Outdoor Morris Chair #13: Please be gentle - it's my first time (with the router)

Doug, not bad results for a first timer. The trick to routing is to have lots of test pieces….Practice getting the cuts right – sometimes it takes a bit of trial and error to get the depth correct. I do not know what kind of table you have – but the fence is the most important part….it is what aligns the cut….keeps the wood straight over the bit…...and can be used to make incremental cuts (lotsl of bits cannot make their cuts in one bold pass….especially in very hard woods….so a few small cuts…working towards the final is better (it also helps reduce some of the chip out that router bits will do to your wood). A great fence has incremental adjustments so that you can dial into the cut you want….these adjusters are also great for getting reproduceable results.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!

Here’s my router table.

I did the routes in one pass. The only round-over bit I have is a 1/2” bit but I didn’t want a full 1/2” round.

-- Doug - When all you own is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Doug, from your pictures, that is a functional table. I would look at putting an incremental adjuster on the fence (there were some plans around that show how to use a threaded rod and some t-nuts to create a shop built adjuster). You might also want to put some of that stick on measurement tape on your tracks so that you can reproduce your cuts easier. A laminate on your top to allow your wood to slide easier….
I use a router lift on mine as I hate having to go under the table to adjust the depth of the cut…but they are a bit expensive (worth it when you have a bit of routing to do on the table).

Another suggestion, once you have gotten your bit set up on the right height and the fence set at the correct distance….use a piece of wood the same width as what you set up the bit too….run this through the bit….instant set up block…next time you need this bit and for the width of wood you have a setup block to hold against the bit to get height….and you can align your fence also.

-- Woodworking.....My small slice of heaven!