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OPERATION
DEPTH OF CUT
As previously
mentioned,
the depth
of cut is impor-
tant because if affects
the rate of feed which, in turn,
affects
the quality
of a cut (and, also, the possibility
of damage to your router
motor and bit) A deep cut
requires
a slower feed than a shallow
one; and atoo
deep cut will cause you to slow the feed so much
that the bit Is no longer cutting,
it is scraping,
in-
stead
Making
a deep cut is never advisable. The smaller
bits -- especially
those only 1/16 inch tn dlameteT
-- are easily broken off when subjected
to too much
side thrust.
A large enough
bit may not be broken off,
but if the cut is too deep a tough
cut will result
--
and it may be very difficult
to guide arrd control
the
bit as desired.
For these
reasons, we recommend
that you do not exceed
1/8 inch depth
of cut in a
single pass, regardless
of the bit size or the softness
or condition
of the workplece
See Figure
To make
deeper cuts
It is therefore
necessary
to
make as marry successive
passes as required,
lower-
ing the bit 1/8 inch for each new pass. In order to
save time, do all the cutting
necessary
at one depth
setting,
before
lowering
the bit for the next pass.
This will also assure a uniform
depth when the final
pass is completed
See Figure 8
DIRECTION
OF FEED AND THRUST
The router motor and bit revolve in a o_ockw_se direc
tlon. This gives the tool a slight tendency to twist (in
your
hands)
in
a
counterclockwise
direction,
especially
when the motor revs up (as at startbrg)
Because
of the extremely
high speed of bit rotation
during
a "proper
feeding"
operation,
there is very lit-
tle kickback
to contend
with
under
normal
condi-
tions
However,
should the bit strike
a knot,
hard
grain, foreigr_ object,
etc
that would
affect
the nor
ms] progress
of the cutting
action,
there will be a
slight kickback
-- sufficient
to spoil the trueness
of
your cut if you are not prepared. Such a kickback
is
always
In the direction
opposite
to the direction
of
bit rotation
To guard against such a kickback,
ptan your set-up
and direction
of feed
so that you will always
be
thrusting
the tool -- to hold it against
whatever
you
are using to guide
the cut -- in the same direction
that the leading
edge of the bit is moving
In short,
the thrust
should
be in a direction
that keeps
the
sharp edges
of the bit continuously
biting straight
into new (uncut) wood
ROUTING
Whenever
you
are routing
a groove,
your
travet
should
be in a direction
that places whatever
guide
you are using at the right-hand side
in short,
when
2N_
ASS
2ND PASS
•
1ST.PASS
Fig 8
GUIDE OUT'SIDE
ROTATION
FEED
THRUST
GUIDE
ROTATION
\
" THP_UST
ROTATION
FEED
GUIDE INSIDE
F!g. ,9
the guide is positioned
as shown in the first part of
Figure
9, tool
travel
should
be left
to right
and
counterclockwise
around curves. When the guide is
positioned
as shown
in the second
part of Figure 9
tool
travel
should
be right
to left
and clockwise
around curves,
if there is a choice, the first set-up is
generally
the easiest
to use.
In either
case, the
sideways
thrust
you use is against
the guide.
Page 8
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