A hand-held wood router is rightfully considered one of the most popular home craftsman tools. Moreover, we will emphasize the semantic emphasis here on the word “master”. As a rule, the question of purchasing one arises when the capabilities of other hand tools for wood processing, including their electric counterparts, have been exhausted.

Meanwhile, the capabilities of a manual wood router, even with its most primitive use, are impressive. Even the simplest models allow you to perform a huge number of types of work. But first, let's talk about their main technical characteristics and design features to help you navigate the choice of tool.

Obviously, any electric tool will primarily differ from each other in power. Without going into details unnecessary for this article, let’s say that an instrument from 1000 W and above can already be classified as semi-professional or professional, which can be useful in everyday life very rarely. Such devices can weigh more than 6 kg, their power reaches 2.3 kW.

There are also specialized milling cutters (edging, rod, for certain types of materials), with specified parameters for the production of highly targeted operations. But we, home craftsmen, should first of all be interested in a more universal tool. This is a submersible movable rod milling machine. It would be nice if it has a smooth or step-by-step speed control and works with cutters with a diameter of at least 8 mm.

Such devices are designed to perform a universal set of jobs:

• edge profiling;
• quarter sample;
• production of tenons and grooves, splines, folds;
• obtaining holes of various configurations;
• preparing seats for furniture and other fittings;
• artistic processing of wood, including spatial processing.

And if you equip them with a certain set of accessories for a hand router, most of which you can make with your own hands in a home workshop, then this already not small list of specialized work can radically increase.

We will try to briefly but meaningfully tell you about this in this article. But first, let's look at the main components of the tool:

1. The milling cutter head is structurally much simpler than a similar unit in most power tools. Actually, it is an electric motor with a collet clamp for cutters. Sometimes with a speed controller. The absence of any gearboxes and gears makes it a very reliable tool assembly.
2. The sole of the router - also known as its support platform - is made of stamped metal, cast from aluminum alloy or high-quality plastic. The first option is the most inexpensive, but it is better not to waste money on others. The accuracy and quality of all types of work performed by a milling cutter depends on its thoroughness and precision of execution. All stops and guides are attached to it, and places for attaching various devices are located. Including the rod mechanism.
3. The rod mechanism is the main functional unit of the milling cutter. It regulates the immersion depth of the cutter. Not only the ease of operation, but also the durability of the router depends on the accuracy and reliability of its execution. This is the most worn out unit and requires regular maintenance and lubrication.

Some practical tips when choosing a router:

• do not chase high power, but do not take a frankly weak tool, the normal power range of a home router is 800 - 1300 W;
• pay attention to the actual immersion depth of the cutter - this will determine the maximum depth of the groove that can be obtained using this tool;
• the best clamp for cutters is a conical collet;
• the best switch is with a locking button;
• The length of the power cord should not be short;
• the absence of backlash and smooth operation of the rod mechanism is the key to the longevity of the tool.

And one more important factor, which we specifically removed from the list of tips in a separate sentence. This is the presence of a good repair base for instruments from a given manufacturer in your region.

The simplest devices for a hand router

To expand the capabilities and convenience of working with a hand router, there are a fairly large number of simple devices. Sometimes they come complete with a router, some are design features of a particular type of tool. And first of all, this is a parallel stop, which comes complete with almost all manual routers, but is also primarily modified by home craftsmen for specific types of work.

The simplest, most often manufactured device is a round sole pad. Most routers have two parallel edges, simplifying the design of stops for processing straight workpieces, which when working with overlay templates requires precise positioning of the tool. A simple round pad on the sole will make this procedure absolutely simple.

When using it, it is important to set the upper template at a distance from the edge of the pad to the cutting edge of the cutter and the desired immersion depth.

The next most common do-it-yourself tool is a device for milling circles. True, this can be achieved using the previous device, but only if you have a pre-made template. But, it is still better to spend time on a universal toolkit once and use it for many years.

From the first and second photos, the operating principle of this device is clear, and there are many constructive approaches to its implementation. All these are variations on the theme of the compass. You can make a separate device, or you can use, for example, the rip fence bars of your router.

The simplest devices for a router include a device often called skis.

It allows you to partially replace the thicknesser or polish the product. The main thing is to ensure the rigidity of the structure.

Agree that the device with stops shown in the photo below radically simplifies the procedure for obtaining deep recesses in narrow material, such as grooves for inserting locks and latches,

and the device for producing parallel grooves is just as easy to manufacture as it simplifies this type of work.

Moreover, they both can be made on the same platform - the outsole. Templates for the same type of milling work, used in combination with cutters equipped with thrust bearings, will also take a worthy place in this list.

And here is the time to say a few words about cutters.

Milling cutters for manual wood routers

The versatility of this tool is primarily achieved due to the variety of equipment - cutters. Therefore, we have no right not to pay them a little attention.

Structurally, cutters are:

• monolithic;
• prefabricated;
• with replaceable blades.

And in terms of the types of work performed, they have significantly greater differences. We will mention the main ones:

grooved – for making grooves of different shapes;

profile cutters with or without support bearing;

fillet cutters – used to produce U-shaped recesses on parts of various depths and configurations;

seam and edge, sometimes combining both functions - for processing the edges of the product;

combined.

High-tech attachments for hand routers

And even among them there are devices assembled with your own hands, which allow, without much labor, to significantly expand the list of works performed by a milling cutter or significantly simplify their implementation.

With such a simple device it is easy to process the edges of molded parts. And if you modernize it slightly, then choose deep grooves limited in length. You can immediately make a more universal machine to perform many functions, or you can get by with a simpler design with a strictly defined list of auxiliary functions, or even designed to unify only one operation.

There are also ready-made industrial samples of devices for more accurate and comfortable work with a hand-held wood router with the function of limiting the movement of the tool in the horizontal plane.

If desired, such a device can be made with your own hands, using more powerful furniture guides. It will be indispensable in some types of milling work, especially when cutting out quarters and grooves in large-sized parts, such as elements of a frame house, wooden small architectural forms, etc. Often, for such types of work, home craftsmen make simplified forms of such a device.

A more complex type of device for a manual router is a mini-machine for producing round shapes. But if you do not have access to a full-fledged lathe, and you need to make not only a dozen balusters for the stairs, but also to enclose a balcony or terrace, then the manufacture of such a device will more than pay off. Moreover, by using a fillet cutter with an interesting profile and calculating the gaps along the teeth of the reverse gear, it is also easy to obtain shaped longitudinal grooves in this device.

Well, or at worst, design something similar to the device shown in the next photo. The main thing here is the idea - obtaining a round molding using a hand router, and its implementation is quite multivariate. By the way, if you come up with your own design, suggest it, we’ll discuss it and share it with visitors to our site.

And finally, we can offer you two of the most high-tech accessories for a router. They are designed to produce a series of products according to a template. The first has 2 degrees of freedom and allows you to copy a part in one plane.

The second is not limited to it.

It is clear that in order to obtain an exact copy of a three-dimensional model, you will have to rotate it during the work and repeatedly position the workpiece mutually with it, but for creative people this is not the most impossible task. It is clear that when making such a device yourself, you will provide a mount specifically for your router and adjust the strength of the structure to its weight. But the result of the work is worth it.

Volumetric copying is even easier using bas-relief models. When creating a fixture for it, it is important to ensure smooth and free movement of the router in three planes and rigidity of the connection from the copier to the tip of the finger cutter.

And to make flutes on a wooden column, it is not at all necessary to use a lathe; there are simpler options, but one component of the process remains unchanged - a manual milling machine for woodworking.

It remains to add that not only for wood. This miracle tool can easily handle most types of plastics and even aluminum.

Dear readers, if you have any questions, please ask them using the form below. We will be glad to communicate with you;)

One such device is a rip fence. This is a component of the basic set of any router, and the owner of the tool does not have to make the stop himself. It is needed to directly follow the cutter along the surface of the base, which can be the smooth edge of a part or a workbench.

The stop allows you to process edges and grooves, firmly fixing the part.

This useful addition to the milling tool consists of the following parts:

• rods entering the recesses on the router;
• screw fasteners that tighten them in the desired position;
• adjusting screw for fine adjustment of the distance of the cutter axis from the edge;
• the supporting part that holds the structure to the base.

To make the wood router stop ready, the rods must be positioned in the recesses on the tool body and tightened with a stopper. By loosening the stopper, you can use the adjusting screw to make minor adjustments if necessary.

With a little addition, the rip fence allows you to make, in addition to straight cuts, more complex ones. This addition is a wooden block with one flat side. The other side has an angular or round notch. The block is inserted between the supporting part and the edge of the material, which has a curved shape.

The block is in contact with the support with its smooth edge. The side where the notch is is in contact with the curved base. A tool with such a device should be manipulated with extreme care, since the block introduces an element of instability.

Guide rail

Having a similar purpose to the rip fence, the tire is responsible for the accurate movement of the cutter in a straight line. The time spent on work is noticeably reduced due to the use of the tire. It also allows you to guide the tool on the table at any angle to the edge.

Note! You can secure the tire to a tabletop or material using clamps.

Some mass-produced tires include a separate component - a shoe. It is connected to the router by rods and, passing along the bus, moves the milling head along a given path.

The tire is best combined with a tool whose base stands on retractable legs. This eliminates the height difference between the guide rail and the router.

It happens that the functionality of commercially produced tires is not suitable for the user. You can always create an individual version of the router guides with your own hands. The most elementary one is a long, even beam - in other words, a ruler. The master only needs to provide it with fasteners, and the tire is essentially ready. To make a simple device, you don’t even need a drawing.

Of course, such a homemade version will not be stable. The combination of a plywood base with a board nailed to it will be more stable in operation. The edge of the router base will rest against the board, and the edge of the base will mark the processing area. This design is used when using cutters of the same diameter.

Another option works when wood cutters can be of different sizes. Here the board acting as a ruler is not nailed to the base, but is reinforced with clamps. Thanks to this, it can adjust the distance from the working area according to the diameter of the cutter.

Templates and copy sleeve

The copying ring is a circle with a protrusion that slides along a template, guaranteeing accuracy of processing. The ring can be screwed to the base of the router or secured with antennae. The diameter of the device is selected so that it does not come into contact with the working part of the tool.

The ring template is fixed on the material being processed, firmly adhering to the tabletop. Reliable clamping is provided by double-sided tape and clamps. Having finished the part, you need to make sure that the sleeve fits tightly along the edge of the template when working.

A self-made template for a router can also be used for processing the corners of a part, when it is necessary for them to be round. Depending on the location and dimensions of the template, the radius size of the rounding can be any.

The template design often includes bearings or rings. If this is a ring, then it should be selected according to the size of the cutter. If there is a difference in diameters, it is necessary to add stops to the template design, with the help of which you can move the device away from the edge of the part.

Among the auxiliary devices for the router, the most flexible templates, in addition to processing the edges of the material, also allow you to cut complex grooves. The special design of the accessory makes it possible to effectively create recesses for door hinges. Using a template, you can even carry out decorative work with a router, for example, cutting out wooden patterns.

Compass

This auxiliary tool is designed to create round and oval cutouts. The basic compass design includes a rod with a pin fastening at the end. By inserting the fastener into the hole in the center of the circle along which the groove is made, you can change the size of the circle by simply moving the rod.

Note! The convenience and reliability of the design is increased by adding a second rod.

There are various auxiliary elements that work on the circular principle. They offer the advantage of creating different radii of circular grooves. A mandatory component of such auxiliary devices is a pin with a screw for adjusting the length of the radius.

If a small hole is cut, the compass structure must be adapted for mounting on the base of the router. When processing a part, the pin is located directly under the tool.

A wood router, in addition to round ones, is also capable of cutting elliptical holes. The device for this can be assembled with your own hands from the following parts:

• base with fixation on material made of screws or suction cups;
• shoes moved on crossing guides – 2 pcs.;
• rods for installation – 2 pcs.;
• bracket for connecting the structure to the tool.

The fastening bracket, thanks to the grooves intended for this purpose, allows the frame of the structure to be in the same plane as the base of the router. Cutting round openings is done using one shoe. If you need an oval hole, both are used. This auxiliary design makes it possible to make holes more accurately and faster than other tools, such as a band saw or jigsaw.

For grooves on narrow surfaces

Recesses for locks or door hinges can be made with a drill and chisel, but a router is much better suited for this. You just need to equip the tool with a certain device. It consists of a flat plate that is attached to the base of the device. The shape of the plate can be round or rectangular. 2 pins are made on it, ensuring smooth movement of the tool during operation.

The main parameter that must be adhered to when manufacturing such an element is that the axis of each pin must be on the same line as the center of the cutter. If this parameter is observed, the groove will be cut exactly in the middle of the workpiece, regardless of thickness. If it is necessary to shift the groove to the right or left, a sleeve of the size needed for the desired shift is put on the corresponding pin.

Using this design, the router is driven with the pins tightly pressed to both sides of the workpiece.

The same effect is achieved if you use two parallel stops with a router.

Even one stop may be enough. It is necessary to strengthen the workpiece between two surfaces, for example boards, so that all three elements are in the same plane. In this case, the problem of insufficient part width is eliminated.

When you often have to work with narrow surfaces, a good solution would be to build a special table of two halves. By pressing the material between them, the master can easily achieve the effect of one plane.

Bodies of revolution

When working with round workpieces, such as posts or balusters, a structure is made up of a frame into which the part is placed, a carriage for the router and a rotary disk. The part is inserted into the frame, securely fixed, after which the carriage with the tool is pulled out to the processing area. The position of the part in the frame can be changed using a rotary disk.

The same frame with a router in the carriage can serve as a lathe. You just need to turn the disk while simultaneously operating the milling cutter moving along the guides. This can be done by a master’s assistant or a drill connected to the disk.

Tenoning devices

Such devices ensure the creation of joints based on spikes. Such profiles, which require high precision in processing the material, are easily made with a milling machine.

Using a hand router, the master moves it freely to the material. Therefore, the material needs to be securely fastened for error-free tenoning.

Such conditions can be created by a simple device made from the following parts:

• rigidly fixed guides, lower, upper and side;
• a bar with one degree of freedom that will limit the sample.

The parameters of the parts depend on the specific tool for which the device will be assembled. The assembly procedure is as follows.

Along the edges of the plywood base, vertical ribs of equal size are installed with cutouts in the center. Rails are attached to these ribs on which the tool will move. To ensure safe movement of the router on the rails, they are locked with limiters, which can be simple wooden slats.

A moving part is attached to the plywood base - a regulator for selecting the edge of the part. The lock can be a wing screw or another fastener of the technician’s choice.

Regardless of the manufacturer, a hand router with the addition of such a structure can easily cut out a simple tenon profile.

Another means for producing spikes is a conductor. It consists of a base, stops and a moving part in the form of a slide. Experienced users begin to manufacture and use it for very fine and precise work.

Hidden Features

The listed case of auxiliary tools may seem unnecessary when the master performs only the simplest operations with a router. But if you look at this tool from the angle of its potential capabilities, then a number of directions appear before the user.

Those works that the master did not even think that he could carry out turn out to be quite accessible - you just need to build several auxiliary structures. As if this is not a simple manual milling machine, but a CNC coordinate machine.

The functionality of milling equipment can be significantly expanded by using special devices. Serial accessories that can be found on sale are quite expensive. That is why many craftsmen decide to make accessories for a wood router with their own hands. Most of the manufactured elements are intended for the correct placement of hand tools in space. In addition, devices for can significantly increase processing accuracy. Some instruments come with accessories out of the box. However, they are not highly specialized equipment and are often not suitable for the assigned tasks. Let's take a closer look at the most common equipment.

Rip fence

A rip fence can be used to make straight and curved cuts. This device is very popular today and is included in the supply of many tools. This milling device includes several structural elements:

1. Guides, made in the form of rods for niches formed in the body of a wood router.
2. A locking screw is used to fix the device in the desired position.
3. A screw designed to provide precise spacing between the axle and the surface of the workpiece.
4. Contact jaws. They are required so that the router stop rests on the surface.

The side support for the router is suitable for a wide variety of work. You can prepare it for work as follows:

1. As previously noted, the base of the woodworking jig has holes designed to accommodate a rod. It is inserted into them and fixed in the required position using a locking screw.
2. After fixing the device, the locking screw is slightly loosened, and the position of the stop is changed using the adjustment tool.

Knowing the design features of the device, you can make it yourself. To do this you will need bars and metal elements, as well as screws. There are quite a large number of different models of rip fences on sale, which are selected directly to the characteristics of the router designed for working with wood workpieces.

Guide rail

When processing wood, it is important to control the position of the tool used. The guide rail, like the previous equipment, is designed to ensure that the router moves along a strictly straight path. All wood milling devices are manufactured so that they can be used to perform certain jobs. The distinctive features of this device include the following points:

1. Guides for a manual router can be positioned at any angle relative to the edge being processed. Due to this, the device ensures accurate movement of the tool in any direction within the horizontal plane.
2. Plywood is often processed with a milling cutter in order to obtain holes that are located relative to each other at a certain pitch. The design under consideration may have additional elements that make it possible to obtain holes with the specified parameters.
3. To fix the device, a special clamp for a milling machine is used. If the delivery package does not include clamps, they can be replaced with ordinary clamps.
4. Some models come with a special adapter for the router table.

The simplest homemade design can be made from a long beam, which will be attached to the workpiece using clamps. To make it comfortable to use, you can equip the beam with additional side supports.

The above proposal is not always convenient to use. The following homemade design is more popular:

1. The device is represented by a combination of two boards, which are located parallel to each other and a plywood sheet.
2. The design in question is used only if milling cutters of the same diameter are used.
3. By using two boards, the processing accuracy and stability of the template during milling are significantly increased.

In cases where cutters of different diameters are used, it is advisable to use a slightly different design. It is characterized by the presence of a folding board, which is attached using hinges. The purpose of this structural element is to fix the template. After fixing it, the board tilts back and you can use cutters of various diameters.

It is worth considering that clamps are used in almost all cases to fasten homemade templates.

They provide reliable fixation of the equipment. During operation, the device will be pressed against the surface of the template, due to which the accuracy of processing is ensured.

Compass for router

When carrying out work in a home workshop, you may often need accessories for a hand router that make it easier to mill a round surface. An example is a special compass that you can make for a router yourself. The main recommendations for carrying out the work are as follows:

1. To create a simple design you will need: a bolt with a nut, a small piece of plywood, several self-tapping screws and a wooden wing. In manufacturing, the router itself is used, as well as a saw with a screwdriver.
2. On the surface of the piece of plywood used, an area about 50 mm wide and 150 mm long is marked. Note that the width must be greater than the router platform, the length must be greater than the machining radius.
3. After marking the working part of the site, holes should be made for the mounting bolts. You can drill with a percussion, the diameter of the resulting holes should be 20-30 mm.
4. A through groove is created along the center line. Its width should be less than the width of the axle bolt.
5. On the reverse side of the created platform, a recess is created for a nut with a washer, the second nut is attached to a wooden wing.
6. The central axis is being assembled. As a stud, you can use a bolt of the required length, the head of which is sawed off.

After creating a homemade compass, it is attached to the router and you can check the device in operation.

Copy ring

A variety of accessories for a hand router can significantly simplify the process of processing various workpieces. A copy ring for a router is a kind of product that acts as a side. During work, the ring slides along the template used, setting the position of the wood router. Machine versions can be manufactured using a wide variety of materials. In this case, various fastening mechanisms are created:

1. Screw.
2. In the form of a threaded hole.
3. When using special antennae.

It is worth considering that the rings used must have a diameter close to that of the router. However, during processing it should not touch the ring, as this will damage the cutting tool.

The copying ring can also be secured using common clamps. When making rings, steel is used that is designed to withstand the application of force. Soft alloys are not used due to the fact that they can be deformed, and this will lead to serious errors.

Templates for the router

Templates have become very widespread. They are manufactured for the production of specific products. That is why the question of how to make a template for a router with your own hands has become quite widespread.

The milling template is characterized by the following features:

1. Some versions are designed for milling a workpiece along a straight contour, others at an angle or a rounded shape. Very often a template is used for milling rounded corners of various radii.
2. Some models of the equipment in question are equipped with rings or bearings. They are suitable for hand routers. If a ring is used, it should be taken into account that it should not come into contact with the installed cutting tool while milling the workpiece.
3. Creating grooves of unusual shape can be called a rather difficult task. Recently, groove milling has been carried out using the equipment in question. For example, you can quickly make a stencil for wood carving with a router or to create a groove that fits door hinges.

Templates for a DIY router are often made of wood. This choice can be attributed to the fact that such a material is characterized by a high degree of workability. That is why it is much easier to obtain patterns on wood with a hand router, since the template will completely repeat the geometry.

On sale you can find a variety of templates, for example, . However, almost all craftsmen are faced with the fact that they have to create a similar product with their own hands when making unique parts for furniture or other products.

Wood bits

Depending on the complexity of the work being carried out, the equipment of a wood router may vary significantly. An example is the case when the task is to mill grooves on narrow surfaces. Standard attachments for milling machines in this case may be less effective, and then special attachments are used.

The key features of the nozzles used include the following points:

1. when using special nozzles, treatment will be carried out in a strictly limited area. That is why it is possible to significantly improve the quality of the resulting grooves.
2. The design is represented by a base, which can have a wide variety of shapes.
3. Two pins are installed on the base. They ensure the straight-line movement of the cutter during processing of the workpiece.

When considering attachments intended for wood processing, it should be taken into account that the main requirement for their design is that the guide pins be located in line with the center of the cutter used. If this condition is met, the groove will be located strictly in the center of the end surface.

In conclusion, we note that the design of most of the equipment is quite simple, and therefore it can be made with your own hands while spending a small amount of money and time. However, some design options are difficult to manufacture, and the quality of processing largely depends on their accuracy of execution. That is why it is better to make some products yourself, while others can be purchased at a specialized store. Recently, universal designs have become increasingly common, which are more expensive, but are suitable for use in processing a wide variety of products.

You may also be interested in the following articles:

DIY wood slotting machine DIY knife sharpening devices How to make wood cross-cutting machines with your own hands

Which significantly expand functionality and make work easier.

I decided to post only additional (mostly homemade) tools for the router that I personally tested in my workshop, so the article will be gradually updated with new ideas.

Cutting along the guide

In order to make a straight cut exactly where you need it, you will have to use a guide bar. It can be made from any board with a smooth edge, for example, initially I just used a piece of 16mm chipboard measuring 1200x150 mm. The principle is as follows: the distance from the center of rotation to the edge of the milling base is the same and you need to know it. It's easy to find out. Screw a guide to an unnecessary piece of material and make a test cut. Measure the distance from the edge of the cut to the tire, add the radius of the cutter and get the required value. For my Ryobi it is 61 mm.

Next, we do the following (for example, I use a straight groove cutter with a diameter of 12 mm, i.e. its radius is 6 mm). We draw a line along which the cut is planned, retreat a distance of 55 mm (61 mm - 6 mm) from it, and draw another line. We attach the guide along it. We make a cut and make sure that its edge passes clearly along the first line.

Groove in the end of the board

If you need to select a groove at the end of a board, then it is quite difficult to hold the router straight without swaying it from side to side while moving it. To expand the support for it, simply tighten a couple more boards or a block parallel to the workpiece with clamps, expanding the support. (in the photo I select " " under the back wall on the already assembled one)

Another option for milling grooves in the end of the part (again for a quarter cut) is to use two parallel stops, inserting each into the sole with only one “leg”. At the same time, the router stands quite stable and does not move left or right.

Rounding corners

Often, in our projects we have to round corners, and do it the same way on all parts. To facilitate this process, I offer you a template that will somewhat simplify and speed up the manipulation.

We work with it as follows: thanks to the side stops, the template is easily installed on the parts. We press it with clamps to the part (the corner on it is pre-cut) and use a straight edge cutter (with a bearing) to draw it according to the template.

Compass - cutting out circles

To cut out circles, it is not necessary to purchase a milling compass. Its role may well be fulfilled by... a parallel stop. As a rule, there is a hole in it (if there is none, you can make one). We turn the stop over and install it upside down in the holes on the sole. We screw a screw into the hole mentioned above (it is advisable to equip it with some kind of sleeve so that its diameter matches the diameter of the hole; I used a sleeve from an anchor bolt).

Or like this: with fastening with a self-tapping screw already on the ejected part of the workpiece.

That's it, the compass is ready. The change in radius is regulated by extending the stop.

Dust collector

When processing edges with a router, a huge amount of dust is formed, which cannot be removed at all by a vacuum cleaner. I bring to your attention a homemade dust collector for a router. It allows the vacuum cleaner to remove dust much more efficiently.

Master class on making this gadget.

Another dust collector (the design is simplified, the material is the same) this time, for

Milling table

This is not even a device for a router, but a transfer of this hand tool into the category of machine tools. It frees up two hands, makes it easier to work with large workpieces, and there are many more bonuses, which we will definitely talk about someday.

I wrote about how I made my first milling table in (I haven’t finished writing it yet, because I haven’t finished it)).

Edge base

To remove the overhangs of the 2 mm PVC edges, the sole of the router had to be slightly reworked. Instead of the standard plastic sole, I installed a “step” made of textolite in a clever shape. As a result, I was able to conveniently remove overhangs, almost like using a professional trimmer.

Modification of the rip fence

The standard rip fence has a cutout in the center for the router bit, and not very long arms. Due to this, when cutting along it, the router may jerk when approaching the workpiece and jumping off it. To prevent this from happening, you can lengthen the arms of the stop, for example, with a strip of laminate.

It turns out that a larger part of the stop is constantly in contact with the workpiece (compared to the standard one), which ensures greater cutting stability.

In order to ensure the normal operation of the milling machine, it is necessary not only to handle the device used correctly, but also to correctly use, in other words, devices for So that this tool has the ability to form a workpiece in accordance with the requirements of the master (that is, cutting off the edges and other places of the material where it is needed, and not where “it happened so”). So, it is precisely to give the processed material a clear planned shape that the farm uses “devices” for a manual milling machine.

The difficulty of making homemade devices

Often, manufacturers themselves complete their products at the production stage; however, unfortunately, not every company will be able to please consumers with a complete set of all necessary tools. And why do this if at any time you can make a suitable tool with your own hands in a garage. This can be done even without a preliminary drawing: their design is so primitive that even a novice master can cope with such work. To make a parallel stop or any other part, it is enough to have a drawing of this device and a minimum set of tools. But if you want to make a homemade table for a hand router, you definitely can’t do without a drawing. You need to calculate everything correctly, indicate the dimensions of the table, and then get to work.

How to work with a hand router?

Before carrying out milling work on wood, you need to make sure of the following:

• Is the cutter secured in the collet?
• Does the additional device installed on the workbench correspond to its power and speed?
• Is the required milling depth set (when working with submersible devices, this indicator is measured using a special immersion limiter).
• When working with it, make sure that a guide ring or bearing is installed that provides the desired trajectory of the device (the thickness of the cutter should be no more than three millimeters).

We pay attention to supports for parts when performing work.

When considering the question “how to work with a hand router,” it is also necessary to note that the part you are processing must always have some kind of support. For example, before the engine is turned on, the edge of the sole or bearing is pressed against the guide part or template. Only then does the master turn on the machine and begin milling.

Below we will look at what types of tools there are for a router and what makes them special.

Rip fence

The rip fence is one of the few devices that is already included with every router. Therefore, there is simply no need for their independent development and production. As for the functions, with the help of the mentioned element it is possible to make a reliable stop for the material being processed, thereby ensuring the linear movement of the cutter relative to the base surface. The latter can act as a straight edge of a part, a guide rail or a table.

With this attachment for a hand router, you can quickly process edges and mill various grooves, holding the material almost in the “dead center” position.

Guide rail

This tool has similar functions to the previous one. Like the rip fence, the guide rail ensures extremely smooth, straight-line movement of the device. Working with a manual wood router using a guide rail can significantly reduce the time spent on processing a particular part. In addition, using the specified equipment, you can install the mechanism at almost any angle relative to the edge of the table.

In some cases, the design of the tools in question provides for the presence of special elements that facilitate the performance of certain operations (for example, this may be the function of cutting holes at the same distance opposite each other).

Copy rings and templates

Devices for a hand router, such as copying rings, are a round plate with a protruding shoulder that can slide along the surface along the template, thereby ensuring the exact trajectory of the cutter. Often this element is attached to the base of the workbench. There are several ways to install it:

• Screwing the ring into a threaded hole.
• Installation of special antennae of the device into the holes on the sole.

If you have such a device for a manual router as a template, you can also achieve more accurate and efficient work. The designated

the element directly on the workpiece itself, after which both parts of the device are pressed against the machine using clamps. Upon completion of the work, experts recommend checking the condition of the ring - see whether it is securely pressed against the edge of the template or not.

Another feature of the tool in question is the ability to process not the entire edge, but only its corners. At the same time, some devices for a hand router allow you to make curves of four different radii at once. Thus, the process of cutting material using a template is an excellent way to cut grooves for a part.

Compasses

These homemade devices for a manual router are designed to move the entire machine in a certain circle. The design of this tool includes a main part (a compass consisting of one rod), attached at the end to the base of the router, and a secondary part - a screw with a pin inserted into the hole of the machine. The value is set directly by the offset of the machine relative to the device design. Before starting work, you must carefully secure the tool to the base and make sure that the router is in good condition and is functioning normally. It is worth noting that the most effective and easiest to use is the compass that has not one, but two rods.

Most often, this instrument is made of transparent plexiglass. A small metric scale is additionally applied to its surface. It is worth noting that some models of compasses can have a circumference of up to 150 centimeters. Using this device, you can easily make a round tabletop for several people.

However, let's return to the principle of operation. Using an angular lever with a precise scale, copying is carried out on the workpiece. In this case, here you have the opportunity to center the ring directly under the cutter. The angle arm, which is complemented by a special support plate, also ensures precise edge milling.

The entire structure of this device consists of a base plate, a set of probes and a chip protection device.

Devices for copying identical devices and parts

This characteristic refers to a set of tools consisting of an angle lever and special copying probes, which are needed for the manufacture of a batch of identical parts. Most often, such equipment is used in cases where there is a need to replicate small-sized wooden devices. But before you start working with such a router, you need to prepare the angle lever scale in advance (division value is 1/10 mm).

Once the scale is set, you will be 100 percent sure of the correct centering of the thrust ring under the cutter, the location of which depends on the values ​​​​set on the angle lever. Also, this adjusting element can be equipped with a support board and a special mechanism that protects the surface of the device from chips. The use of such parts will significantly speed up and secure the processing of product edges.