- All router tooling is held inside the shaft of the high-speed router with a collet. The hollow metal tool holder is typically perforated along its side so it can grip the shaft of the tool. A collet nut is used to tighten the collet and hold tool secure in the motors shaft. All three components, collet, collet nut and tool shaft should be kept clean and free of any oil or wood resin. Sawdust and other materials can adhere to these parts and make tightening and removal difficult. The tooling cutting edges should also be kept clean and free of wood resin or adhesives. Acetone can be used in cleaning these parts. Keep the depth of the tool at a proper height. The backside of the tool should not rest against the collet nut. Heat can be generated if the tool works loose and rubs against the nut. The friction can permanently damage the nut and tool bit.
- The router base is used to hold the body of the router off of the work piece being cut. The base also sets the depth of the tool into the work piece. The surface of the base should be kept clean and in a slick condition. A coating of car wax can be applied to the bases surface to give a slick finish on the metal or plastic surface. The less friction against the work piece, the smoother the cut will be in the wood surface. Depth adjustment is typically performed with a precision screw and a liner measuring device. The screw will raise or lower the base in relation to the amount of tool exposed below the surface of the base. This adjustment should be done after the tool is set and tightened in the collet. A dial indicator can be attached to the top of the base and used for extremely precision depth adjustments as for inlay woodwork. The indicator can be held in place by a permanent screw position and then removed quickly when the router is under operation. Various routers may have extra screw holes that can be utilized for this type of measuring device.
- Straight line cuts can be kept aligned by fixing a straight edge to the work piece. Use two c-clamps to hold a wooden straight edge at the proper standoff position in relation to the cutting edge of the bit and the edge of the router base. Cut only in the opposite direction of rotation. Moving the tool along the rotation direction, generally in a clockwise movement of the tool bit, will cause the cut to chatter and climb along the edge. This will result in the surface of the cut having ridges along the surface. It may also cause the router to grab the material and run away from you. Adjust the depth of the tool and fine-tune that adjustment by using a scarp wood. The final cut will be perfect in the finished material. Cover the base of the router in blue painters masking tape when routing over finished material. The tape will act as a shield from any scratches or gouges that may be in the metal base. Wear safety gear such as glasses and ear protection whenever operating any power tool that removes large or small particles.
- Keep the surface of the table in a slick condition by applying coats of a high quality car wax. Use push sticks and holding feather boards when routing small pieces of wood. Clean the tabletop when wood resin begins to form on the slick surface. The resin can adhere to other species of wood making finishing difficult. Use a separates shut off switch to control the router when changing tooling, and unplug the power when servicing the router.
