One of the most important tools in the woodworking industry is the router ,as it can create large amounts of designs. Not only professionals, but hobby woodworkers can use it as well. It is not only useful in large areas but with the vast number of cutters now available, it can also help in turning flat designs into 3 dimensional shapes
If you are a person who works from a small workshop at home, the router can act as an added tool the other tools. It can be viewed as the power tool. Since there is a wide range of complex shaped cutters that are in use, the concept of using the router needs one with a bit of creativity so that a profile that is in 2 dimension can be turned into a 3 dimensional one. A good example are the toys. In addition to toy cars, toy trees and also toy Lorries can be produced using this simple tool. This can come with other outline designs such as those of animals, boats and buildings. One essential piece of furniture needed when using this tool is the router table that provides both accuracy and safety. There are some certain profiles that are needed that routers would need 900 watts. Other interesting shapes are obtainable by using other existing cutters. One can refer to the new Trend catalogue to get a number of profiles and from that make the necessary combination before deciding on the cutters to purchase. It is good to remember that using a machine cutter to get some profiles from timber would require a bit of shaping to smoothen certain curves or eliminate certain corners that may be too sharp. The timber to be used must first be planed. This is something very important to note. If there is excess timber, it should be removed by cutting off grooves and rebates.
Of you desire to make a car or a lorry, the rebates should first be formed on the bottom edge of the strip. A groove should also be cut along the bottom face at the centre, and should leave 2 square beads to be machined in to the wheel profile. It is also important to use the saw table for cutting angled faces. Making support blocks would be good so that when it reaches the time of cutting, the work can be presented at different angles.
One can also for a basic profile by machining sections of different shapes and having them glued together. The effects of this can be really attractive if done in the right way and if the right finishes to the product are put.
Keeping you cutter well honed is good as one will need to sand the machined surface lightly before a finish is applied. Close grained e.g. beech, is good for use. More decorative works can be obtained by combining dark and light woods. If doing children’s toys, bright colors are more preferable.
