How to Cut Mortises With a Router Table
- 1). Insert a 1/2-inch straight-cutting router bit into the router. You can access the router from the front of the router table. Using the wrenches that came with the router, place the big wrench on the nut where the router shaft emerges from the router motor. Place the small wrench on the router shaft where the bit passes through it. Using the wrenches against each other, tighten the cutting bit in place.
- 2). Loosen the depth of the cut knob on the side of the router. Push the router up or down until the straight-cutting bit extends 1/4-inch higher than the router table. Tighten the depth of the cut knob.
- 3). Slide the fence of the router over. From the fence, measure exactly 3/8-inch to the center of the router bit.
- 4). Measure from the front of the router bit forward on the fence 3 inches. Make a mark and clamp a block on the mark for the stopping point of the mortise.
- 5). Measure from the bit 9 inches down the fence for the back stop block. Clamp a block to the mark for the starting point of the mortise.
- 6). Turn on the router. Place the end of the poplar against the back stop block, tilted up over the knife at about a 30-degree angle away from you. The edge of the poplar where the mortise is to be cut should be above the knife. Hold the poplar against the fence with your left hand, with your right hand on the back of the poplar.
- 7). Slowly lower the poplar onto the knife, holding it against the fence as you tilt it down. Let the poplar settle completely down on the knife as the knife cuts into the wood. When the poplar is flush on top of the router table, slide the poplar forward, pushing it with your right hand as you hold it against the fence with your left hand. When the poplar makes contact with the front stop-block, pull up on the poplar, tilting it off the knife. Set it aside.
- 8). Turn off the router, adjust the depth of cut on the router to 1/2-inch above the router table. Turn the router back on. Place the poplar on its edge like you did before. Hold it against the fence with your left hand and lower it down, slide it forward repeating the method as before. When the poplar contacts the forward stop-block, pull up tilting the poplar up off the router table. You should now have a mortise that is 3 inches long, 1/2-inch deep and 1/2-inch wide.
