Setting up your router plate is actually a whole lot easier than you might think because it requires only a few simple steps. Whether you are looking to create panel doors or kitchen cabinets using wood, MDF, or high-pressure laminate.
The key is making sure that you have some great router plates to get started with and that you definitely have a great quality fixed-base router, plunge router, or handheld router, a router table, dust collection port, an adjustable fence, router bits, and other tools so that everything you could possibly need is going to be ready for whatever you want to do. Once you’ve purchased all of these pieces you’ll be ready to go on setting up your plate and getting ready for your next project.
You’ll need to make guide strips of ¾” plywood or ¼” hardboard, which will be sturdy enough to support everything for your project. You want to put the plate over where you want it to be when everything is done and put the first guide strip down, pushing the plate right up against it.
Now put your other three strips all the way around, creating a frame to go all the way around your plate and securing all of them with carpet tape to make sure each is secured to where you want it to be.
Next, drill a 1 ½” diameter hole in each of the corners of the plate, on the inside of the guide bars. You’ll be just creating a starting point for your bit, which creates a much easier to use the system.
You won’t have as hard of a time getting the full holes, called relief holes, that way. And you won’t have to worry about dust and other debris that might get throughout your system or under the plate otherwise. You’re definitely going to be better prepared. Next, make sure you use the bit to put the holes all the way through.
Now you’re going to have to route the lip, so set the bit depth to the same thickness as your insert plate. You’ll have to mount your pattern bit into the router and put the insert plate on the guide strip. Now set the router on top and lower the bit until it just barely touches the top of both. This is going to be just what you need in order to get a perfect sized hole and be able to route properly through the plate and get just the right work that you’re looking for with this woodworking tool.
Now put the bit in the opening in a corner so your router rests on the guide strips and then use those strips to help you guide your bit bearing while routing through the inside of the strips.
Go in a clockwise fashion and make sure that you keep a radius in each corner, routing onto to the very edge of those starter holes. You don’t want to route around too much or you end up with even more problems when attaching all of the pieces and getting them to stay properly.
You’ve routed your lip and you can use a jigsaw to get rid of all the waste. Just follow the inside edge of the cut you’ve made all the way around. You can then start sanding down the edges of the lip as well to make sure that they are smooth and the plate is going to sit flat on top of them.
You don’t want any sharp edges (or any edges at all) sticking up from the sides as you’re putting the plate down and securing it to the table that you’ve created. But There Is One More Simple Step: Attaching the router and the mounting plate to each other.
The final step is simply to drill holes for each of the machine screws to go through, which is going to hold your router in place. Make sure you use the existing base of your router to help you locate each of those screw holes and transfer them over to your router plate. That’s how you’re going to get the best fit and it’s how you’re going to make sure that you have everything lined up so that it’s going to give you a great result when you’re ready to start that next project.
The key is making sure that you measure everything just right and that you keep everything completely level. You don’t want to end up with an off center router plate because it’s going to cause you problems as you work on carrying out your next project and getting good cuts and accents for each of your wood pieces. The more you work at this process and the more time and effort you put into it, the better off you’re going to be when it comes to having a high-quality, well-functioning router plate insert for your router table.
If you’re looking for a little bit more information on how you can make this router plate insert you can definitely check out something right here. You’ll see what it really takes to put things together and just how it’s going to help you when you decide to go about your next project.
There’s no reason that you can’t get something really great to help you out and to make sure that you always have really great woodworking items. You’ll get used to using the plate as well and you’ll have no problem building a new system and guide if you should ever need it again.
Each router is going to be a little bit different, so make sure that you pay attention when it comes to putting together your plate and your router. If you already have something set up, keep in mind that you will likely have to re-drill the holes that connect the router with the plate itself.
That’s because different routers are going to fit into the plate just slightly differently and will have different machined screw holes to connect them wherever you need them to be. This system will help you get something easily and will make sure that you’re ready for whatever you need on that next project.