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What is the Difference Between a Laminate Trimmer and a Router?

There are a lot of things that go into making that piece of furniture that you love and admire so much, there are a lot of tools that were used in the build-up process before you got the Instagram-worthy final product. Woodworking has evolved, and woodworkers, handymen, and do-it-yourself entrepreneurs don’t have to stress about making the finest stuff with their bare hands anymore.

Some of these tools used in the creation process are pretty expensive, and only the top-notch professionals can afford them, however, the tools we’ll be discussing today are pretty accessible for most, even the rookies that just picked this up as a hobby a few days back. We will be enlightening you about the modern laminate trimmer and the famous router, two similar yet remarkably different tools that craft some of the finest pieces of woodwork known to man.

Here, we will be describing what a router is and why it is used for woodworking, we will be discussing what a laminate trimmer is and why it is used for woodworking, we will be comparing the similarities, deducing the differences between the two, and in the end, we will have a clear understanding on how they can be used to accomplish different projects. So without further ado, let’s get to work, as we discuss two of technology’s greatest contributions to the woodworking industry!

About the Router

A Router Table in use

Not to be confused with the internet router, a wood router is a tool “used on flat pieces of wood to trace designs, often held in place with clamps”. Typically, routers are designed to “cut flawless dadoes and rabbets and create the most perfect wood patterns”, they are also finely made to rout out or to hollow out an area of a relatively hard work piece and other materials.

Wood routers have changed the game as we see it, what were once strictly handheld tools for tracing have now evolved into computer numerical controlled devices that allow the woodworker to focus on some other things while the computer “routes” the rest of the work.

The main purpose of the wood routers is in woodworking and carpentry, especially in the cabinetry, and that’s why we are here. Routers are great for designing, they are cool for refashioning, but their primary purpose is carpentry and other professions in its environs. It’s also not uncommon to see this versatile tool used as a plunging tool when inverted in a router table.

Wood routers come in different shapes and sizes, we have routers for just about every salary grade, and there’s a router for just about everyone. There are still handheld routers in circulation, and these are quite useful for rookies in the woodworking industry that are just trying to create simple patterns.

There are also more advanced routers that are computer numerical controlled which are perfect for bigger jobs that require a technological feel. Routers have been super beneficial to the woodworking industry as a whole since they were discovered, and they are here to stay!

About the Laminate Trimmer

There’s no way we can define the laminate trimmer without referencing the router, as the laminate trimmer is a mini version of the wood router. A laminate trimmer is a tool used to trim, laminate, and shape up the thickest of woods to produce a detailed finished product.

They typically provide speed control, efficiency in artistry, and they a specialized tool for woodworking and its environs. Typically, laminate trimmers are “equipped with a bearing-guided flush trimming bit that can be used to cut the veneer to its final size”.

Laminate trimmers have seen a surge in popularity over the years, and that is likely due to the evolution that the tool has undergone in the said timeframe. As apart from trimming they are now used “for jointing, rounding edges, chamfering, routing grooves and dados, dovetails, even mortise, and tenons”.

That’s not all, modern laminate trimmers are just like the advanced routers you see in top-notch woodworker stores, as they are well equipped to perform any task that a basic, handheld router can perform, the only lag being that CNC routers are out of their reach (for now).

Laminate trimmers are available in different shapes and sizes, they are also pretty efficient in specialized jobs, and you can create just about anything in woodworking if you have a firm grasp of how to operate a laminate trimmer. It’s not out of the ordinary to see “woodworkers keep a chamfer or round over bit permanently installed in a small laminate trimmer since these operations are so frequently performed on many projects”.

Laminate trimmers are rapidly getting the respect that deserves, proving that routers aren’t the only woodworking tools that can get the job done. Speaking about routers and getting the job done.

Comparing and Contrasting the Router and Laminate Trimmer

Both of these power tools have their specific uses, and while each can serve the other’s functions, it’s necessary to know that they have significant differences, here are some of the peculiar attributes of the power tools, and why they are quite different from each other.

Routers

Routers are used for cutting, trimming, and shaping wood. They are quite big compared to laminate trimmers, and they can be attached to a table or uses as a radial. It makes for high durability, extremely powerful cutting, and a remarkable ability to undertake hefty tasks.

Laminate Trimmer

A laminate trimmer on the other hand is a miniature-sized handy tool. It comes in handy at home and work, as it is a smaller and more portable version of a handheld router. It makes for accurate cutting, ease of use, and efficient trimming.

Similarities

The number one similarity between the above power tools is that they are great for cutting, shaping, edging, and trimming. They are made for efficiency, and when wielded by capable hands they will get the job done with remarkable ease.

Differences

  1. The laminate trimmer is better suited for small jobs, while the router is more useful for bigger tasks.
  2. Laminate trimmers are significantly less powerful than a typical router. Also, it’s worthy to note that routers are far more advanced technologically than a laminate trimmer, as CNC routers have radically changed the face of woodworking.
  3. Laminate trimmers are more portable when compared to a router, and they are a better companion on travels, especially when it’s impromptu.

Routers and laminate trimmers are amongst the finest power tools that you can lay your hands on for woodworking. They make every job better, they have their respective advantages, and their pros significantly outweigh the cons. It’s also worthy of note that you can use a laminate trimmer as a router, and vice versa.

These tools are finely made to cut, trim, and craft wood to a specific taste. One of them is a lot heavier than the other, but it guarantees more power generated. The other is more portable, and you can fit it into a small bag with relative ease. Both of these tools have their uses, both of them are super accurate when wielded by an expert, and it’s up to you to master the craft. Woodworking has never been more interesting, and that’s all thanks to a couple of tools, such as these two, it’s pretty clear that routers and laminate trimmers are going to be here for quite some time!

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