freehand routing

[Nige63]

Hi folks just joined the site and looking for a little advice..
I have recently bought a router table, an one of my first jobs is to rough out a pair of knife scales. wasn't planning on using a jig...
firstly is this possible to do safely, and secondly what sort of bit should I use.. needless to say i have never used a router before but have watched a lot of online tutorials, but cant find anything on freehand table routing.

looking forward
Nige

 

[SteveF]

never made a set of scales but
I would mark out shape

cut with bandsaw \ jigsaw oversize
drill pins blah blah blah
shape by hand with files etc

sounds safer than freehand router table

just my 5cents

Steve

 

[Random Orbital Bob]

If I understand you correctly it sounds like you need a flush trimming bit....but without the bearing if you want to do it freehand. I must say I wouldn't freehand it myself. I would print the drawing and tape it (lifesize) to a piece of mdf, ply or other scrap material. Cut that out with whatever means you have, coping saw, jigsaw, bandsaw but leave it slightly proud of the pattern. Then carefully sand it back to the line so you have a really smooth template.

Then use a bearing guided flush trimming bit in your router table and double stick the pattern to your project wood and run the bearing against the pattern so your wood becomes an exact replica.

Use a lead in pin as you progress into the bit and be very very careful, keeping your fingers well clear of the bit. If you've never done this before, I have to say I wouldn't be comfortable advising you as this operation requires a clear understanding of bit rotation direction and it's effects on pulling/pushing the work piece.

The advantage is once you have the pattern you can repeat the process to make identical parts as many times as you like and they will always be identical.

 

[RogerP]

If you've never used a router before I'd suggest you stay well away trying to use it freehand to do this job.

Follow Steve's advice above ^^^

 

[SurreyHills]

Knife scales are quite small and thin - therefore not the best items to try and shape with a router. Even with a jig to guide the cut it's not a safe type of tool for this sort of job. Cut with a fretsaw or jigsaw and then shape with a rasp and finally sandpaper either by hand or with a belt sander.

As they are relatively small it won't take long by hand.

 

[RobinBHM]

Welcome to the site Nige!

I wouldnt try freehand routing as your first routing project, the risk of snatching is very high and could make your last project.

I would use the router fitted with a template guide bush. Templates can easily be made especially if you use 6mm mdf which can be rasped or sanded to blend and smooth curves.

 

[custard]

A good rule of thumb (to keep your thumbs!) is never put your fingers closer than 300mm to a powered blade or cutter. This clearly can't be achieved with tiny knife scales so do your shaping with files, rasps, or a spokeshave.

There are ways of safely routing small objects, but they involve attaching the workpiece to a larger template with double sided tape or toggle cramps. You'd spend much more time making the template than just doing the job with hand tools.

Good luck!

 

[Racers]

+1 for hand tools.

Pete

 

[Alex H]

firstly is this possible to do safely,

That'll be a no then............. :wink:

 

[Nige63]

Thanks for all the advice, seems like there are better ways of doing this job whilst keeping all my fingers..

 

[Homerjh]

I tried to freehand route once with a bit without a plot bearing, very difficult to keep it from wandering and ruining the job.

Also the router bit is spinning at many thousands rpm, by the time you realise something is wrong it is for the bin a second before.