November 21, 2011

What is a Woodworking Router and What Can it Do For Me

So what does a router do and how to use a router.

I idea I'd first take a look at the word router and this originates from a verb to rout. Rout is also a noun but this doesn't recap to our woodworking router. The definition of the verb appears to be to rummage or to hollow out or furrow, as with a scoop, gouge, or machine. So perhaps my definition of a woodworking router would be to gouge out or motor out some part of a piece of wood. This could simply be to make a groove or round the edges of a piece of timber.

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The first routers were of procedure hand operated and were similar in appearance to a flat wood plane but having interchangeable narrow blades rather than the large flat blade. These blades would be shaped to make a grove or round the edge of the timber. The galvanic router was introduced in the first half of the last century but in fact was a very dissimilar goods for achieving similar results and relied on a spinning cutter and was known as the spindle router. A business called Elu developed some of the first products and I remember having a ability Elu router myself. I believe Elu is now part of the Makita power tool and Makita router range of products.

The first galvanic routers had a fixed base and subsequent routers called plunging routers were sprung such that the spinning blade would not protrude beyond the based as the weight or pressure was removed. These types of router were moved over the wood area. The alternative formula of use is to mount a router to the underside of a router table and then move the wood over the router and maintaining a fixed position for the table router. This is ideal for a workshop environment and lends itself to additional safety features.

The handheld plunging routers can be used (should be used) with a variety of controls. The base of the router can be fitted with a sidebar gadget to ensure that the cutting blade remains a constant length from the edge of the wood you are routing. For example you may wish to cut a groove 4 mm deep and 3 mm from the edge of your piece of wood. The depth can be set to the maximum 4 mm and the sidebar guide will ensure that the groove is not made more than 3mm from the edge of the wood. You could achieve the same results by clamping a level edge over the face of the wood to be machined and keep the galvanic router pressed firmly against the level edge.

Router cutters or router bits come in many dissimilar shapes. The dissimilar shapes allow you to use your router to cut square, vee and rounded grooves. There are more router bits to enable round, angular and ornamental edge finishing. An edge finishing router bit has a spinning guide at the base of the cutter that prevents the blade cutting deeper into the timber. Commonly speaking buying router bits can be a exiguous of a lottery because you want the best bits but don't want to spend a fortune. Unless you need a large selection of router bits for professional work I'd propose buying a set of router bits with most of the shapes you could ever envisage using. You'll probably also need 1 or 2 level cutting bits and you may wish to pay a exiguous more money to get the best you can afford if you are to use these bits frequently. For example you may wish to have a 3-4 mm level cutting blade for groves and rebating edges of your chosen timber. A larger 8-10mm is always useful for taking a exiguous timber off a wider area. Economy blades will soon lose their cutting edge and could scorch or burn the timer if you are not careful.

You can select a router from a variety of business notably Makita, Bosch, Dewalt, Festool, Milwaukee and Porter-Cable. A router is still very much a corded power tool and is often required for long periods of use so there hardly any cordless routers. The Ryobi Zrp600 Trim Router is an 18v cordless gadget but very much intended for lighter trim work. Many of the manufacturers also furnish facility reconditioned routers and router combo kits.

Once you've mastered the use of a router you'll be amazed how many tasks can be improved by using a router.

What is a Woodworking Router and What Can it Do For Me

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November 15, 2011

Caring For Your Fine Woodworking Tools

Fine woodworking tools can be likened to a kitchen knife in the aspect of their maintenance. regular use of the tools causes wear and tear which can cause them to come to be dull, thereby reducing their utility. A dull saw would consume more time in cutting a piece of wood. Likewise, using a dull drill bit would be quite a tedious job in comparison to using a sharp drill bit.

The main thing is that it is prominent to keep the fine woodworking tools sharp and in good shape. It is prominent to comprehend the value of permissible maintenance of all your beloved woodworking tools. There are as many sharpening and grist tools and methods, as there are dissimilar types of woodworking tools. The tool also plays an prominent part in determining the type of sharpening gadget and method. It is also a matter of personal preference.

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The following tools are the most ordinarily found sharpening or grist tools

Sharpening Stones

Sharpening stones are perfect sharpening and grist tools. This tool helps in sharpening knives, scissors, plane blades and other fine woodworking tools. These stones come in lots of dissimilar sizes and shapes, and are frequently artificial from quarried stone or artificial substance. They are not self powered and come in varied grades, calculated through the grit size particles of the stone itself. The grit size is directly proportional to the capability of close of a sharpening and grist operation. This implies that finer the grit, the finer the close of a sharpening and grist procedure. However, this also means that the sharpening and grist policy will take more time in completion as finer grits take off lesser material, compared to a rougher grit. Whetstones, oilstones and Japanese water stones are examples of this type of grist and sharpening tools.

Files

A file is used to shape a material by scraping and scuffing it. A file is an instrument with sharp parallel ridges which cover a hardened steel bar. A file is essentially a hand tool and is handy for sharpening and grist tools used for cutting, like saws, knives and chisels.

Bench Grinder

A bench grinder is a motor apparatus which is used for manufacture fine finishes on the surface. Based on the sort of wheel mounted on its motor, it can be utilized as a polisher, a buffer or a sharpening and grist tool.

These stationary devices are ordinary in a woodworker's shop. Their advantages are that they are fast sharpeners, dynamic and are multipurpose. They can be used for tool sharpening as well as sanding. They are the perfect sharpening and grist tool. They are fast, accurate and user friendly and are hassle free.

Apart from these ordinarily used sharpening and grist tools, mentioned above, there are many others ready in the market. However, these tools are universally used as they are multipurpose. It is imperative to ensure that the fine woodworking tools be branch to good and regular maintenance. This will ensure an perfect outcome for your scheme and also help in maintaining work superiority and efficiency.

Caring For Your Fine Woodworking Tools

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November 9, 2011

11 Tips for Air Compressor Maintenance

Now that you've invested in an air compressor to run all of your air tools you're going to have to learn how to keep it up and running. Because the proper handyman's air compressors don't typically require daily upkeep, it's easy to forget about them and neglect their upkeep. This can be a costly oversight so it's vital for you to keep an eye on the following maintenance tips.

Maintenance Tip 1: Read and consequent Your Air Compressor's Manual

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Nothing stops an air compressor faster than an owner who doesn't read the owner's manual. There's going to be some straightforward tips in there for you that will help you to get a nice long life out of your air compressor - straightforward stuff for you to do that you would never have concept to do unless you read it. Plus, if you don't consequent the rules in your air compressor hand-operated there's a chance that you'll void your warranty. That in itself should be adequate of an incentive to read the "flipping" manual.

Maintenance Tip 2: Drain The Moisture From The Tanks

The receiver tank collects moisture from the air that it's compressing - especially if you live in a humid climate. Most tanks have a valve for draining this moisture that accumulates and it's up to you to make sure that these are drained regularly. Before draining the water you should be sure to issue the air pressure from the tanks.

Maintenance Tip 3: Clean Intake Vents

If you force your air compressor to work too hard to intake air you're losing power on your compression. This will gently degrade the quality of your tool. Be sure to keep your intake vent as clean as inherent and check them normally especially if you're working in a dusty or dirty environment.

Maintenance Tip 4: Tighten All Fasteners

Your air compressor's a running, vibrating motor and it will loosen its screws, nuts and bolts on a quarterly basis. Be sure to check these periodically and tighten them up if you find any that have jiggled loose.

Maintenance Tip 5: Check Hoses Regularly

Check all your hoses periodically as they are the veins of your air compressor. If they become cracked or corroded they could soon begin to leak and then put undue strain on the rest of your compressor's components. Be sure to check them and replace them if you find them cracked or damaged.

Maintenance Tip 6: Test the safety Shutdown System

Your air compressor may have a built in safety shut down. The function of this principles is to shut off your compressor if it's getting too hot, or if the engine's oil pressure is too low. This test will help you ensure a longer continuing compressor.

Maintenance Tip 7: Check and convert Air Filters As Needed

A filthy air filter is only hurting your air compressor by allowing dirty air from the exterior in, plus forcing it to work harder to intake air. Check your filters normally and convert them if you observation a heavy build up of dust and dirt. convert every six months or so if you use it infrequently.

Maintenance Tip 8: Clean the Fuel Tank

As with any motor you need to periodically clean out the fuel tank to ensure optimal operating conditions. You should look to clean out the motor on your air compressor once every year or so to remove any residual build up from the fuel. This will retain the life of your engine.

Maintenance Tip 9: Check and convert the Compressor Oil

If you're running a compressor that uses oil you should be checking it on a daily basis to make sure that your motor is topped off. Then, every 500-1000 hours of use you should be changing this oil to ensure maximum functioning of your air compressor.

Maintenance Tip 10: convert the Separator Element

The separator element prevents the inordinate use of oil, but it has to be replace periodically. Keep your compressor in top health by replacing the separator element every 1,000 hours of operation.

Maintenance Tip 11: Clean the Heat Exchangers

If your heat exchangers are dirty then they can't do their job, which is to reduce the operating temperatures of your air compressor. Clean them normally to keep your operating temperatures down and increase the life span of your air compressor.

By following the tips above you'll ensure a nice long life for your air compressor, plus the jobs that you use it for will go faster and more productively. A well maintained air compressor is a extraordinary motor for any job site or workshop, so keep yours running smoothly.

11 Tips for Air Compressor Maintenance

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