On Sun, 04 Jan 2004 16:34:09 +0000, PoP
wrote:

This might be elementary stuff, but I thought I'd ask for opinions
from others who regularly use a router. This is a question based
entirely on curiousity about how others use their router - the true
answer might well be "use whichever is best for the job in hand!".

I have a Trend T9. Lovely piece of kit, very happy with it. However
I'm wondering if all is well in terms of the sole plate or whether
it's just me.

I have a DeWalt 625 which is quite similar and even has some parts in
common.



In use the on/off switch is on my right hand, and the depth stop on
the left. Both switch and depth stop are on the far side of the
router, away from me, operated by my fingers. It doesn't work for me
to have these on my side of the router as my thumbs aren't comfortable
holding the switch in or setting the depth stop.

Now, the question is how to guide the router along a straight edge.
Are you supposed to run the router against the guide on the circular
side of the sole plate, or using that flat spot that is provided on
the sole plate?

For that application I don't think that it matters a great deal. If
you look at some of the American routers such as Porter Cable, they
have circular bases.

I tend to orient the router based on what is convenient for what I am
doing.

There are instances, for example with some templates and jigs where
using the flat side is useful since the cutter is then closer.



I suppose my being left handed might be causing me a bit of a problem,
but what I keep finding is that the flat edge of the sole plate just
feels to be 180 degrees wrong - I'm running the circular part of the
sole plate along the straight edge.

Just questioning whether others have an opinion about which part of
the sole plate one should use for straight edge work! For some reason
I'm inclined to want to use the flat portion of the sole plate for
running along a straight edge, but using the circular side of the sole
plate means that the router doesn't have to be lined up to the
straight edge, any reasonable angle will do.

BTW - this has nothing to do with the direction of cut, I understand
all about the need to operate the router against the direction of
rotation.

PoP

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