Routing advice required

[mabazza ritchie]

Good morning/middle of the night,

I am looking for some advice on routing with a Trend T11EK. My daughter wanted me to make 'bridges' for her, so I have laminated 6 strips of 3.6mm ply together around a steel former. The resulting shape is 900mm long by 300mm wide and about 22mm thick. The radius is about 200mm. I want to try and roundover the edges. I don't have a router table but could potentially get access to one.

Can anyone suggest how I could do this? My router was an impulse purchase - at £100 new!

Thanks,
MR

 

[DaveL]

Any chance you could post a picture of the laminated ply? I am have difficulty picturing the job.

 

[Phil]

MR, I would do it on the router table, easier and safer.
(Build one, a good longterm investment)

You could also do freehand.

Use a roundover bit with a bearing.

 

[mabazza ritchie]

Thanks for the replies so far. Attached should be a couple of photos.

 

[Rod]

Intriguing- what are they for?
How much rounding off do you want to achieve? If it’s just easing the edges then sand/glass paper should do.
If you need to use the router, a table is much safer making sure you cut in the correct direction.

Rod

 

[Robert]

You mention the router was an impulse purchase but you don't say if you have cutters for it.
You will need a round over cutter which has the radius you want. It will have a a bearing on the tip that will run along the wood to control the sideways cut. You set the depth of cut with the plunge stop on the router. Apologies if stating the obvious but from the question I'm taking it you are new to this.

You could buy a cheap set of cutters in a box or a quality single cutter for around the same money. The set will have things you will never use but can be ok to learn with. Any cutter can break if you cut too heavy with it so be more cautious with cheap ones.

The cutter will follow the edge so you want the edge straight and smooth before you start.

The router in a table would be easier to control - the router stays still and you move the wood but your job looks do-able without one.

Good luck.

 

[RogerS]

You could make a very basic but simple router 'table' by getting a piece of ply or MDF about 2-3 x the size of your router base. Drill one hole in it that is large enough for your cutter to go through. Then two more smaller holes that correspond to the two holes on the router base...the ones used for screwing in bearing guides. Fix the router, turn the whole lot upside down and fix the ply/MDF to you bench or something solid. Adjust the plunge depth until the router cutter is sticking out enough.

Lot easier than freehand.

Bit like this

 

[mabazza ritchie]

Again, thank you all for the replies; a router was one of the tools I thought I would buy when I had a specific need, as they seemed to be a bit pricey, however, when I saw the Trend one at that price I didn't hesitate. As I am not carting it about to jobs it can stay in my workshop on a table (when I get/build one).

Rod - they are a Waldorf/Steiner education inspired 'toy'. The next project is a Pickler Triangle. The emphasis is on basic, wooden toys and leave the rest up to the kids, rather than plastic fantastic that does everything/makes every noise; so the kids don't have to use their imagination. That's the thought anyway!

I am looking for likes of a bullnose if i can but if not, a pencil roundover would be fine.

Robert - I am happy using most power tools safely however, the router is a new one on me. I don't want to end up like a relative of mine - missing two fingers :eusa-dance: ! I might splash out and go for one decent cutter I think. I had a look at sets and there are a lot that would never see the light of day.

RogerS - I will try giving something like this a go, but only if I can do a proper job of it as I don't want to get it wrong.

Does anyone have links to, or plans for a sturdy home made router table?

Thank you again,
MR

 

[9fingers]

A popular router table is the one built by Norm Abram in the new yankee workshop programme.
There will be a copy of the programme on youtube and somewhere I should have a copy of the plans.

PM me your email address and I'll see if I can find them.

Bob

 

[Phil]

This was built based on a number of plans and then modified to what was available in the workshop.

http://abc4tt.servetown.com/RouterTable.html

A popular router table is the one built by Norm Abram in the new yankee workshop programme.
There will be a copy of the programme on youtube and somewhere I should have a copy of the plans.
PM me your email address and I'll see if I can find them.
Bob

Bob I found my copy of "The New Yankee" plans Deluxe Router Station by Norm, so don't dig too deeply. MR can get them from me as well.

 

[mabazza ritchie]

Bob - thank you for the offer of the plans, to save you time hunting for them I have PM'd Phil with my email and will hopefully get them from him.

I need to sort out a decent table saw and feed table so i can then start making home made jigs/router table etc to make all these things much easier. I am currently using one of the discount brand table saws which i think is made from tinfoil or a tinfoil cardboard mix.

 

[9fingers]

Bob - thank you for the offer of the plans, to save you time hunting for them I have PM'd Phil with my email and will hopefully get them from him.

I need to sort out a decent table saw and feed table so i can then start making home made jigs/router table etc to make all these things much easier. I am currently using one of the discount brand table saws which i think is made from tinfoil or a tinfoil cardboard mix.

OK no worries. I used to use a stand alone router table but it took up precious space. I now have moved my fixed router into the outfeed table on the table saw and found it a big advantage.

HTH
Bob

 

[RogerS]

Yup...routers can be mounted usefully just about anywhere.

This secondhand Festool MFT (multifunction table) was my first workbench. Then modified to take a router. Angle iron underneath kept the top straight and not bow under the weight of the Triton.



One thing to bear in mind with router tables is how easy is it to change the cutter. Can you wind everything up high enough to clear the table top or do you have to change the cutter underneath.

 

[mabazza ritchie]

RogerS - that is something I had never considered; how the router bit changes. I made the assumption that they would all be able to change from the top. Thanks for that!

 

[Rod]

I’ve got a RouterRaizer on mine, a lot cheaper than a router lift.
On my WoodRat I use an Extreme Extension.


Rod

 

[RogerS]

I’ve got a RouterRaizer on mine, a lot cheaper than a router lift.
On my WoodRat I use an Extreme Extension.


Rod

A car scissor jack also works very well and is cheap.

 

[mabazza ritchie]

So to all those who posted, thanks for the help! I think I need to practice using the router a bit more! but the job is done now. I'm looking forward to attempting to build my router table!

 

[Phil]

I’ve got a RouterRaizer on mine, a lot cheaper than a router lift.
On my WoodRat I use an Extreme Extension.


Rod

A car scissor jack also works very well and is cheap.

I have read about it, but scrooge would not buy one.
Scrooge also said that the very nice, with adjustable, top plates are not on the purchase horizon.

 

[PetePenman]

A popular router table is the one built by Norm Abram in the new yankee workshop programme.
Bob

As an alternative, but similar plan, I can recommend also the plan from http://www.crestonwood.com/plans.php which is free.
I have built two router tables based on these plans and they worked out very well and I'm completely satisfied with them.

 

[Mike G]

You don't need plans for a router table. It's a board with a hole in it, a router fixed to the underside, and a fence. The fence can be pivoted at one end. Goodness knows why this really simple arrangement is so over-thought.

 

[PetePenman]

You don't need plans for a router table. It's a board with a hole in it, a router fixed to the underside, and a fence. The fence can be pivoted at one end. Goodness knows why this really simple arrangement is so over-thought.

We wouldn't advance much if we applied such basic logic to everything.

That 'bodge up' arrangement would certainly not suit what I use a router table for.

 

[Woodbloke]

You don't need plans for a router table. It's a board with a hole in it, a router fixed to the underside, and a fence. The fence can be pivoted at one end. Goodness knows why this really simple arrangement is so over-thought.

We wouldn't advance much if we applied such basic logic to everything.

That 'bodge up' arrangement would certainly not suit what I use a router table for.

That's fighting talk; tin hats n'flak jackets! - Rob

 

[Mike G]

You don't need plans for a router table. It's a board with a hole in it, a router fixed to the underside, and a fence. The fence can be pivoted at one end. Goodness knows why this really simple arrangement is so over-thought.

We wouldn't advance much if we applied such basic logic to everything.

That 'bodge up' arrangement would certainly not suit what I use a router table for.

Bodge-up. Hmmm.

Here's one of mine:







I'd be really interested to hear what your router table can do that mine can't, and where you think there is any difference in the accuracy in X, Y or Z axes.

 

[Woodster]

That looks very serviceable Mike.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

This was built based on a number of plans and then modified to what was available in the workshop.

http://abc4tt.servetown.com/RouterTable.html

Phil, I hate to report it, but this link (when opened) came with a free Trojan. My anti-virus quarantined it, so no harm done, but looks like some human predator has taken advantage of your helpful comment.

Sam

EDIT:

As an alternative, but similar plan, I can recommend also the plan from http://www.crestonwood.com/plans.php which is free.
I have built two router tables based on these plans and they worked out very well and I'm completely satisfied with them.

Bullwarks!! So did this one! Mark, have your servers been nobbled?? S.

 

[RogerS]

Are you sure it's not your end as my Mac is quite happy with them both.

 

[9fingers]

This was built based on a number of plans and then modified to what was available in the workshop.

http://abc4tt.servetown.com/RouterTable.html

Phil, I hate to report it, but this link (when opened) came with a free Trojan. My anti-virus quarantined it, so no harm done, but looks like some human predator has taken advantage of your helpful comment.

Sam

EDIT:

As an alternative, but similar plan, I can recommend also the plan from http://www.crestonwood.com/plans.php which is free.
I have built two router tables based on these plans and they worked out very well and I'm completely satisfied with them.

Bullwarks!! So did this one! Mark, have your servers been nobbled?? S.

Sam, I've just downloaded both without problems and then run a virus scan on the whole machine (w10 inbuilt virus checker) and nought found.
Your problem won't be related to TWH2 server as you are going to external links which your browser will go to via your DNS server. I don't know what the cause maybe but pretty confident the Haven is clean.

Anyone else had the problem?

Bob

 

[RogerS]

Norton says both sites are safe.

 

[Woodster]

It comes up “Not Secure” on my iPad and takes suspiciously long to load so I stopped it. I’m with Virginmedia if it makes any difference and checked download speed this morning is 103 Mbps.

Edit: the second link also said Not Secure but loaded instantly.

 

[9fingers]

It comes up “Not Secure” on my iPad and takes suspiciously long to load so I stopped it. I’m with Virginmedia if it makes any difference and checked download speed this morning is 103 Mbps.

Edit: the second link also said Not Secure but loaded instantly.

Same here on my iphone.
It reckons the whole of the woodhaven is insecure which I think just means the link is not HTTPS.
When I queried it with Mark it is OK just something apple started doing a few OS versions ago.

Bob

 

[RogerS]

....just means the link is not HTTPS.
When I queried it with Mark it is OK just something apple started doing a few OS versions ago.

Bob

Exactly so.

 

[TrimTheKing]

Yep Haven is clean and all is as per Bob’s explanation above. Any alerts you’re getting from those links are between your machine and the links.

Haven shows as insecure because it’s http not https, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong.

 

[Woodster]

It’s not just Apple using the warning, Google have been doing it as well since 2018. I’m always a bit suspicious of a website that takes ages to load.

 

[SamQ aka Ah! Q!]

Thanks for the clarification Chapses. I should have copped it was an external link and not trouble at Trimble Towers, sorry Mark!
I am not sure perzactly why Malwarebytes got off its blocks, but her did! That said, I have found not one, not several, but legion problems with Talktalk and their version of internet delivery(#$%^&!!). This could just be ANOTHER of their inexplicable glitches that Manila, J'berg or Kolkotta do not have a script for and persist in defaulting to their ping test, followed by a bland assertion 'there is nothing wrong with yhe provided equipment'... :eusa-violin:

Sam