Ryobi Freehand Routing Techniques: How to Use a Router Freehand for Letters and Patterns

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OPERATION

FREEHAND ROUTING

See Figure 14.

When used freehand, your router becomes a flexible and versatile tool. This flexibility makes it possible to easily rout signs, relief sculptures, etc.

There are two basic techniques for freehand routing:

1.Routing letters, grooves, and patterns into wood. See Figure 14.

2.Routing out the background, leaving the letters or pattern raised above the surface.

When freehand routing, we suggest the following:

1.Draw or layout the pattern on workpiece.

2.Choose the appropriate cutter. NOTE: A core box or V-groove bit is often used for routing letters and engraving objects. Straight bits and ball mills are often used to make relief carvings. Veining bits are used to carve small, intricate details.

3.Rout the pattern in two or more passes. Make the first pass at 25% of the desired depth of cut. This will provide better control as well as being a guide for the next pass.

4.Do not rout deeper than 1/8 in. per pass or cut.

WARNING:

Do not use large router bits for freehand routing. Use of large router bits when freehand routing could cause loss of control or create other hazardous conditions that could cause possible serious personal injury. When using a UL listed router table, large router bits should be used for edging only. Do not use router bits that are larger in diameter than the opening in router base.

ROUTING WITH STRAIGHT EDGE OF SUBBASE

See Figure 15.

The subbase on your router has a straight edge. It should be used when placing your router against an edge guide or fence and routing grooves parallel to the fence.

WARNING:

Do not use with router tables that fail to conform to safe wood working practices and offer proper guarding for the cutter. Failure to comply can result in an accident causing possible serious injury.

FREEHAND ROUTING

Fig. 14

 

1

 

3

3

6

4

3

3

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

16

 

 

 

 

 

7

64

11

64

 

 

 

 

 

5

 

 

1

8

 

 

 

32

9 64

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ROUTING WITH STRAIGHT EDGE OF

 

SUBBASE AGAINST AN EDGE GUIDE

Fig. 15

 

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Contents Owners Operating Manual Router R160 / R165Table of Contents Rules for Safe Operation Double InsulationRead ALL Instructions Keep Guards in Place and in working orderRules for Safe Operation Operation INSTALLING/REMOVING Cutters Electrical ConnectionDepth of CUT Adjustments See Figures 4, 5, 6, TOO Slow Feeding Depth of CUT Direction of Feed and ThrustRouting Starting and Ending a CUT Internal Routing Edging with Pilot BitsEdge Routing Freehand Routing Routing with Straight Edge of SubbaseMaintenance Light Bulb Replacement Model NO. R165 onlyProper Care of Cutters Proper Care of ColletPage Page Service Ryobi America Corporation Ryobi Canada INCSwitch Replacement