Whether you’re brand new to woodworking or a seasoned pro, Trend router bits will go a long way to ensuring your finished piece of handiwork is every bit as well made as the router bits that helped you make it. There are a number of different pointers you should follow to get the best possible results in your woodworking, and we’ll cover some of those below. However, one thing that is critical is using good, solid, reliable parts and equipment to give you the best opportunity at success. And just because the router bit is perhaps the smallest piece of the overall puzzle, don’t make the mistake of underestimation the importance of having a quality bit. After all, the router bit is the true intersection between your vision, heart and hands and the actual piece of wood your are crafting. As such, when you’re looking to get yourself a router bit set, you can’t put yourself in any better position than by using Trend router bits. Trend Routing Technology is an American company that is solely focused on routing; developing wood routers, router bits, router tables, jigs and other accessories that are used worldwide by woodworkers everywhere. The well known, well respected Amazon.com, where you can read real customer reviews of all kinds of products, provides access to a wide variety of Trend router products.
Like so many aspects of woodworking, the skills necessary for routing are pretty basic. However, the skills necessary for routing WELL only come with patience, practice, repetition and time. We will go over a few basic points that can help the beginner woodworker to get familiar with routing, while at the same time perhaps reminding wood working veterans of a few basics that they should share with newcomers, if they have the opportunity to share their wood router skills with someone just getting started.
Before doing anything else, you’ll need to select the wood you’ll be working on. You should examine it to make sure it doesn’t have and nails in it, and make yourself aware of any warps or knots that exist in it as well. Also, never work with wood that is wet; make sure it is properly dried before starting any project.
Obviously you’ll want to make yourself well acquainted with the actual router you use by reading the instruction manual thoroughly and following all the proper, necessary safety precautions, both specifically for that piece of equipment as well as general safety guidelines you should always follow when woodworking such as wearing proper eye protection.
If you’re just getting started for the first time and have followed the recommendation above of using Trend router bits, you will be getting off to a good start with a high quality, sharp new router bit. But be aware that this is something you should always strive for; making sure the router bit you are using is nice and sharp.
When setting up the wood you’ll be working on (after it has passed the previous rules and inspections), make sure it is properly secured to your work bench. You should also secure another piece of wood of the exact same thickness to act as support for your router as you get near the edges, to make sure it always stays nice and level.
When you start in on your piece of wood, you should come straight down on the wood from above (called plunge cutting) rather than coming in from the edge of the wood. And when you move the router across the wood, move it from left to right so that the cutting edge of the router bit is the first to contact the wood.
Take your time and don’t “bite off more than you can chew”. In other words, don’t try to make extremely deep cuts all at once. Doing so can cause the bit to bind and twist the router in your hands, or it can leave burn marks in the wood. It is much better to make shallower cuts in the wood, and gradually lower the bit in successive passes. It may take a bit more patience, but you’ll get better end results. Also, don’t rush the router in its horizontal plain either. Pushing it too fast is more likely to create chips and splinters than if you just take your time with it.
Finally, until you get very comfortable and confident with your router, you should always use an edge guide. Over time as you get more familiar with your new router and wood routing skills, you’ll be able to experiment with more freehand cutting techniques.
Following these basic guidelines should help you get a good start into the world of woodworking, or more specifically, using a wood router in your woodworking. Remember, patience is a virtue, and practice, practice, practice! Read, experiment, work with more experienced woodworkers if you can, and always work with the best materials and equipment that you possibly can. One area we definitely recommend you not skimp on is that intersection of your vision and the actual wood; the router bit. And that is why we always recommend using Trend router bits.