I’ve been woodworking for 11 years. A router table was my first NEW tool purchase when i got started. I was always very intimidated. I love routers. Probably one of my favorite tools because of all the things it can do. But even today after 11 years…. I am VERY careful with the router (all 6 of them. I may have a problem lol). OMG! That big beast of a bit is awesome. I do like that you mounted the template for the round parts and use a palm router. I always feel safer when I’m holding the router instead of on the table. Thanks for sharing.
Some good points there mate. But number 6, use the lead in pin supplied with the router table (I have the same table as you). A nice and safe way to introduce the work to the bit.
My man js doing woodworking with one functioning arm when many people complain that they can't with both arms functioning. Well done my friend! You know your doing it right when your comment section is full of positive input. I appreciate you all the way from across the pond where we have templates o plenty...😉😂🇺🇸
Yahhhh!! Someone from the UK!! Cannot believe it!! And another first - being able to use a code for buying something!!! I have never been able to do this, as it is always in the USA. So that is two firsts for me. Thank you so much for all the advice, I had no idea that those straight bits were dangerous (for beginners). I have owned my router for almost 2 years and did absolutely NOTHING as I was so unsure. I even bought a table top for the router, and made the table, but still did NOTHING with it. Now I am watching you, I am getting a bit more confidence to give it a go. I will certainly check out your website - it is rate to find a UK woodworker!!! Love it.
Hello Ken, thank you for your very kind message here which is sincerely appreciated. I hope you enjoy some of the other content on my channel. Best wishes from Liverpool, Leo 😀😀👍👍
@@Hand-i-Craft FABULOUS to hear from you @Hand-i-Craft, I am in Scotland and an avid woodworking beginner (Lady) who has started to learn things, since I am on my own and cannot afford tradesmen. SO - I started buying some power-tools and started to watch You Tube. It is awesome to find UK adviser and content creators!! You can relate better ! (here is a common thing I hear - get down to home depot and get .... something that we don't have in the UK)!! I want to hear - "get down to B & Q"!! 🤣. I have taken a note of the router template company for future ref.
@@kenn1936 Thank you again. Yes definitely check out Martin at Chops Designs on instagram. He has a fantastic range of templates for all kinds of woodworking projects 😀👍
Really appreciate the dedication to safety. Nothing I hate more than a You Tuber making an “instructional” video containing the phrase “my shop, my rules” when people call them out on their dangerous practices. Now of course we all have our rules for our shop. That’s totally fine. But if someone is trying to show others how to do something highly dangerous for the first time… maybe don’t show them a sure fire way to maim or kill themselves in the process.
Safety is paramount, thanks for reminding even the most experienced of us. We all get complacent after we get away with something we have done a dozen times or more 😁
So I came here after getting a wine caddy template and thinking "how hard could it be?" Well after my dull 1/2" spiral bit gave me violent tear out, I became even more scared of the router table than I wanted lol. I purchased a 1/4 shank 1/2" compression bit, and a spiral bit for my trim router. Like you I feel much more comfortable holding the router. Thanks for all the great tips!
You are truly an inspiration my friend, would like to see your strategies to install a new router bit into a palm router or the table router with just one hand
Thank you for the kind comments. You can find how I change a router bit in a table mounted router here: th-cam.com/video/dCtwFMkoN-M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t7G1bw8rE1n1ubuk And a palm router here😀👍: th-cam.com/video/9ZCXllS2qBk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZunxaDY8PYQWNPzN
Great tips, Leo, and just what beginners need. Hopefully you've given me the courage to use the fancy pants router I got for Christmas and which remains unopened...😬
Great advice and demonstrations. Have to admit the router is the only machine that still scares the hell out of me! Great format and the invitation to like etc sounds fine.
@@Hand-i-Craft I hope so. I suspect adding a like/subscribe 'clip' in my own posts plus the hashtag key words increased my visibility and views (into double figures!) and what you offer is so much more 'likeable'. 👍
Sweet little video there, Leo. Covering all the serious stuff. If I might add an addenda to the last tip; 'introducing the router' Many noobs might think that if the bit isn't biting a load of material then it isn't making a 'significant' pass. Your introduction pass, aesthetically [with obvious sanding] would make a perfectly acceptible, subtle round over. Much neater on smaller boards and safer too, esp if using a palm router at that stage. Cheers mate.
Thanks for opening my eyes to some issues. Dont think i was being wreckless but sure was being ignorant. Guilty of using the larger bits, the speed control & just unaware. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks for the informative video! I just got a Bosch 27 in. x 18 in table for my birthday. I still have to put it together, but your video is helpful to see how I will use it! Thanks again! Gonna subscribe to support your channel!
Lots of great advice there Leo and the templates look great. I get the impression that those are some hard-learned lessons ❤ ? I’d add another tip about making sure that the router bit is pushed well inside the router collet, i.e. not too much shank exposed. I was using my bearing guided straight bit (I know I know) to trim some handle cutouts and after doing several I think the bit moved slightly and it all rapidly went pear-shaped. If the bit is not straight and even in the shank the rapid spinning will cause undue stress and imbalance. In my case the shank bent and there was a lot of noise as it was now no longer evenly balanced 😮 If you do a follow up, worth covering the push sticks as well. The one you used on your router table looked especially grippy
Thanks Geoffrey, yes that was on my shortlist tbh, along with making sure the router table is nice and smooth with no debris, but I wanted to get it down to 5 to try and keep the pace of the video up. I’ll see how this one goes and yes might do a follow up👍👍
Thanks for the comment. Tbh now I use painters tape and drops of o3a ca glue with activator spray. Fantastic adhesion and clean up is so much easier 👍👍
All good solid tips Leo, I do the same steps, but use my simple Katsu powered router table for the whole process with the wine caddies, I prefer the template on top 👍.
I've never heard of a router bit exploding, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened .... I have had bearings collapse but that tends to just take a chunk out of the work piece ... and yes, spiral bits give a far superior cut. With regards the speed of the bit, go with what the manufacturer recommends, the general rule being that the larger the bit the slower the speed (rpm of the router). I think the best tip you gave is to do multiple passes, it reduces the amount being cut each time, meaning less stress on the bit, less tear out and of course a better finish
I'm literally sitting with a would on my hand from kickback because I didn't follow tip #1. I didn't know at the time I needed to cut so much stock away. I don't have a jigsaw, just a hand saw, and I was trying to save myself a hand cramp. Apparently hindsight is 20/20 and a bandage.
@@Hand-i-Craft I have a nice full-size Bosch router and a smaller compact router. The Bosch tends to live in My router table, and I think of it as for outside curves.
@@LarryB-inFL Excellent, two great options. If you have a look in the description I have links to the router bits I use so I hope that might be of some help 👍👍
Great video Leo very informative, i think the main problem with straight flush bits exploding is when people buy the cheap bits they have very poor quality bearings that break down very quickly they are okay to use in my opinion but buy good quality ones and not cheap ones. 👍
Thanks Rasmo and yes agree with what you say here. I just also think spiral bits are better for a beginner because they are more forgiving as well albeit they do cost more money. Hope you’re keep well pal, best wishes, Leo 😀👍
Exotic Hardwoods up in the Staffordshire Moorlands (at Ipstones) deliver all over the UK and have decent stock levels. Their pricing is competitive and also have a planing option.
5:08 This is misleading because you don't need to use a bearing guided bit at all. You could fit a router template guide and then any bit can be a used. Many people say using a template guide is better than bits with guide bearings.
Do you mean a guide bush then yes absolutely, but what type of bit would you recommend to use with them just out of interest? And when you say ‘many people’ I get what you’re saying but that phrase does make me think of the kind of thing Donald Trump says all the time🤷♂️
I’m really sorry, I have a daft question. Why does the router bit not consume the template just as does the wood. Is it height adjustment See, I told you it was daft
Not daft at all David, that’s why this video is here to help folk along the way. On the router bit there is a bearing guide, quite simply a wheel that you align with the template so the bearing works it way along the line of the template while the bit cuts away the wood underneath it (or above it if it’s upside down). Does that make sense pal? 😀👍
Brilliant tips video glad I found it , worthy of a subscription 💯👍🏻
Thank you, much appreciated 😀👍
Great introduction! Thanks for sharing
@@sjaakgriffioen9876 You’re welcome 😀👍
This is a brilliant video mate just came across it and got some very good tips there 🏴👍
Cheers pal, much appreciated 😀👍
Thank you for the information, routers scare the crap out of me. This was very helpful and it will make my routing much safer
Cheers for the feedback 😀😀👍👍
I’ve been woodworking for 11 years. A router table was my first NEW tool purchase when i got started. I was always very intimidated. I love routers. Probably one of my favorite tools because of all the things it can do. But even today after 11 years…. I am VERY careful with the router (all 6 of them. I may have a problem lol).
OMG! That big beast of a bit is awesome. I do like that you mounted the template for the round parts and use a palm router. I always feel safer when I’m holding the router instead of on the table. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Angie for your very kind feedback, much appreciated 😀😀👍👍
Some good points there mate. But number 6, use the lead in pin supplied with the router table (I have the same table as you). A nice and safe way to introduce the work to the bit.
Great point pal. Tbh I’ve enough to do a follow up vid. Will see how this one goes and something I might consider 👍👍
My man js doing woodworking with one functioning arm when many people complain that they can't with both arms functioning. Well done my friend!
You know your doing it right when your comment section is full of positive input.
I appreciate you all the way from across the pond where we have templates o plenty...😉😂🇺🇸
Thank you for your very kind comments. Much appeciated and best wishes from Liverpool, England 😀
Yahhhh!! Someone from the UK!! Cannot believe it!! And another first - being able to use a code for buying something!!! I have never been able to do this, as it is always in the USA. So that is two firsts for me. Thank you so much for all the advice, I had no idea that those straight bits were dangerous (for beginners). I have owned my router for almost 2 years and did absolutely NOTHING as I was so unsure. I even bought a table top for the router, and made the table, but still did NOTHING with it. Now I am watching you, I am getting a bit more confidence to give it a go. I will certainly check out your website - it is rate to find a UK woodworker!!! Love it.
Hello Ken, thank you for your very kind message here which is sincerely appreciated. I hope you enjoy some of the other content on my channel. Best wishes from Liverpool, Leo 😀😀👍👍
@@Hand-i-Craft FABULOUS to hear from you @Hand-i-Craft, I am in Scotland and an avid woodworking beginner (Lady) who has started to learn things, since I am on my own and cannot afford tradesmen. SO - I started buying some power-tools and started to watch You Tube. It is awesome to find UK adviser and content creators!! You can relate better ! (here is a common thing I hear - get down to home depot and get .... something that we don't have in the UK)!! I want to hear - "get down to B & Q"!! 🤣. I have taken a note of the router template company for future ref.
@@kenn1936 Thank you again. Yes definitely check out Martin at Chops Designs on instagram. He has a fantastic range of templates for all kinds of woodworking projects 😀👍
Really appreciate the dedication to safety. Nothing I hate more than a You Tuber making an “instructional” video containing the phrase “my shop, my rules” when people call them out on their dangerous practices.
Now of course we all have our rules for our shop. That’s totally fine. But if someone is trying to show others how to do something highly dangerous for the first time… maybe don’t show them a sure fire way to maim or kill themselves in the process.
Thank you for your very kind feedback which is much appreciated 😀😀👍👍
Safety is paramount, thanks for reminding even the most experienced of us. We all get complacent after we get away with something we have done a dozen times or more 😁
Thanks Derek, didn’t appear to be much out there for beginners hence creating this video 😀👍
So I came here after getting a wine caddy template and thinking "how hard could it be?" Well after my dull 1/2" spiral bit gave me violent tear out, I became even more scared of the router table than I wanted lol. I purchased a 1/4 shank 1/2" compression bit, and a spiral bit for my trim router. Like you I feel much more comfortable holding the router. Thanks for all the great tips!
Cheers Bryan for kind feedback, much appreciated 😀👍
You are truly an inspiration my friend, would like to see your strategies to install a new router bit into a palm router or the table router with just one hand
Thank you for the kind comments. You can find how I change a router bit in a table mounted router here:
th-cam.com/video/dCtwFMkoN-M/w-d-xo.htmlsi=t7G1bw8rE1n1ubuk
And a palm router here😀👍:
th-cam.com/video/9ZCXllS2qBk/w-d-xo.htmlsi=ZunxaDY8PYQWNPzN
Great video and some useful tips 👍
Cheers Tomas, much appreciated 😀👍
Cristal clear - Cred - I learned a lot! :)
Thanks Anders 😀👍
Thanks Leo. Brilliant tips for people like me, and a few that I haven't seen mentioned anywhere else. Nice one. Cheers.
Cheers, I was actually quite surprised the lack of info aimed at beginners for a topic like this, hence putting it together 😀😀👍👍
Great job on the video. I appreciate you taking time to show and say what you’re doing.
Thanks Susan, much appreciated 😀👍
Really nice router tips. Especially from the safety angle.
Thanks, safety really does have to be number 1 doing these kind of tasks 😀👍
Great video, sometimes we all need a reminder of how to use these tools, thanks 😊
Cheers David 😀👍
Great tips, Leo, and just what beginners need. Hopefully you've given me the courage to use the fancy pants router I got for Christmas and which remains unopened...😬
Good luck with it Mandy ❤️😀👍
Interesting reminders there, thank you
Thanks Paul 😀👍
Amazing video and very helpful thank you
You’re welcome 😀😀👍👍
Great video pal keep up the good work
Thanks Ricky😀😀👍👍
Nice one, Leo. Some good tips. Stay safe. Tony
Thanks Tony 😀😀👍👍
Nice tips Leo.I particularly like the tape trick, finding good double sided tape is like finding cheap birch plywood! 😀 Regards JP
Nice one JP, cheers for the feedback pal 😀😀👍👍
Great advice and demonstrations. Have to admit the router is the only machine that still scares the hell out of me! Great format and the invitation to like etc sounds fine.
Thanks Ben for the feedback, in regards to the like 👍 bit, be interesting to see if it makes any difference 🤔🤷♂️
@@Hand-i-Craft I hope so. I suspect adding a like/subscribe 'clip' in my own posts plus the hashtag key words increased my visibility and views (into double figures!) and what you offer is so much more 'likeable'. 👍
Brilliant tips Leo! You are a truly amazing woodworker and your videos are incredibly wholesome and inspiring
Thanks for the very kind feedback, much appreciated 😀😀👍👍
Sweet little video there, Leo. Covering all the serious stuff. If I might add an addenda to the last tip; 'introducing the router' Many noobs might think that if the bit isn't biting a load of material then it isn't making a 'significant' pass. Your introduction pass, aesthetically [with obvious sanding] would make a perfectly acceptible, subtle round over. Much neater on smaller boards and safer too, esp if using a palm router at that stage. Cheers mate.
Nice one, thanks Keith for the feedback pal😀😀👍👍
Good stuff, thank you for the useful tips.
Thank you, much appreciated 😀👍
Excellent video! I learned so much! Thank you.
Very kind of you, thank you very much 👍
Brilliant video - best I’ve seen.
👍👍👍 Thanks Leo
Cheers 😀😀👍👍
Thanks for opening my eyes to some issues. Dont think i was being wreckless but sure was being ignorant. Guilty of using the larger bits, the speed control & just unaware. Thanks for the heads up.
Thanks Steven for the feedback 😀😀👍👍
Thanks for the informative video! I just got a Bosch 27 in. x 18 in table for my birthday. I still have to put it together, but your video is helpful to see how I will use it! Thanks again! Gonna subscribe to support your channel!
Thank you for the kind words, much appreciated 😀👍
Lots of great advice there Leo and the templates look great. I get the impression that those are some hard-learned lessons ❤ ?
I’d add another tip about making sure that the router bit is pushed well inside the router collet, i.e. not too much shank exposed. I was using my bearing guided straight bit (I know I know) to trim some handle cutouts and after doing several I think the bit moved slightly and it all rapidly went pear-shaped. If the bit is not straight and even in the shank the rapid spinning will cause undue stress and imbalance. In my case the shank bent and there was a lot of noise as it was now no longer evenly balanced 😮
If you do a follow up, worth covering the push sticks as well. The one you used on your router table looked especially grippy
Thanks Geoffrey, yes that was on my shortlist tbh, along with making sure the router table is nice and smooth with no debris, but I wanted to get it down to 5 to try and keep the pace of the video up. I’ll see how this one goes and yes might do a follow up👍👍
Excellent video, thanks for sharing.
Can you recommend a brand of double sided tape that peels off easily and doesn't leave any sticky residue please?
Thanks for the comment. Tbh now I use painters tape and drops of o3a ca glue with activator spray. Fantastic adhesion and clean up is so much easier 👍👍
@@Hand-i-Craft great, thanks for your help, much appreciated 👍
All good solid tips Leo, I do the same steps, but use my simple Katsu powered router table for the whole process with the wine caddies, I prefer the template on top 👍.
Thanks Bill, yes I’m the same with the template. Sorted a system in the workshop as well now that will work well for small batch production 😀😀👍👍
I've never heard of a router bit exploding, but that doesn't mean it hasn't happened .... I have had bearings collapse but that tends to just take a chunk out of the work piece ... and yes, spiral bits give a far superior cut. With regards the speed of the bit, go with what the manufacturer recommends, the general rule being that the larger the bit the slower the speed (rpm of the router).
I think the best tip you gave is to do multiple passes, it reduces the amount being cut each time, meaning less stress on the bit, less tear out and of course a better finish
Thanks Barry for the feedback here, much appreciated 😀👍
I'm literally sitting with a would on my hand from kickback because I didn't follow tip #1. I didn't know at the time I needed to cut so much stock away. I don't have a jigsaw, just a hand saw, and I was trying to save myself a hand cramp. Apparently hindsight is 20/20 and a bandage.
Sorry to hear about your accident David and I hope you’re on the mend and back in the workshop soon👍👍
While I’ve not tried it, hot glue seems to work well to secure templates to the wood as well.
Thanks for the tip Shane 👍👍😀😀
Flush cut bit diameter? Obviously dependent on how sharp the template angles are, but some advice would be good.
Are you looking to mainly use a palm router Larry?
@@Hand-i-Craft I have a nice full-size Bosch router and a smaller compact router. The Bosch tends to live in My router table, and I think of it as for outside curves.
@@LarryB-inFL Excellent, two great options. If you have a look in the description I have links to the router bits I use so I hope that might be of some help 👍👍
Great video Leo very informative, i think the main problem with straight flush bits exploding is when people buy the cheap bits they have very poor quality bearings that break down very quickly they are okay to use in my opinion but buy good quality ones and not cheap ones. 👍
Thanks Rasmo and yes agree with what you say here. I just also think spiral bits are better for a beginner because they are more forgiving as well albeit they do cost more money. Hope you’re keep well pal, best wishes, Leo 😀👍
Just started using different types of wood where is the best place to find these exotic woods.Bry
Where abouts are you based Bry?
Exotic Hardwoods up in the Staffordshire Moorlands (at Ipstones) deliver all over the UK and have decent stock levels. Their pricing is competitive and also have a planing option.
Plymouth in devon
The rule of thumb for routing is the larger the bit the slower the router speed should be.
Thanks Simon👍. I also found with the roundover it only needs to be on a slow speed as well 😀👍
5:08 This is misleading because you don't need to use a bearing guided bit at all. You could fit a router template guide and then any bit can be a used. Many people say using a template guide is better than bits with guide bearings.
Do you mean a guide bush then yes absolutely, but what type of bit would you recommend to use with them just out of interest? And when you say ‘many people’ I get what you’re saying but that phrase does make me think of the kind of thing Donald Trump says all the time🤷♂️
I’m really sorry, I have a daft question.
Why does the router bit not consume the template just as does the wood.
Is it height adjustment
See, I told you it was daft
Not daft at all David, that’s why this video is here to help folk along the way. On the router bit there is a bearing guide, quite simply a wheel that you align with the template so the bearing works it way along the line of the template while the bit cuts away the wood underneath it (or above it if it’s upside down). Does that make sense pal? 😀👍
@@Hand-i-Craft
Perfect sense
Thanks
...its about time you stopped showing off - use both hands!
🤔🤔😂😂😂😂😂