A woodworking router is a device used to hollow out or gouge out some part of a piece of wood. The earliest routers were hand-operated devices and similar in appearance to a flat wood plane, except with interchangeable narrow blades as opposed to a large, flat blade. Today, it is one of the most versatile tools you will find in any workshop. With the correct router bits, you can form edges, add decorative inlays, and even make raised door panels. In order to become proficient at using a woodworking router, practice is important.

The reason why you need to become proficient at using one before you start tackling complex woodworking projects is because routing is a very fast process, and there are risks involved such as the trimming and cutting of the wood. If you plan on using a woodworking router for your next project, here are some tips to live by.

Rule #1. Always clamp down on the wood you will be cutting. C-clamps often give good results, so use this if you can. Also, place two pieces of scrap wood on each side of the clamps so you won't damage your good wood.

Rule #2. Double check to be sure you are using the proper router bits for the kind of wood cuts you want to make. Some types of bits to look out for include Dovetail (for creating strong joints for frames and bookcases), Spiral (for smoothing and trimming out edges in plastic laminate and fibreglass), and V-grooving (for lettering and signage work). Whenever handling the sharp end of a bit, always make sure to wear protective gloves.

Rule #3. Run your router in a counter-clockwise direction around the wood stock, across the grain on either end. After which, you can begin cutting with the grain. Always move the woodworking router so it is cutting into the wood in the opposite direction of the spinning bit.

Rule #4. You will want to start by making a shallow cut. It is always much better to make three or four small cuts, taking off a small amount each time rather than cutting too deeply and taking off more wood than necessary.

Rule #5. You should get a good feel for the speed of cutting wood. Do not cut too quickly as that will result in wood chips. On the other hand, cutting too slowly can result in wood burn.

Once you get the hang of using a woodworking router and the many different router bits, you will be able to add designs and create intricate patterns using this very versatile workshop tool. Just remember to take your time whenever working with one and always wear gloves as the sharp edges can cut you if you are not careful.