Archive for the ‘Videos’ Category

Another great video by the woodwhisperer.

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

This short video has some interesting aspects to it.  It gives you a nice perspective of the router, certainly much better than a picture.  It also shows you several features of the router such as: Read the rest of this entry »

This is a new video just out from Eagle America.  One of the reasons I like video is that you can get a good idea of how big the tool is and how easy it is to work with when you are watching someone hold it and make adjustments.  I do have to say though that this is one big router.  I have written several articles over the years that talk about using such big routers verses shapers and why woodworkers want such a big router.  I am still a bit confused but that is not the topic of this video.  The video is really to help you determine if this is a router that you would be interested in.  It does have some really cool features if you use it in a triton table.  Everything seems to snap together and work as design.  I have not seen the triton table for sale anywhere so this may be a bit of a challenge to find.

Summary of the video

• Suited perfectly for table mounting and free hand use
• Variable plunge settings with micro adjustment (really cool)
• Awesome integration onto router plate
• above the table bit changes since the collet comes all the way up above the insert.  A lot of people are buying lifts so that they can get this feature.
• Circle cutting
• All kinds of interesting attachements

Technical Specifications

• Power: 2400W
• Speed: 8000 to 21000 RPM under load
• Soft Start: Yes
• Electronic Speed Control: Yes
• Collet: 1/2″ with 1/4″ reducer
• Depth Adjustment:
  • Winder handle rack and pinion
  • Micro winder
  • Conventional “free” plunge
• Plunge Range: 0-68mm
• Bit Changes: Through base single wrench action with auto shaft lock
• Micro Adjustment: Infinite
• Spindle Lock: Auto
• Safety On/Off Switch: Yes
• Removable Plunge Spring: Yes
• Guide: Extended base plate with adjustable fence
• Weight: 6 kg
• $269 at http://www.eagleamerica.com/product/v806-0001

Reviews are somewhat mixed from Amazon and date back over a chunk of 7 years.  Some of the reviews do not reflect changes made to the router as the manufacturers improve design features, so factor that into your thought pattern.

• Latest model seems perfect
• nice design, lousy manufacturing
• Very pleased with the Triton Router
• Good router but plunge stroke is not as advertised
• New thinking on router design from down under
• I love this router

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

Here is an interesting video review that is good to watch and re think some items no matter what your skill level is.  One of the best things about using Pattern cutting templates and bits is that they really make easy work of your woodworking projects.  I like templates because once I remove the stock, the router really makes me look good.  The key is having a good template.  Take your time when making your template and the output will be good.  If you rush your way through it, it will not.  If you are doing any type of production work, or selling a particular item over and over again, these templates can be a lifesaver.  They almost take your woodworking to a cnc type of production without the overhead of the unit.  Here is the video and a brief bullet type summary of that video.

• The bearing and the cutter are on the same side
• Good rule:  What the bearing feels, the cutter cuts
• The difference between a pattern bit and a flush trim bit
• Taping a template to the stock
• Rough cut the stock outside the line on bandsaw makes less work for router
• Clamp stock to template and bench or tape
• Set bit height in plunge router
• Using thicker wood then your bit height

Rockler Pattern Cutting Bits

This is the follow up for the router table that I reviewed here. I think that you will find that having a video can help you get a better idea of the features of the table and give you some more information. The fence turned out to be an interesting feature. I am going to post a separate video going over how it works and what makes it unique.

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: