Making your first woodworking project can be an incredibly rewarding experience. I still remember the feeling of satisfaction when I used a router for the first time to make a simple picture frame. With the right plans and tools like a router, woodworking is an achievable hobby for beginners, yet versatile enough for more complex projects as you gain skill.
In this guide, we’ll cover different router-based woodworking plans for all levels to take on DIY projects around your home.
| Takeaway | Details |
|---|---|
| Routers Offer Precision and Versatility | Routers allow precise cuts for joinery, edging, carving, and more using specialty bits. Great for beginners to advanced. |
| Safety First | Always use guards, clamps, and secure work. Wear protection. Routers spin sharp bits dangerously fast. |
| Start Simple | Beginner projects like frames, boards, boxes build confidence. Follow simple plans first. |
| Intermediate Levels Up Skills | Shelves, trays, doors teach precision joinery, inlay, carving. |
| Advanced Projects Get Creative | Tabletops, cabinets, beds allow you to really challenge your abilities. |
| Choose Good Bits | Invest in quality bits designed for your specific cut needs and materials. |
| Control Speed and Depth Settings | Find ideal speeds and depths for clean handling on your stock. Test first. |
| Secure Your Work Properly | Clamp or jig work to keep hands safe and material securely steady. |
| Plan Grain Cut Direction Carefully | Cut with the grain to prevent tear out splinters whenever possible. |
Benefits of Using a Router for Woodworking Plans
Routers are versatile woodworking tools that perform a wide variety of precision cuts with specialized bits. Here are some of the key advantages of incorporating a router into your plans:
- Precision – Routers allow precise cuts for joinery and edging. You can set exact depths and run the router along guides.
- Versatility – With the range of bits available, routers can make various edge profiles, cut precise joints, carve, and embellish surfaces.
- Ideal for Beginners – Less demanding than saws and chisels for new woodworkers to get great results on first projects.
Making detailed cuts by hand would take considerably longer. For hobbyists and DIYers short on time, a router efficiently achieves professional-looking finished products.
Beginner Woodworking Plans
Starting simple is the best way to gain confidence with routers before moving to more complex scenes. Here are some beginner-friendly projects:
Simple Picture Frames
Basic routed picture frames make great beginner router projects.
- Dimensions – Standard sizes like 5″x7″ and 8″x10″. Larger may be too challenging at first.
- Wood type – Pine, poplar, oak. Avoid highly knotted/grainy wood.
- Design – Simple trim profiles along the inner/outer edges. Corner joinery like basic lap joints.
- Process
- Cut wood to length based on dimensions, allowing extra length
- Set router bit depth so it cuts halfway through thickness
- Run wood inner edge along guide with router to cut profile
- Repeat for outer profile cut
- Carefully cut joints on ends, gluing and assembling
Once you get comfortable with the basic process, you can explore more intricate frame profiles.
Cutting Boards
Cutting boards make for great beginner through advanced router projects.
- Dimensions – Smaller is better to start. 12″x18″ cutting board with thin wood strips.
- Wood type – Maple, walnut, cherry. Pre-glued boards remove need for edge joining.
- Design – Simple patterns like checkerboard work well. Avoid intricate inlays initially.
- Process
- Layout plank pattern
- Cut planks to length
- Glue up planks if not using pre-glued board
- Optional: Roundover plank edges with router
- Layout and carve shallow trenches for juice grooves
- Apply food-safe finish
Using pre-glued boards helps you dive right into routing techniques. Later, you can try edge gluing your own panels.
Boxes and Storage Containers
Building boxes teaches fundamental router skills.
- Dimensions – Start with a small keepsake box. 6″x6″x4″ is very manageable.
- Wood Type – Pine is an economical choice but also consider cedar, poplar.
- Design – Simple small box with lap joint corners and hinged lid. Optional decorative routered edges and panels.
- Process
- Prepare panels for sides, base, lid
- Cut lap joints on edges
- Assemble box with glue
- Attach hinges and clasp
- Optional: Use various bits to decorate edges and surfaces
Once comfortable with the basics, try unique wood types, alternate joinery techniques, or decorative routing to elevate the designs.
Intermediate Woodworking Plans
Ready to level up your routing abilities for furniture-based projects? These ideas will expand your skillset:
Shelves
Perfect small shelving units to practice your precision.
- Dimensions – 25″x12″x4″ single shelves. Scale up for a whole shelving unit.
- Wood type – Oak, maple provide nice hardwood options. Can also go with pine for more practice first.
- Design – Box frame shelves with patterned supports. Routered edges and carved surface embellishments.
- Process
- Prepare the shelf panels, sides, and various supports
- Use lap or mortise & tenon joints to assemble the box frame
- Mark and carve decorative details on the surfaces with a small trim bit
- Use an edge bit to profile edges of the shelf, sides, and supports
- Consider oil, stain, paint as finish options
Getting creative with decorative details will expand your routing practice.
Serving Trays
Elegant serving trays utilize essential routing abilities.
- Dimensions – Appetizer: 10″x14″ Entertaining: 16″x20″ Bar: 20″x30″
- Wood type – Walnut provides a rich smooth finish for serving. Maple also works well.
- Design – Rimmed edges, integrated handles, decorative inlay patterns.
- Process
- Prepare board by gluing up stock if necessary for size
- Mark edge outlines for handles and decorative patterns
- Use various bits to carve handles and inlay spaces
- Inlay contrasting wood materials
- Apply decorative edge profile around rim
- Apply food-safe finish
It’s a great project for enhancing router inlay and carving skills.
Doors
Try building integrated doors for cabinets or furniture.
- Dimensions – Scale the doors based on project size needs. Test on 12″x16″ doors first.
- Wood Type – Oak, cherry provide nice stained options. Can paint softwoods like pine.
- Design – Panel or glass-insert styles. Routed edges and panels.
- Process
- Prepare door components – stiles, rails, panels
- Cut joints on ends (mortise & tenon works well)
- Use a small edge bit to decorate profiles
- Carve decorative features on center door panels
- Assemble frame and insert center panel or glass
- Install hinges and hardware
It’s satisfying to create custom doors for other woodworking builds.
Advanced Woodworking Plans
Ready for an ambitious routing endeavor? The skills needed for these advanced projects will test your abilities:
Tables
Tables like coffee, sofa, or dining utilize a mix of jointing and surfacing router techniques.
- Dimensions – Vary widely. Start mid-size like 36″ square coffee table.
- Wood Type – Teak, maple provide durable tabletop surfaces. Walnut contrasts well for legs.
- Design – Turned legs, aprons, or skirts. Custom tabletop edging profiles. Decorative carvings.
- Process
- Prepare and join base components – legs, aprons, skirts
- Use bits to shape edges and decorate base components
- Prepare tabletop and use appropriate router bit to create edges
- Mark tabletop carving designs to enhance the surface
- Carefully carve decorative carvings into tabletop
- Apply protection finish
Undertaking an decorative routed table is very rewarding for advanced learners.
Cabinets
Building cabinets allows you to apply many router techniques in one project.
- Dimensions – Wall, base, sink-base, and taller pantry cabinet options.
- Wood Type – Oak and maple construction contrasts well with decorative veneers.
- Design – Shaker or Frame styles. Complex joints. Custom molding and intricate door details.
- Process
- Prepare cabinet components – sides, face frames, doors, drawers, back panel, molding
- Use specialty router bits for precise joinery on corners and edges
- Cut custom profiles along fronts, sides, drawer faces
- Apply edge profiles to doors and face frames
- Prepare custom router-cut door panels with decorative details
- Assemble cabinetry, doors, and hardware
It takes precision but the results are well worth it!
Beds
Dream up an elegant bed design to test the limits of your imagination and routing capabilities.
- Dimensions – Range widely based on size. Start smaller with twin bed dimensions.
- Wood Type – Oak provides reliable strength. Contrast with rich walnut accents.
- Design – Routing allows creative headboards, frames, feet. Add panels, posts, carvings.
- Process
- Prepare components for headboard, side frames, mattress support
- Use specialty bits to make strong precise joinery connections
- Shape decorative profiles along all components and posts
- Embellish headboard with carved geometric or nature-inspired motifs
- Consider inlaid wood patterns for contrast
- Assembly – Use glue and joinery for robust connections able to withstand use
A router-built bed allows room to get really creative with designs limited only by your imagination.
Tips for Success with Router Plans
Here are some top things to consider with your router woodworking projects:
Safety
Always make safety the priority when routing. Use push blocks, guards, eye protection, and follow best practices for safe operation. Only route pieces secured by clamps or in a jig to keep hands safely away from cutting edges. Wait for bits to come to complete stop before adjusting any components.
Choosing Router Bits
The variety of profiles and edge treatments possible are only limited by the bits you have on hand. Invest in quality bits designed specifically for your planned cuts and materials to get the best results. Consider material type, dimensions, edge styles, joinery needs, and decorative treatments when compiling your bit arsenal. Store bits safely in protective cases when not in use.
Controlling Speed and Depth
Dialing in the right router speed and setting precise cut depths allows better handling for clean, accurate passes. Adjust speeds lower for steeper passes through thick material. Shallow profile edges can run faster. Test on scrap pieces first to optimize your router settings.
Secure Your Work
Use clamps, vises, jigs, or an extra set of hands to firmly secure boards for routing operations. Restricting any potential movement allows you to maneuver the router more steadily along the workpiece. Secure work is safer for your hands and results in crisp clean cuts.
Plan Direction of Cuts
Analyze board grain patterns and needed cuts to determine the ideal routing direction along workpieces first. Pass with the router grain whenever possible to prevent tear out. Climb cuts against the grain risks splintering on fragile lumber and should only be done carefully with router control.
FAQs
What is the difference between a router and other common woodworking tools?
Routers utilize fast spinning interchangeable bits to carve out precise wood cavities for unique profiles, edges, joinery cuts, carved textures, and inlays. Hand saws cut larger straight kerf channels through thickness. Chisels leverage manual striking force to carve spaces. Planers utilize blades to sheer thin continuous wood layers for smoothing and thickness adjustment.
How do I prevent tear out when using a router?
Tear out splinters happen when routing against wood grain. Ensure newly sharpened bit cutting edges. Predrill holes at inside corners. Use sacrificial backer scrap to control chip out at exits. Go slow with shallow passes. Apply tape to fragile crisp edges before working opposite side.
What safety gear should be used with a router?
ALWAYS wear safety glasses to protect eyes from debris. Ear protection dampens noise. Router bits are dangerously sharp so never remove guards while powered on. Secure work so hands remain safely away even if you slip. Use vacuum attachments to control dust.
What are the most common router bits?
Common types are straight, roundover, chamfer, rabbeting, dovetail, and Roman ogee. Entry level kits typically cover edge profiles and joinery. Expand into specialized bits for custom door panel raising, fluting, spiral finishing cuts, inlay grooving, signmaking fonts, and decorative carving.
How do I choose what router to buy?
Consider motor power, variable speed, plunge depth controls, guide systems, table mounting options, precision, handling comfort, build construction, brand reputation, cost, and warranty duration when selecting your ideal router. Build quality will provide years of smooth accurate service life.
Conclusion
Routers unlock immense creative potential for DIY’ers through versatile precision cutting capabilities other tools can’t match. After covering the basics, there’s endless room to innovate on woodworking projects as you advance your routing skills. Hopefully these plans have inspired you to try creating your own custom builds! Be sure to check out our related guides if you need more tips getting started. Safety first, but have fun designing and carving out your woodcrafting dreams with your trusty router by your side!
More Woodworking Resources
Woodworking Inspiration from Around the Globe
Common Woodworking Measurement Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Essential Woodworking Tool Safety Guidelines
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