Yes, you can plane wood with a router. A router is a versatile power tool that can be used for many woodworking tasks, including planing. With the right router bit and proper technique, a router can smooth and flatten boards, trim edges, cut grooves, and more.
Routers are designed to cut across the grain of wood, removing thin layers of material to shape or smooth the surface. Using a straight cutting bit, a router can effectively function as a small handheld planer for finishing tasks. While it lacks the width capacity of a dedicated planer, a router offers more precision and control on narrower boards.
There are some limitations to be aware of when using a router for planing. The maximum cut depth is shallow, so a router can only remove a small amount of material in a single pass. Router planing works best on thinner boards where the goal is fine smoothing rather than significant thickness reduction. Proper technique is also key to prevent tear out and achieve an even surface.
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Can a router fully replace a planer?
While a router can perform basic planning duties, it cannot fully replace a dedicated planer machine. Planers offer some key advantages:
– Wider capacity: Benchtop planers can accommodate boards up to 12-15 inches wide. A router is limited to the size of its base plate, usually 6 inches or less.
– Deeper cuts: Planers can remove 1/8 inch or more of material in a single pass. A router is limited to skimming off just a thin layer at a time.
– Faster stock removal: A planer can quickly flatten a rough board. It would take a router many shallow passes to remove the same amount of material.
– Continuous cuts: Planers use spinning blades to continuously plane the full width of the board. With a router, the bit cuts in a smaller oscillating path.
So for thicker boards or substantial dimensioning tasks, a planer is still the better choice. But a router can perform light planing work on narrower stock where fine finishing is the priority. Many woodworkers use both tools in their milling process. The planer does the heavy removal, then a router adds the final smoothed touch.
Router capabilities for planing
Here are some of the planing tasks you can accomplish with a router:
– Light surfacing – A router with a straight bit can skim off a small amount of material to flatten or smooth a surface. This removes saw marks, light scratches, glue squeeze-out and other minor imperfections.
– Edge jointing – Trimming and smoothing the edges of two boards helps create a tight, flush glued joint. A router edge guide provides control for this operation.
– Trimming end grain – Using a router to carefully trim end grain avoids splintering and produces a smooth square edge for joining.
– Chamfering – You can ease edges with a chamfering bit to soften the feel of a tabletop or other surface.
– Detail shaping – Router shaping bits like roundovers allow adding decorative details to a planed surface.
For these finishing tasks, a router’s fine depth adjustment and precision control offers real advantages over a planer. While limited in overall thickness capacity, a router can put the perfect final surface on narrow boards.
Router bits for planing
The key to successfully planing with a router is choosing the right bit. Look for the following:
– Straight bits – A straight or flat cutting bit is essential for planing a flat surface. Carbide tipped straight bits stay sharp longest.
– Sharp cutting edges – Bits must cut cleanly rather than tear the wood surface. Single flute bits often work better than double flute for planing.
– 1/2 inch shank – Larger diameter shank bits resist deflection that can affect the cut.
– Bottom bearing – A bottom bearing roller on the bit helps ride along the surface for a smooth cut.
Many router bit sets will include suitable bits for planing tasks. You can also purchase individual bits sized and optimized specifically for planing or edge jointing.
Router setup for planing
Proper setup and techniques are vital when surface planing with a router:
– Stable base – Use a fixed-base router table or a sturdy adjustable base on a bench to control the router. Handheld planing takes skill.
– Depth setting – Make very shallow passes not exceeding 1/16 inch depth to flatten surfaces. Take multiple light passes to achieve final depth.
– Feed direction – For a smooth cut, always feed the router so the cutters rotate against the wood grain.
– Slow steady feed – Moving too fast can cause burning or uneven cuts. Let the bit do the work by advancing slowly.
– Climb cutting – On the final pass, try climb cutting (moving the same direction as the bit rotation) for an ultra-smooth finish. Take light cuts and secure the workpiece to avoid it being pulled by the bit.
Portable router planing tips
For planing solid tabletops or other larger surfaces, you’ll get the best results using a router table. But you can carefully plane edges and smaller workpieces with a compact portable router:
– Support workpiece – Clamp the work down securely to a bench to prevent movement during routing.
– Guide the router – Use an edge guide attachment to run the baseplate against for a straight and consistent cut.
– Router sled – A special sled with rails allows you to plane wider surfaces by sliding the router sled across the workpiece.
– Even pressure – Apply firm downward pressure as you move the router at an even pace to keep the bit cutting consistently through the full pass.
– Multiple passes – Make several climb-cutting passes taking only a small amount of material with each to prevent chip out and burn marks.
– Sand last pass – Lightly sanding with the grain after the final pass can remove any slight ripple marks and ensure a perfectly smooth surface.
Key safety tips
Operating any power tool carries risks, so follow these precautions when using a router for planing:
– Unplug when changing bits – Don’t be tempted to freehand swap router bits while powered up.
– Avoid kickback – Always feed against bit rotation to prevent violent kickback from climb cutting.
– Wear eye protection – Use safety glasses to protect your eyes from flying chips and sawdust.
– Ear protection – Routers generate high decibel noise levels, so wear hearing protection.
– Secure workpiece – Prevent any workpiece movement that could cause binding and loss of control.
– Hand safety – Keep hands well clear of the spinning bit. Never reach under the work with the router running.
– No loose items – Remove all jewelry, tie back long hair, and avoid loose clothing that could catch in the bit.
– Bit depth – Adjust bit height so no more than half of the cutting edges are exposed to reduce risk of bit breakage and kickback.
– Dust collection – Use dust extraction to capture fine particles from routing and minimize your dust exposure.
Conclusion
While a dedicated planer remains the best tool for major dimensioning work, a router can be an effective option for light planing cuts. With care and the proper techniques, you can use a router to accurately smooth and flatten surfaces on narrow boards. The router’s precision and efficient material removal makes it a handy substitute for a planer when working in small spaces or milling thinner stock. Just be sure to follow safe operating practices to get the best results from surface planing with your router.
So in summary:
– A router with a straight bit can perform light planing work on narrow boards.
– Routers excel at precision finish planing but cannot replace a planer’s deeper cutting capacity.
– Proper technique is key: make multiple shallow passes, move slowly, and always feed against bit rotation.
– Bits with sharp carbide cutters, roller bearings, and 1/2″ shanks work best for planing.
– Secure the workpiece, wear safety gear, and follow kickback prevention measures when surface planing with a router.
When used with care and correct methods, a router can deliver smooth, finely planed surfaces while offering more versatility than a standard planer. With practice, you can take advantage of the router’s usefulness for surface enhancement of smaller wood pieces.