How to Make the Round Corners on a Picnic Table
Picnic tables are generally made with planks of wood placed side by side to form the tabletop with one or two planks at a lower level on each side as seats. Plain wood planks have squared-off edges, making their profile rectangular. Some woodworkers prefer to round off edges to give a more finished look and to protect small children from getting hurt on sharp edges. Rounded edges also protect tablecloths from snagging. To round the outer edges of a table that is already assembled, use a handheld router. To round edges of boards before assembling the table, use either a handheld router or a table router. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Handheld Router
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1
Select a router round-over bit with a shank that fits your router. This varies from a quarter inch diameter to a half-inch diameter.
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2
Insert the router bit into the collet, the metal opening where the router shank is mounted.
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3
Secure the piece of board to be edged firmly to the work surface with clamps. A table that is already built will not need to be secured because the boards are already bolted or nailed together.
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4
Turn on the router and glide it from left to right along the edge that needs rounding.
Table Router
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5
Select the proper router bit and mount it in the table router.
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6
Turn the router on, then position your piece of wood to the right of the router bit.
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7
Move the wood from right to left until the entire length of edge is rounded. Round all edges that you want rounded.
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Tips & Warnings
The bit of the handheld router rotates clockwise. The bit of the table router rotates counterclockwise. Always move the handheld router from left to right along the piece of wood, and always move the piece of wood from right to left with a table router. This ensures a clean, smooth cut that does not splinter or chip.
Using the router in the wrong direction creates a serious safety issue because the wood or the router runs the risk of being pulled out of the user's control. Always move the wood against the bit's rotation to avoid this problem.
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