i need router help!! (pics included)

[hulkster]

okay, im getting ready to do some routing for my trackball.  im wanting to make it flush (yes i have a mounting plate), and i have a router that my friend let me borrow.  problem is, i have absolutely no clue how to use it!!!  im sure its not that difficult.  anyway, heres a pic of the router, followed by pics of the bits that i have on hand.  what bit do i need to cut the weird looking hole for the trackball, and what bit do i need to cut out the square for the mounting plate to sit in???  please help!

[hulkster]

bit

[hulkster]

another

[mozzer]

Why not test the bits and get some practice on a scrap piece of wood?

Better not to just jump in on the CP on your first try.

[FractalWalk]

To recess the mounting plate and make it flush with the panel, you'll need a straight bit, which I don't see in your pictures.

If you have a mounting plate, why do you need to cut a weird looking hole? The mounting plates that I have seen require a square cut a little bit smaller than the plate. I used a jigsaw for that, but you could use a straight bit for that as well.

[FractalWalk]

Straight bit image

[hulkster]

well yeah i dont need to rout out a weird shape since i have a mounting plate i guess.  but i do i need to rout out a fraction of an inch or whatever so the mounting plate will sit....well you know what im saying.  so i can just use a straight bit for that?

[FractalWalk]

Yep. The straight bit will dig out the recess for you. I just placed my mounting plate on the CP and traced around it to mark the area to be routed.

Respect the router: wear goggles, earplugs & a mask.

[hulkster]

say what?!?!?  earplugs?!?  im cutting some wood not shooting guns!  goggles i can understand, and maybe the mask, but earplugs?

[ErikRuud]

Routers are noisy!

It is a fairly high frequency noise as well.  Earplugs are a good idea.

[hyiu]

yes, ear plugs.... I did not wear ear plugs for like the first couple of times.... and my ear drum literally hurts when the router is at a certain angle... I guess it doesn't help when I'm working in a garage where the sound keep bouncing back...

wearing a earplug helped a lot....

also..... remember to test on scrap pieces.... the thickness sometimes is tricky to get perfect.....

[SirPeale]

Oooh yeah...trust me, wear the safety stuff.  Don't leave anything out.  I didn't think ear protection was that big of a deal, but I had a ringing in my ears for a couple days after using my router for the first time, and I only used it for ~5 minutes.

[Brax]

Also, the bits supplied are complete junk. They'll start a better fire than cut wood. Notice how burned up they are? They also don't have any bearings which is also a sign of a cheap bit. You won't be needing any of those bits for this job anyways, but just a heads up.

A few tips for the beginner:
Always always always unplug the router when changing bits. They spin at 20,000 RPM +, can you say goodbye fingers?
The bit goes all the way in the chuck until it hits bottom.
The nut needs to be snug, but not crazy, a 1/4 turn after it's snug is sufficient.
To set the depth of cut, place your mounting plate on a table. Put the router on the mounting plate with the bit overhanging the mounting plate. Drop the bit until it hits the table and this is the EXACT thickness of your mounting plate. Whenever possible, never measure, it's not accurate. Set your depth by the previous method whenever you can. Your mounting plate will be exactly flush with the top of your control panel.

Don't be afraid of a router, but respect it. Once you get the hang of it, it's dead simple to use but it still has the potential to be a bloody dangerous tool in the wrong hands. Use common sense, floow the safety tips and you job will look like a pro.

[hulkster]

wow thanks for the tips guys.  im going to home depot to buy that bit, but i guess now i need to buy some earplugs and a mask.  my brother knows power tools real well, so ill probably ask him for more in depth advice, but thanks anyway.  and brax, that measuring method sounds great, ill be using that

[hulkster]

okay i got a straight bit that will work at home depot.  and i went to talk to one of the guys there about doing my routing for the tmolding and he said that i wouldnt be able to do it without a router table.  is this true?  i mean, ive seen a lot of peoples tmolding on here and i never heard much about a router table.  what am i missing here?  how is everybody doing their tmolding?

[Brax]

For t-molding you need a 1/16" slot cutting bit with a bearing on the bottom. Your home depot guy doesn't know what he's talking about. To use a router table on an arcade cabinet would be bloody difficult if not impossible, while using a slot cutting bit with a bearing is a breeze.

Here's what you want:
http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-routerbits/sr.cgi?1078789219_14827+105

The bearing on the bottom of the bit follows along the profile of your cabinet allowing for a perfect cut. 1/16" wide slot cutting bits are sometimes very hard to find at a bricks and mortar store. You can get away with a 1/8" wide slot cutting bit but you have to use hot glue to keep your t-molding in place (a perfectly acceptable alternative) If you haver more questions please ask.

[hulkster]

thanks brax!!  well i could be mistaken, but im pretty sure i didnt see that thing at home depot.  i live in nashville, tn and im sure theres some crazy mortor store or something here, but im just not sure where it would be.  should i just order them online?

[GadgetGeek]

I would go ahead and order it from RouterBits.com.  I've ordered from them twice, once for my slot cutter and once for my flush trim bit.  Both orders got here just two or three days after ordering.  
Advice on using the slot cutter....practice on scrap first.  The straight shots are easy, but when you go around a corner, be careful not to tip the router any or you will end up with a wider (and possibly off-center) slot.  Also, it is easiest to use the slot cutter on the panels before assembling them.  And be patient.

[Wade]

You should be sure to get carbide-tipped bits because the other ones will burn up very quickly.  Especially on MDF or hardwood.

Wade

[Tiger-Heli]

im sure theres some crazy mortor store or something here, but im just not sure where it would be.

Just a side note, a brick-and-mortar store means a physical store as opposed to a web store, not a store that sells mortar.  As in, "I had to buy my new plasma display from BestBuy.com b/c the local brick-and-mortar BestBuy didn't stock it."