How to Use Router Bits

Video Transcript

"Hello, my name is Mark Blocker. In this segment we're going to cover how to use router bits. O.k., the first thing about using a router bit is you need to know that the router always cuts in a clockwise direction, whether you're looking at it or holding it in a downward position and cutting direction, remember it's always cutting in a clockwise direction and you have to feed the bit in to the material in the direction that it's cutting. After you've got your bit securely fastened in your router, according to the manufacturer's instructions, a way to set the depth height is you just hold a board on there and hold it up to the router bit and you can determine exactly the height of the router bit so you can pre-adjust your router bit height by moving the base back and forth. Once that's set you'll always want to do a test run. Take a scrap piece of wood and run a test on it before you try and make your actual cut. Here I've got, clamped down a board and because a router turns in a clockwise direction, on your outside cut or cuts away from you, will be done from the right side feeding to the left and the inside cuts will be done from the left side feeding to the right. I'll give you a quick demonstration. O.k., and that's what a round over bit does to the wood, leaves that rounded on the finish. So remember always follow the direction of your cutting tooth and that's how a router works."