Common Router Bits

• The most commonly used router bits are the straight bit, the rabbeting bit, the chamfer bit and the flush trim bit. The straight bit, as the name clearly suggests, makes straight cuts that are useful for creating mortise joints and grooves. The flush trim bit is also self-explanatory; it helps to ensure one piece of wood will fit flush against another. The rabbeting bit is used to make horizontal and vertical cuts that form notches, and the chamfer bit is widely used to create bevels.
  
  

Forming Router Bits

• A range of different router bits are available that are used for forming edges on wood. The most common forming tools are the ogee and cove router bits. In most instances, the edges formed by these two bits are purely for decorative purposes. Molding bits tend to be larger than other forming router bits, and consist of several individual components that can be joined together to make a single multiform bit.
  
  

Specialist Router Bits

• Stile and rail bits, which tend to come in pairs, are used to make wooden panels interlock easily. Joinery bits can create several different types of joints that would normally be carried out with a chisel. However, the router cutting process is significantly quicker than forming joints by hand
  
  

Basic Techniques

• Wood should always be clamped down to prevent movement whenever a hand router is used. If edges are being worked on, they should be smoothed with a piece of sandpaper first to prevent snagging and to ensure accurate cutting. Test the cutting depth of router bits on scraps of wood before starting work. For the best results, make sure the bit is sharp and move it in a counterclockwise direction for outside cuts. Interior cuts should be made in a clockwise direction.
  
  

Cutting Patterns

• The simplest way to repeat a perfect pattern with a router is to create a template with plywood. The template can then be attached to the main piece of working material, with screws, to keep it in position while cutting takes place. The screws should just be long enough to attach the template to the wood so the pattern can be easily followed without hindrance. The template may need to be unscrewed and moved several times on larger pattern sizes.