Router or Router Table

This activity is listed as:

To start the process, please:

1. Check below to see that your use falls within guidelines
2. Develop a safety plan MIT Making at Home Safety Plan
3. Contact us to discuss your plan and use mit-making-at-home@mit.edu

Minimum required PPE and precautions (more may be required based on circumstance)

Most important safety considerations (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

• Tool Specific:

  • Never climb cut with a router, always use conventional cutting. If the router wants to pull or push the piece in the direction of feed, you’re moving in the wrong direction

  • On a router table, the use of a router-specific push stick is recommended when appropriate. Please consult with Manus staff (Q&A and discussion - mit-making-at-home@mit.edu)

  • Always clamp the workpiece when working with a handheld router

  • Use of a feather board is highly recommended for narrow pieces.

  • Do not sandwich the workpiece between the bit and the fence on a router table

• General:

  • Woodworking machines and tools shall not be used without the proper machine-specific training

  • Safety glasses must be worn, hearing protection should be worn with most power tool use.

  • No loose fitting and untucked clothes.  Tassels should be tied or tucked in.

  • Hair and beards should be tied back.

  • Do not wear gloves if the machine or tool has moving parts.

  • Use of powered machines and tools requires a buddy

  • Never use tools other than for their stated intention

  • Use care when operating machines or tools with high velocity and/or sharp parts

  • Never cut towards your own body. Your hand is a part of your body.

  • All appropriate guards that allow you to perform the desired action must be in place 

  • Ensure your setup has adequate dust collection

  • Unplug and control all cord powered tools before changing blades, or making adjustments to cutting tooling

  • Use water based finishes whenever possible. 

  • Always dispose of finishing implements properly by laying them flat on non-combustible surfaces to dry before disposal

Most important considerations in the use of the tool/technology (issues, resources, advice, warnings)

• Measure thrice, cut twice

Links or info about video/images and complementary or alternative tools/tech to consider

• Adhesives

• Paper/foam/cardboard

• Painting

• Interesting woodworker videos

  • https://www.youtube.com/user/6488jesse

Forms and contact information required to obtain approval to use this technology/tools

• MIT Making at Home Safety Plan (link)
• Q&A and Discussion (email)