Craftsman 315.26921 Directioninternal, Guide@ ÷, Determining Depth of CUT, Depth Ofcut Width

DIRECTION(INTERNAL)

Wheneveryouareroutingagroove,yourtravel shouldbeina directionthatplaceswhateverguide youareusingat theright-handside.Inshort,when theguideispositionedasshownin thefirstpartof Figure13,tooltravelshouldbeleftto rightand counterclockwisearoundcurvesWhentheguideis. positionedasshowninthesecondpartof Figure13, tooltravelshouldberighttoleftandclockwisearound curves.Rfthereisachoice,thefirstsetupisgenerally theeasiesttouse.Ineithercase,thesidewaysthrust youuseisagainsttheguide.

GUIDEOUTSIDE

ROTATION

THRUST

ROTATION

FEED GUIDE

GUIDEINSIDE

ROTATIONC_

DETERMINING DEPTH OF CUT

As previously mentioned, the depth of cut is important because it affects the rate of feed that, in turn, affects the quality of the cut (and, also, the possibility of damage to your router motor and bit). A deep cut requires a slower feed than a shallow one, and a too deep cut will cause you to slow the feed so much that the bit is no longer cutting, it is scraping, instead.

Making a deep cut is never advisable. The smaller bits -- especially those only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) in diameter -- are easily broken off when subjected to too much side thrust. A large enough bit may not be broken, but if the cut is too deep a rough cut will result

--and it may be very difficult to guide and control the bit as desired. For these reasons, we recommend that you do not exceed 1/8 in. depth of cut in a single pass, regardless of the bit size or the softness or condition of the workpiece. See FiXTure 14.

To make deeper cuts it is therefore necessary to make as many successive passes as required, lowering the bit 1/8 in. for each new pass. In order to save time, do all the cutting necessary at one depth setting, before lowering the bit for the next pass. This will also assure a uniform depth when the final pass is completed. See FiXTure 15.

DEPTH

OFCUT

__ WIDTH

GUIDE@ ÷

ROTAT OH /

FEED

THRUST

Fig. 14

2ND.PASS

1ST.

2HD. [7 PASS

Fig. 13 PASS _U m

Fig. 15

15