Okay. This is going to be a short and sweet post! I just wanted to take a quick moment today and express my frustration with something. Earlier last week I made profiles for all of my router bits. Now, I’m new to the world of using a router for my art, but it’s one of the top five investments I have made for Schaedings. This is why.
Why Invest in a Router?
As you are well aware, I have been using my Dremel for everything. It is truly a magical tool in my toybox, but when I decided I wanted to do some deeper art, I felt like the Dremel was struggling a bit with how much I was taking out. I cannot afford to ruin my Dremel. It is the main tool I use for all of my work and if it breaks or goes down in a blaze of glory, I’m out of business until I can get a new one.
I know they aren’t crazy expensive, but to the extent I’m using it, I don’t want to have to buy 50 Dremel tools in my lifetime all because I’m overusing it! So, my consultant convinced me to invest in a router.
It was the best decision I have made!
It feels a little like cheating on my Dremel loyalty, but honestly, I really needed the extra power that comes in a router. Using my Dremel for my deep routing is like trying to use a disposable camera to photograph a wedding. It’s just not the best tool to use to get the job done!
Using The Router Bits for the First Time
I don’t know about you, but I’m a visual learner. You can throw statistics and theory at me all day and they might stick for a few hours, but eventually, they will bounce off and leave my memory bank. So, I decided to create some profile blocks for each bit.
I initially got the router for the flush, straight bits. I needed to hollow out sections of my art and I honestly wasn’t all that interested in the edging bits. You know? Like the cove and ogee and chamfers. I just wanted the straight edge bits so that I could do deep lines and hollow out the sections that I wanted.
However, like with most things I discover, I was in awe at how simple it was to create those beautiful designs that you see on picture frames and on cabinetry.
So, I went to my local hardware store and grabbed two pieces of warped, scrap pieces of lumber. They were maybe a dollar fifty after taxes. I got back to my shop, cut the boards and began making profiles for each bit I have.
The store had one of those boxed sets that come with like twelve different bits. They are more the medium quality, but they were perfect for me. I didn’t want to spend tons of money on quality bits until I figured out what I would be using the most.
Complications Right Out of the Gate with My Router Bits!
Before I go further, I want to clarify real quick! On the day my router showed up, I took the time to test each bit. I used them all of the same piece of scrap wood. Just the messy testing. You know? Like, I changed the router bit, did a line or two and then moved to the next bit. So, I understood that each bit was unique and that was why I wanted to create individual blocks with the profile of each bit. I wanted to know EXACTLY what it looked like before knowing that was the bit I wanted to use for my art piece.
Make sense?
So, when I cut the blocks, I didn’t want them to be super big or too small. I cut the blocks to be about five inches long.
Now, I obviously don’t have a routing table. Right? Just the router and clamps. But, the blocks were just small enough that I couldn’t clamp the corner and still have the room I needed to maneuver the router around the edge.
You can probably tell in the video that I was getting frustrated! Creating these profiles were supposed to be a simple, easy, quick little event that ended up taking twice as long as I expected.
When I used the router bits that first day on that single scrap piece of wood, it was like a dream. So easy and fluid and fun! But these profiles. Man, if I have ANY advice, it’s to make bigger blocks. Take into consideration the need to have space for your router base AND your clamp(s)!
Keep Your Cool and Don’t Give Up
I’m not the sort to give up easily though and that worked to my advantage when creating these router bit profiles. They all look beautiful and It has already helped me with my design process. I’m able to look at the blocks and choose what edging I think would look best. It’s much easier to design around if you already know how the edge will look!
Like I said earlier, I’m absolutely a visual learner and if you are looking for something specific, these profile blocks easily give you a clear visual. I have a feeling that every time I invest in a new router bit, it will get its own profile block!
In five years, I’m going to have a whole library of profile blocks!
Anyways, don’t forget to check out My Shop to see other Schaedings creations! As always, I hope your week was incredible and you consider making profile blocks for your own router bit sets! Let me know what size you think is best for creating a profile block! 🌲
We would appreciate your support if you would follow us on our social media channels and subscribe on YouTube! You can see more time lapse videos like “SunKissed” and other content related to Schaedings art!
Like on Facebook​!
Follow on Twitter​!
Follow on Instagram!
Subscribe on YouTube!
