DIRECTION OF FEED EXTERNAL CUTS
The router motor and cutting bit rotate clock-
wise. This requires the feed of the cutting bit
to be from left to right (see Fig. 4). Feeding the
bit from left to right will cause the bit to pull
the router towards (up against) the workpiece.
If the router is fed in the opposite direction
(right to left), the rotating force of the cutting
bit will tend to throw the bit away from the
workpiece, making it hard to control. This is
called "Climb-Cutting" cutting in the opposite
direction of the proper feed direction. "Climb
Cutting" increases the chance of loosing con-
trol, resulting in possible personal injury.
FIG. 4
Router feed
Direction
When "Climb Cutting" is required (backing
around a comer, for example), exercise extreme
caution to maintain control of the router.
KICKBACK
Because of the high speed of the cutting bit
during a proper feeding operation (left to
right), there is very little kickback under normal
conditions. However, if the cutting bit strikes a
knot, an area of hard grain in the workpiece,
or a foreign object, the normal cutting action
could be affected and cause "Kickback. "
This Kickback may cause damage to your work-
piece, and could cause you to lose control of
the router, causing possible personal injury.
Kickback is always counterclockwise: the op-
posite direction of the clockwise cutting bit
rotation.
To guard against and help prevent Kickback,
plan the set-up and direction of feed so that
the router is always moving, and keep the
sharp edges of the cutting bit so that they are
biting straight into new (uncut) wood (work-
piece). Also, always inspect the workpiece for
knots, hard grain, and foreign objects that
could cause a kickback problem.
24
Router feed
Direction
Bit Rotation
Router feed
Direction
DIRECTION OF FEED - INTERNAL CUTS
When making and internal cut, such as a
groove, dado, or slot, the edge guide, straight
edge, or board guide must always be posi-
tioned on the right-hand side of the router as
you make the cut (Fig. 5).
FIG. 5
Guide Outside
Bit Rotation
Bit Rotation
Router Feed Direction
When the guide is positioned on the right
hand side of the router, the router travel
should be from left to right and "counterclock-
wise" around curves (see Fig. 5). This counter-
clockwise action around the curve could cause
"Climb cutting." Always be alert and exercise
extreme caution to maintain control of the
router when making this type of cut around
curves. When the guide is positioned as shown
in Fig. 6, the router travel should be from left
to right and clockwise around curves.
FIG. 6
Guide Inside
Bit Rotation
Guide
Bit Rotation
Router Feed Direction
If there is a choice, the set-up in Fig. 5 is easier
to use, but there is the possibility of "Climb
Cutting" around curves. In either case (Fig. 5 or
Fig. 6), the sideways thrust of the router cut-
ting is always against the guide, as is proper.
WARNING: Always securely clamp the work-
piece in place, and keep a firm grip on the
router base with both hands at all times. Fail-
ure to do so could result in loss of control caus-
ing possible serious personal injury.
RATE OF FEED
The proper rate of feed depends on several
factors: the hardness and moisture content of
Thrust
Guide
Thrust