The Ultimate Router Book

Hardcover: 344 pages
Publisher: Readers Digest; Rev Upd edition (June 1, 2006)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0762108002
ISBN-13: 978-0762108008
Product Dimensions: 11.2×8.8×1.4 inches

I just completed reading through this book and it is by far the best router book I have read. I would highly recommend this book to anyone whether a total router newbie (like me) or a seasoned veteran. There are plenty of tips, jigs, table plans, etc. in this book and Bill Hylton’s writing style is very clear and concise and easy to follow. I purchased my copy from one of the local bookstore chains at full price ($29.95) but it can be found for under $20 on Amazon.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction
Routers

• The Motor
• The Collet
• The Router Base
• The Assembled Package

Bits

• What Do You Need To Know?
• Just Starting?
• Using Bits
• Bit Care

Router

• Safety
• Stock
• Using A Guide Setting Up
• Feed Direction
• Workloads
• Your First Cuts

Jigmaking

• Design
• Materials
• Construction

Router Table Design

• Router Table Architecture
• What Router?
• The Tabletop
• Router-Mounting Options
• What Router, Revisited
• Fences
• The Underpinnings: Stand Or Cabinet
• Dust Collection
• Engineering The Tabletop

Cabinet Router Table

• Construction

Horizontal Router Table

• Construction

Router Table Accessories

• Starting Pin
• Bit Guards
• Fence
• Sliding Fence
• Workpiece Controllers

Router Table Savvy

• Changing Bits
• Setting The Bit Extension
• Controlling The Workpiece
• Making The Cut
• Profile Bits
• Edge-Routing Techniques
• Routing Trim For Furniture
• Architectural Moldings

Template-Guided Work

• Three Guidance Setups
• Making Templates
• Template-Guided Routing
• Inlay
• Template-Guided Joinery Cuts

Routing Curves And Circles

• Basic Trammels
• Adjustable Trammel
• Using A Trammel
• Cutting Arcs And Circles On The Router Table
• Oval Cutting
• Template-Guided Cuts

Surfacing With The Router

• Flush-Trimming
• Jointing With A Router
• Thicknessing
• Shaping Surfaces

Frame-And-Panel Construction

• Making Frames
• Making Panels Curved-Edge Assemblies
• Making Architectural Doors And Windows

Working Laminates

• The Material
• Cutting Laminate
• Trimming Laminates

Dadoing And Grooving

• Hand-Guided Through Cuts
• Grooving With An Edge Guide
• Router Table Through Cuts Stopped Cuts
• Bit Choices

Rabbeting

• Rabbeting With A Piloted Bit
• Rabbeting With A Straight Bit Stopped Rabbets
• Wide Rabbets
• Deep Rabbets

Edge Joints

• Routing An Edge Joint
• Splined Edge Joinery
• Biscuit Joinery With A Router
• Tongue-And-Groove Joints

Mortise-And-Tenon Joints

• Mortising Setup
• Mortising Fixtures
• Template Systems
• Mortising On The Horizontal Router Table
• Routing Tenons

Lap Joints

• End Laps
• Cross Laps
• Mitered Half-Laps
• Edge Laps

Dovetail Joints

• Half-Blind Dovetail Jigs
• Routing Through Dovetails

Sliding Dovetail Joint

• Cutting The Joint
• Routing Dovetail Grooves Routing Tails

Splined Miter Joint

• Flat Miters
• Edge Miters

Box Joints

• The Box-Joint Jig

Spline And Dovetail Keys

• Making The Jig
• Slotting On The Table
• Fitting The Keys

Routed Joints

• Routed Glue Joint
• Lock-Miter Joint
• Drawer-Lock Joint

Sources

-- Paul D, Atlanta GA