Router table
The router table is one of the more dangerous woodworking tools available at Bitraf. This article will describe usage instructions for the router table.
Adapting https://docs.google.com/document/d/11KHUgdGal7CzAKQ8kEJ99_KqaOeYbEfA5K8S4P3GOnc/edit?tab=t.0
Safety practices
Dress
Do not wear long sleeves. Wear a t-shirt, short sleeve shirt, or roll up your sleeves. Do not wear any loose clothing, have dangling jewelry, hair, or anything else that might get entangled.
Wear protection! Ear protection, hearing protection (the router is LOUD), and dust protection. Do not wear gloves, as they can be caught in the router bit and pull your hand in.
Usage
Feed the workpiece from right to left. Do not feed it left to right.
Do not sandwich the workpiece between the bit and the fence. You run a high risk of the bit grabbing the workpiece and pulling it uncontrollably along, and possibly your hands with it.
Do not start the router while the workpiece is touching the bit.
Consider using a featherboard whenever possible. It helps push the workpiece against the bit, fence or table and prevents kickback. Note that the arrow on the featherboard should point in the direction the workpiece is moving. The featherboard can hold the workpiece down against the table, hold the workpiece once it has passed by the bit, or hold the workpiece before it enters the bit.
Use push sticks, push blocks, random pieces of wood, or even a literal cucumber to push the workpiece through the bit, but do not use any of your bodyparts. Keep your fingers away from the insert rings at all times.
If you are cutting a small piece, consider using a jig to keep your hands clear from the danger zone. Clamp the small piece to the jig before cutting.
If you are using a larger bit, perform the cut in several passes rather than forcing the cut through. This will damage the bit, the machine, likely your workpiece, and might be dangerous.
