HOW TO SAFELY CUT SLOTS WITH A ROUTER TABLE
ROUTERS James Hamilton ROUTERS James Hamilton

HOW TO SAFELY CUT SLOTS WITH A ROUTER TABLE

Cutting slots on a router table seems simple—but without the right technique, it can turn dangerous fast. Learn how to hit your start and stop marks accurately, avoid climb cuts, and maintain full control for safe, clean results every time.

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USING LARGE ROUTER BITS SAFELY
SAFETY, ROUTERS James Hamilton SAFETY, ROUTERS James Hamilton

USING LARGE ROUTER BITS SAFELY

Large router bits can be far more dangerous than they look. Learn how bit size, weight, RPM, and cutting technique affect safety—and how to avoid kickback, vibration, and catastrophic failures when routing big profiles.

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CONTROLLING YOUR ROUTER’S SPEED AND FEED RATE
ROUTERS James Hamilton ROUTERS James Hamilton

CONTROLLING YOUR ROUTER’S SPEED AND FEED RATE

Router speed isn’t just a convenience—it’s critical for safety, cut quality, and keeping large bits from moving at blistering speeds. Match your router’s RPM to bit size and adjust your feed rate to get cleaner cuts, less burning, and a much safer shop experience.

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HOW TO PROPERLY USE A PLUNGE ROUTER
ROUTERS James Hamilton ROUTERS James Hamilton

HOW TO PROPERLY USE A PLUNGE ROUTER

A plunge router isn’t just a fixed-base router that moves up and down—it’s a precision machine packed with features that can transform your woodworking. Learn how to master its depth stop, micro-adjustments, and setup tricks for cleaner cuts, safer mortises, and flawless inlays.

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THE SECRET TO CUTTING COMPLEMENTARY CURVES
ROUTERS James Hamilton ROUTERS James Hamilton

THE SECRET TO CUTTING COMPLEMENTARY CURVES

Several years ago, I made a video about creating complimentary curves with a router. A lot of people were very complimentary about that video. Others, however, were a little confused. So, I’ve decided to revisit the concept from that video, showing a similar method but with readily available bits. This is such an amazing technique with so many creative uses that you’re definitely going to want to know about it.

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HOW TO MAKE RAISED PANELS WITHOUT EXPENSIVE TOOLS
ROUTERS James Hamilton ROUTERS James Hamilton

HOW TO MAKE RAISED PANELS WITHOUT EXPENSIVE TOOLS

Raised panels are a fundamental part of cabinets and furniture. If you're into woodworking, you'll eventually need to make them—and when you do, you’ll be bombarded with videos and articles that demonstrate all sorts of methods using tools you probably don’t have. In this article, I’m going to walk you through how to make raised panels quickly, easily, and safely with just a regular straight router bit.

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