Routers Are One of the Most Indispensable Woodworking Essentials and count as a tool you can’t afford to miss out on. You might have seen that a router in a professional workplace goes a long way than a router that’s present back at home. It is for the reason that woodwork experts have basic know-how when it comes to taking care of the router, and this is something that beginners may lack.
One router that lasts for ten good years at a wood store may not survive for more than two years if it falls in amateur hands, and this is the point where this discussion is going to interest you the most. We have sorted out for you the minimum lifespan of a router, the common usage mistakes, and factors that may help in bourgeoning its longevity.
With no further ado, let’s get started:
Minimum Woodworking Router Lifespan
It is natural to be curious when it comes to what is the lifespan of a router because it differs for different brands and usages. The first thing that we recommend you always remember is that a router forms when a plethora of bits come together. If a router goes wrong, it’s because a specific part starts malfunctioning, it doesn’t go for the whole of the router.
In the same way, the lifespan of the router may come out to be as much as 10 years or so, and there’s also a chance that its parts might give in within a year. It depends on the factors like its price, types of wood you are using it on, and the total hours of daily usage.
The router may be the epicenter of woodcraft, but it’s also true that it is one of the most unpredictable woodwork tools and needs to be checked consistently.
How to Increase the Lifespan of your Router table?
Now when you have got a good idea that your router may last for ten years, let us tell you some tips that can help you make it possible. A few of the most important ones are:
Visual Going-Over
This is especially for the people who have newly purchased a router and don’t know where to begin with its upkeep. What professionals do is give a visual inspection of all the machinery before they plug in the power.
You can also go for this step and see if there’s any cracked, damaged or broken part that can mess with the whole functioning of the machine. This can save you from a lot of unpleasant outcomes that might cause long-term damage.
Router Table Maintenance
The best tip that works here is to make it your routine to clean and maintain your router table before or after every usage. For instance, sawdust is the trickiest glitch that can interfere with a router’s normal mechanism.
All you have to do is to remove it as soon as it starts building up and don’t let it coagulate especially in the small holes. This will also help in preserving the first-day shine of your router table.
Lubrication
Lubrication means oiling the internal parts of the router so that there’s lesser friction and your router doesn’t have to exert greater force. This is a very central step and can play a substantial role in casting a positive impact on your product’s longevity.
Conclusion
This brings us to the end of our discussion. A woodworking router can last for good ten years, but what stands out the most is its usage and your vigilance in maintaining it.