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routing question

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big daddy:
Again, sorry with the woodworking 101 question, but I'm new to routers.

I need to route out 2 things
1) I have 3/4 inch control panel and want to route an area for my happs supers to recess into the bottom to give me more joystick.
2) I possibly need to route out the trackball faceplate once I mount it to get it flush with my cp.

I borrowed my father-in-laws router and he had a smallish bit that seems like it will do the job of routing out an area.  I set the depth correctly and on a practice piece of wood was able to route out a chunk of area at the right depth.

My issue is...I couldn't see what I was cutting!  So I was routing out an area but I couldn't tell exactly what I was routing out.  I see on some of the sites people have this perfect square routed and I can't figure out how you do that because if the router is face down I can't see where the bit is to know to stop at a certain point or to follow that rectangle pattern!  What type of bit are you using to route out these areas?  How can you follow what you're actually cutting?  Thanks in advance for the help.

nostrebor:
Assuming you are routing with a straight bit... your router will have a baseplate that is round (the piece that the router slides around on while you are cutting). Take a measuring device (tape, metal rule, etc) and measure from the edge of the cutter to the edge of the circle. Your trying to find the distance fron the slot that the cutter makes to the edge of the baseplate. Make sure that the measurement is from the edge of the carbide on the bit, not just the shank of the bit. Make a mark on your baseplate where you measure to for future reference, on the edge or side so that you can see it when using the router. Now lay out your square, or slot that you are going to cut on the workpiece. Once that is done, you want a straight edge, (scrap board, or plywood is fine) and a way to clamp the straight edge to the workpiece. Next lay out another line parallel to the cut line you already marked, using the measurement you took earlier from the baseplate edge to the cutter. This allows you to plunge the cutter into the work, and slide the router along, pushing it against the straight edge, thus controlling the cut.

Remember that mark you made earlier on the edge of the router base plate? That is the point that you slide along the straight edge.

Hope this helps!

Edit: tossed a pic on here. The circle is the base plate, the straight edge (top of pic) is set at the distance of the slot to the edge of the base plate. Ignore the edge guide comment, as it does not apply in your case.

DanteBK:
While you're giving advice to inexperienced routers, I'm going to buy a router tomorrow to rout for joysticks and a trackball and was wondering exactly what the type of bit I need to buy is called.

I always hear people say "straight bit," but is that what I'm going to ask for? Should it be a certain measure or type? Do I need any other parts to attach it to the router that won't come with the router or the bit themselves?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I'm not trying to be a jerk and hijack the thread, but I know how some people here feel about "easy" questions and would just as soon not start a whole thread for this one.

nostrebor:
Google MLCS online and look at their "straight bits". If you are only buying one, get a 1" long x 1/2" diameter. This is a good all around straight bit. Make sure you get the right shank size for your router. Some are 1/4", some are 1/2". 1/2" is better if your router can use it.

DrewKaree:

--- Quote from: DanteBK on October 02, 2004, 10:16:41 pm ---While you're giving advice to inexperienced routers, I'm going to buy a router tomorrow to rout for joysticks and a trackball and was wondering exactly what the type of bit I need to buy is called.

I always hear people say "straight bit," but is that what I'm going to ask for? Should it be a certain measure or type? Do I need any other parts to attach it to the router that won't come with the router or the bit themselves?

Thanks in advance!

P.S. I'm not trying to be a jerk and hijack the thread, but I know how some people here feel about "easy" questions and would just as soon not start a whole thread for this one.

--- End quote ---
There should be an HD near you, three that I can see....anyhoo, pick yourself up the Ryobi router - three base model.  It's a 2 hp model with an interchangeable motor.  Includes plunge base, fixed base, and D-handle base.  ~$120  It'll let you use 1/2" AND 1/4" shank bits.  Comes with an edge guide and carrying bag.

Yes, you will be asking for a straight bit.  Spend the extra money and get a CARBIDE straight bit, not the High Speed Steel (HSS) version.  The cut'll be nicer and the bit'll last longer.

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