will be able to listen in on what we think is important when choosing a new router?

When and how long?

The tele-seminar date is Saturday February 27th, at 4:00 PM Central Standard Time, duration is 1 to 2 hours. Cost is $25.00 US each and is open to all from any where in the world. We will collect the participants phone numbers and contact each participant on the seminar date and time. We will cover the long distance charges.

How to sign up?

If your interested just comment in this post and we will send you the payment link and details of seminar. We will not publish any of the comments to this post we will just use your email address to send the details and the payment links.

What determines this is a go or not?

Please be advised we need at least 10 and no more than 20 participants before this is a go. To join in make your comment to this post.

What are we going to talk about?

So what are we going to talk about besides the question in the title of this post?  This is a very difficult question because for a hundred different people, there could be a hundred different answers and usually this question produces more questions like…

a) Are you a beginner or an experienced woodworker?
b) What type of operations will you expect to perform?
c) What quantity of processing do you expect to do?
d) What kind of cutters/bits will you be using?
e) Are you primarily interested in free hand or table routing?
f) What types of materials do you expect to process?
g) Will you be using the router in situations where you will require accessories? If so, what accessories would be required?

Plus many more questions that we haven’t thought of yet…thus the reason for the tele-seminar, which we hope will help you make a wise decision when purchasing your next Router.

We have a seminar outline already made and will discuss the best way to compare the available routers. Talk about topics like the best physical features, versatility, accessories, and size/speed. Plus answer any specific questions you might have about routers.

To join in please post a comment expressing your interest…

Making a Napkin Sketch…

Just a second thought…

About getting your small unused routers out from under the bench. I have been thinking and visualizing about what the bench for the routers would might look like from the last post.

In this post I would like to try something different and challenge you to create your napkin sketch on what this custom workbench would look like from your perspective.

If you have an idea on how this bench should look then comment in this post with your intend to submit your idea. I will then email you how to send your drawing to me.

I hope to see some of your ideas…

What to do with your cheap routers lying around,

This is Audio Commentary not Video

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/router_table_post/router_table_post.flv

What could you use this quick router table for, this table is great for that 1/4″ shank 1/2 HP router that you have laying around. This is your Black and Decker or Sears router that you don’t use much anymore because this router that has problems changing router bits.

The idea here is to mount a 1/4 round over bit, cove bit or chamfer bit etc…in your unused extra routers and mount these routers in a custom table top used to quickly round over or cove your pieces. Each router has the piece of 1/2″ plywood mounted to it and made to quickly interchange in the bench.

Materials needed:

1 – 2′ X 4′ 1/2 Good-One-Side plywood for each router.
1 – safety guide pin.

Using your table saw tip the saw blade to a 14 degree angle and rip one 2″ strip of each side. Now you have three pieces 2 pieces – 2″ X 4′ X 1/2″ and 1 piece 20″ X 4′ X 1/2″ with the short side of the angle on the top edge of the router table top. This is going to be used as the mounting device on the workbench. I like to make the custom workbench that is used to hold these quick change router table tops.

Mount one of the 2″ X 4′ 1/2″ sticks on one side of the workbench then place the 20″ X 4′ 1/2″ with the angles interlocking like a linear dovetail joint then mount the second 2″ piece and make so the top can be inserted and removed easily as the linear dovetail joint holds the top in place. I would make this as a dedicated bench for one or more of these routers and tops.

FYI: The optimum bench height is as follows:

What is the optimum height of the router table or really any bench…And yes everyone is different. To determine the right table height for YOU do the following, stand comfortably in the middle of your shop bend your elbow and get the wife or friend to measure from your elbow to the floor.

If you are by yourself use a stick and pencil to mark where your bent elbow is on the stick. With this measurement subtract 5 inches and that is the optimum height of tables and work benches for you.

Next remove the router base plate and on a 20″ X 4 1/2″ piece of plywood using the plate mark the router mounting holes in one end of the plywood top 10″ from the end and 10″ in from the width. Drill the holes and mount the router to the plywood.  Now you can slide these router tops into the bench leaving the router to hang over.

Your first cut will be a straight bit that is a bit wider than the pilot bearings of the intended router bits. This router bit will find the bit center of the table. Now mount the intended router bit and run it up through the top and set it at the required height. The intention is not to ever take this bit out from this table set-up.

You can add an optional home made fence,

Use  a piece of wood that needs to be appox. 24″ long and 1 1/2 wide and 1″ thick. Maybe a straight 2 X 3. It also needs a 1/2 hole through the 1″ thickness and a 1/2 hole through the 1 1/2 width in the center of the fence.

Tips on drilling a 1/2 hole in the fence.

Clamp a piece of scrap on the side of the fence then drill with your 1″ spade bit….1/2 of the bit in the scrap and 1/2 in the router fence.

That’s it you have now found a new use for all those forgotten routers…

My background image library…

The Background Image Library

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/TRW_Background_Images/TRW_Background_Images.flv

We have just created the TRW Background Image Library to help the folks that are making Paint Boxes with the custom water slide decals. Things important about this custom library of background Images is that you can put your customer’s family photos into images of exotic places like London, England or maybe on the beach in Guatemala. There are 150 different detestation background images with the royalty free license.

Once you have paid the flat fee of $27.00 you have the right to use these background photos as you wish for your Paint Box projects you create.

Software Customization:

This image library is in a windows software program that is custom made for you. After payment we will compile your custom made software with your name in two places 1) in the top left corner of the window title and 2) in the about button in the bottom left region.

Rights to use:

You have the right to share the photos within the software for any custom project you may be working on. You DO NOT have the right to share your copy of the software or resell the photos alone. Your use of the photos must include cutout photos of your customers family and/or images. These custom images must then be mounted on your custom made Paint Boxes.

Custom Paint Box Tools:

1) Select the buy now button below to purchase your copy of the Router Workshop Background Image Windows Program.

2) Click here to use the free Dynamic Calculator Tools and/or purchase the video and PDF plans.

3) Click here to get a copy of Play with Pictures used to cutout your custom family photos.

Using Masking Tape…

This router tip is using masking tape to position the start cut position and the stop cut position. The cut being demostrated here is a little tricky to make so be safe and make sure before you touch the material to the moving router bit that you have your piece secure and supported.

For more information join the Router Workshop Video Series. Sign up below by click on the photo on the bottom of this post.

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/Routertips/maskingtapecut.flv

Using the Cross-Lap Joint…

Today’s Router Tip is using the Cross-Lap joint to separate items for your Custom Paint Boxes. We start by taking measurements using the inside measurement tool on the Dynamic Box Calculator. You need to make the Cross-Lap dividers for your box is bit larger than the item designed to fit into the desired spot. For this example I am creating a Paint Box that can hold 4 of the 1 Pint Jar.

To use the Dynamic Box Calculators follow this link to the two box Calculators.

Click on the screen below to watch the video on how to measure and make the cross-lap joint in the internal divider.

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/Cross_Lap_Joint/Cross_Lap_Joint.flv

It’s hard to believe only 18 days left…

That’s right!

Christmas is just around the corner or more accurately there are only 18 days left. As everyone is making plans to go shopping in the days left until Christmas I was surfing the web for ideas on how the woodworker could use their talents to create special hand crafted gifts for the people that are special in their family.

A Neat Idea…

This post is about a neat idea that my Mom gave to us last Christmas as a stocking stuffer. The present was Gift in a Jar, which was the ingredients to my favorite brownie recipe. To add to this she wrapped the Jar with Christmas paper, to top it off with few ribbons and a Christmas card.

It’s all about the Packaging…

So the reason for this post is to talk about how to package the Gift in a Jar using our new dynamic box calculators instead of wrapping paper and ribbons. But before we get to the custom made Painted Boxes let’s explore what we can use as the gift in a Jar.

As a great starter,

I have purchased a few Gift in a Jar recipes. I have converted the recipes into a series of PDF recipes that I am offering to you as a gift from Router Workshop. In each of these Gift in a Jar recipes we have custom made labels used to create a professional look and feel to each of your creations in a Jar.

Now here is the How To information video on how to create and print the Gift in a Jar custom labels.

http://www.routerworkshop.net/freecontents/Gift_ina_Jar/PDF_label_construction.flv

Free Label Software…

I used the Avery Label software to print the labels out to your color laser or inkjet printers. Click here to receive your free copy of the Avery Label software.

Here are the recipe gifts from the Router Workshop.

1) A all time favorite here at home is the homemade version of a quick breakfast meal, Click to get your copy of the Apple, Cinnamon and Walnut Oatmeal.

2) As our second choice we have added nuts and apples to a homemade pancake mix. Click here to get your copy of the  Apple Nut Pancakes.

3) Now this one is for everyone that drinks coffee with a creamer, it is the Amaretto Coffee Creamer.

4) And the last one is the Apple Cake in a Jar so click here to get recipe number four.

Please Note: That all of the above recipes that use Apples can use different fruits to create a different taste. I am not sure how well bananas would work but I am sure apricots, peaches, and blueberries would work just fine.

To finish this post I have included the link to our Dynamic Box Calculators. This resource is here to help you create those custom gift boxes for your friends and family.

Merry Christmas to all,

Here is our own Dynamic Box Calculators!

We have just set up and created two Dynamic Box Calculators for the following projects on the Router Workshop.  These calculators work with Episode 103 Magic Boxes and with Episode 801 the Inlaid China Chest. We have also added the How To PDF plan and the Videos needed to create the boxes. The custom material lists from either of the Dynamic Box Calculators need the correct How To information.

To try and/or buy the How To Information follow this link.