Top 10 router accessories
Although some of these accessories are shop-made, they’re all smaller items that contribute to better efficiency, accuracy and enjoyment when working with the almighty router.
1. Router Table Fence – You can make or buy a router table fence. Either way, make sure it’s strong enough to stay put while in use. A split-fence router table fence will give you the most flexibility in the future.
2. Push Sticks – Keeping your fingers away from a spinning bit in a router table is important. A good shop-made push stick will not only do that but will keep a workpiece from vibrating while being machined, and also keep the workpiece moving past the bit at a proper speed.
3. Stop with Screw – This simple shop-made accessory will help you create stopped joints. Machine a 24″ long strip of wood about 1″ square, drive a screw in its end, clamp it to your router table and fine-tune where the workpiece stops by driving the screw in or out.
4. 6″ Metal Rule – While not a dedicated router accessory, it will provide you with the ability to measure both the set-up and the workpiece to ensure you have the level of accuracy needed.
5. Small Sharpening Stone – Bits get dull. Cleaning a bit will go a long way to ensuring it cuts properly, but a light hone now and then will help keep a router bit sharper. Eventually it will need to be sent out to be fully sharpened.
6. Small Organizer Containers – There are many bolts, collets, collars, sleeves and other items that make using a router easier. The trouble is, since they’re small they can be hard to keep track of. Using small containers (and maybe even labelling them) is a great way to ensure you can find what you want, when you want it.
7. Edge Guide – Some routers come with an edge guide, but if yours didn’t you can likely buy an aftermarket version to assist with routing grooves and other joints parallel to the edges of workpieces. It’s also not hard to make a rudimentary edge guide in your shop.
8. Flush Trim / Template Bit – While both of these bits flush a workpiece to a template, a flush trim bit has a bearing on its end, while a template bit has the bearing between the cutter and the shank. Both bits come in handy. You can also purchase double-bearing bits that have both bearings on one bit.
9. Template Guides – A template guide gets attached to the centre of your router’s baseplate and will guide a bit that doesn’t have a bearing. These guides are great for copying curves, making mortises and many other router tasks.
10. Ear Protection – While these can be used in so many other instances, they’re especially important when using a router because it’s one of the loudest tools woodworkers use. Not only will ear protection save your hearing from deteriorating, it will also allow you to more easily focus on the router operation you’re undertaking. Both of these are very important.
