85 - Router Table, страница 16

Router Plate Installation

To learn how to install a router plate without a template, visit ShopNotes.com

Whenever it comes to installing a router plate, the trick is always in sizing the opening to match tire plate exactly. To make things easier when it came to installing the plate for the router table on page 18, I used a purchased template (see page 51 for sources).

The template is nothing more than a piece of medium-density-fiberboard (MDF) with an opening to match tire size of the router plate. To use the template, all you have to do is tape it down to your router table top. Then using a pattern bit, rout a channel all around the edge of the opening. You'll want the depth of this channel to match the thickness of your plate.

Once you've routed the channel, remove the template and cut away the waste inside the opening with a jigsaw. Finally, you can smooth the rough edges of the opening by filing or sanding.

▲ Set Bit Depth. After attaching the template to your router table top with carpet tape, set the router plate on top of the template to determine the bit depth.

▲ Rout Channel. Next, set the router plate aside and using a ¹/2"-dia. pattern bit, rout a channel all around the inside of the template.

16 ShopNotes No. 85

SECONP: SET ROUTER ON PLATE AND TEMPLATE TO DETERMINE W BIT DEPTH

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PLATE

TEMPLATE

FIRST: ATTACH TEMPLATE TO TOP OF ROUTER TABLE

WITH CARPET TAPE

|

-DIA.

PATTERN

ROUT CHANNEL AROUND INSIDE OF TEMPLATE

A Cutting Out Waste. To remove the waste from the center of the opening, drill a clearance hole in each corner. Then use a jig saw to cut out the waste.

DRILL HOLES IN CORNERS OF OPENING

SECONP:

CUT AWAY WASTE WITH JIG SAW