Archive for the ‘How to video’ Category

I thought this was a great video about how new woodworker does their tool reviews.  I really like the part about if you think you are going to get a thousand dollars worth of value out of a $200 tool.  Its pretty short so have a look.

How to Use a Router Table when Using a Plunge Router — powered by eHow.com

Multi Sided Glue Joint Router Bits

This is an interesting video that shows you how to use the multi sided glue joint bits from MLCS.  The kit comes with three bits and they take the time to go over the instructions on how to use them.  Covered in this video is:

• 3 bit set
• Used for 6,8,12 and 16 sided objects
• Instructions guide you for number of sides and thickness of stock to make it easy for you to get started.
• you only cut one side of the stock
• Setting the point of the bit above the router table
• two pass cut using a stop block  This gives you a smooth finish and a good glue joint
• dry fit for super easy assembly
• glue and clamp
• you can buy the bits in sets or individually
• You can download plans for free on MLCS (co0L)

This video gives you a good overview of mounting an insert to your router.  You can apply this to any router plate brand, however they do have a pretty nifty template that they use for the insert.

• Good visual on how to line up the handles with the plate
• Keeping the router lift hole in a good spot for use
• Marking your base plate and matching it to your router plate
• Line up the very cool template and tape it to the plate
• Remove the base plate and size to a drill bit
• Place base plate face down and center
• Use a drill press to drill holes, this keeps things straight
• Use counter sink bit to keep screws flush
• Connect to router

There really is many ways in which you can do this, but this will get your mind going.  Most people really fear the idea of mounting or drilling their own router plate.  As you can see its pretty simple.

This part one of a building a guitar by the Wood Whisperer.  I really like this video because I am into guitars and have always wanted to build my own.  This is a three part series and it shows a tremendous amount of details about the project.  Keep in mind this is for a classical accoustic guitar, not an electric solid body.  Below the video is some bullet point summary of the video if you are interested.  I have added a few points.  So far from part one I have surmised that you need a decent table saw, band saw, drill press and scroll saw (maybe) , jointer and router table.   The author also uses a vacume press jig that you might be able to swap out for some creative clamping.

• The materials were bought with a kit from www.lmii.com

Neck

• The Neck:  not a pre bought neck (which is cool)
• Layout of neck angle using jointer and bandsaw
• Cutting angle on Band saw to prep for glue up
• Used sander to plane the neck stock to size
• Head piece glue up using c clamps and f bar clamps (no screws!)
• Cutting the heel block, glue up
• Laminating the head piece by substituting some curly maple and sandwhiching them together with the vacume bag jig.  This takes only an hour
• Then glue the heel block and head piece then shaped on band saw.  After that cleaned up on router table with a flush trim bit.  This allows that layered glued up wood to really give some nice detail.
• slotting the heel stock for the side , used table saw with an angle on the blade.
• rough sawing the heel block shape
• Cutting the tuning machine holes on the drill press, then cleaning up the slots using a scroll saw.

Sides

• Used East Indian Rosewood
• Stock Preperaton
• Home made jig prep using a bandsaw.  I would imagine after you make this, you could churn out more guitars since you have the jig.
• cut opening for the heel stock into the jig.
• Built own custom bending jig using a light bulb and 1/4″ thick aluminum.  The lightbulb supplies the power via a 1000 watt dimmer switch (so you can control it) and water provides the moisture to bend the wood..Very neat.
• After wood is bent, clamped into jig and glued up
• Attached headstock

This video is from The Wood Whisperer and gives an excellent overview of dust control with routers.  This video focuses on the Festool line of routers but it can give you  excellent information if you are thinking about buying a new router.  Dust control is important and these routers have some features that you just have to know about.

Video Overview:

• OF1010, Integrated connector, chip catcher, excellent for edge routing
• OF1400 Dust extraction hood, tool less on/off chip catcher, inline hose attachement
• MFK700 multiple bases and extraction, each base has its own strategy
• OF2200  36o degree spring loaded shroud, 45 degree offset to keep hose out of the way and a snap in chip catcher

This is a very interesting series by Sommerfeld Tools.  This particular video covers the “router tables made easy” DVD.  First off, a lot of people do not know much about Sommerfeld tools, they are not really lumped in with the big brand names.  In some ways that can be very good.  This 6 minute video shows a lot of information of what’s on the DVD, that is a good thing.  Here is an overview of the video:

• Preview from the “Made Easy” series
• New extruded table top overview
• Review of the cabinet DVD
• Table overview size is 36” x 27”
• Fence is 48” x 4 ¾”
• Fence uses retractable pin and good dust collection
• Sub fences
• 3 zero clearance inserts on fence
• 3 insert rings for the router table insert

Cabinet

• Building the face frame first
• Self aligning Tongue and Groove Joinery
• Laying out the parts
• Uses pocket hole joinery
• Matched tongue and groove router bits
• Uses a jig for bit height (available at their site)
• You cut all grooves at once
• Assembly of the case
• Drawer assembly
• Dovetail joinery for drawers, another cool jig that you use on your router table
• Easy set jig for cope cuts
• Drawer fronts
• Drawer pulls
• Easy board jig for mounting drawers
• DVD is only $9.90 plus free shipping

You can find this video here at there website.

This is a pretty neat video showing you some of the benefits of working with a monster router table.  The highlights of the video are:

Video summary Text

• Heavy duty gas operated lifting springs
• A 100lb top
• Locking knobs hold it down
• Easy router adjustments
• No router insert

You can also find this table at:

This is a decent video for getting some good ideas. I love getting ideas and the jig this guy uses is pretty simple and has more applications than he is showing. He talks about:

• Making tenons
• Using alternatives to aluminum router table inserts
• custom jigs
• using a climbout cut which is tear out free