Router or Router Table

This activity is listed as:

The process  to receive approval for this tool is:

1. Check below to see that your use falls within guidelines
2. Complete, sign, and submit the MIT remote making risk acknowledgement
3. Develop your Remote Making Safety Plan with your faculty/staff oversight; look at the remote making safety plan form for guidance since you will need to fill out the form in Step 4
4. Submit your remote making safety plan
5. You will be contacted to discuss the plan, feasibility, modifications, etc.
6. EHS will approve use of this tool once/if all safety and feasibility requirements are met
7. As pre-COVID, staff/faculty are responsible for making sure the safety plan is followed

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

• Link: remote making risk acknowledgement
• Link: remote making safety plan
• Email: Q&A and Discussion to mit-remote-making@mit.edu