Ryobi R181FB1, R1801M1 manual Edging with Pilots, Router Pilot Work, Router Work Pilot Guide

OPERATION

EDGING WITH PILOTS

See Figure 15.

You can cut rabbets and molded edges using piloted cutters. The pilot, which extends below the cutter, allows the cutter to turn while the pilot follows the edge of the workpiece. Some pilots are solid extensions of the cutter. Others are ball bearing guides that are fastened to the end of the cutter.

Arbor-type bits with pilots are excellent for quick, easy edge shaping. They follow workpiece edges that are either straight or curved. The pilot prevents the bit from making too deep a cut. Holding the pilot firmly in contact with the workpiece edge throughout the cut prevents the cut from becoming too shallow.

Whenever the workpiece thickness together with the desired depth of cut (as adjusted by router depth setting) are such that only the top part of the edge is to be shaped (leaving at least a 1/16 inch [1.6 mm] thick uncut portion at bottom), the pilot can ride against the uncut portion, which serves to guide it. However, if the workpiece is too thin or the bit is set so low that there will be no uncut edge to ride the pilot against, an extra board must be placed under the workpiece to act as a guide. This guide board must have exactly the same contour — straight or curved — as the workpiece edge. If the guide is positioned so that its edge is flush with the workpiece edge, the bit will make a full cut (in as far as the bit radius). On the other hand, if the guide is positioned as shown (out from the workpiece edge), the bit will make less than a full cut — which will alter the shape of the finished edge.

NOTE: When edge shaping with guides, you can use any of the piloted bits without a pilot. The size (diameter) of the pilot determines the maximum cut width that you can make with the pilot against the workpiece edge. The small pilot exposes all of the bit; the large one reduces this amount by 1/16 inch (1.6 mm).

When routing all edges of a panel or board, rout the end grain first. Any splintering that occurs at the corners will then be removed when routing the sides. Start each side 1/4 in. (6.35 mm) away from the end. Feed the cutter into the wood until the pilot contacts the uncut edge. Then, slowly back the router to shape the corner. Next, move the router forward to shape the rest of the edge. Be careful to keep the pilot pressed against the uncut edge. Repeat this procedure on each side of the panel. Figure 20 shows the proper sequence of cuts to make when edge routing four sides of a panel.

ROUTER

PILOT

WORK

TOP EDGE SHAPING

ROUTER

WORK

PILOT

GUIDE

WHOLE EDGE SHAPING

Fig. 15

18