The router is one of the most versatile tools in a woodworker’s arsenal. It can be used for everything from cutting shallow dados to deep mortises, and it will likely become your go-to tool when you want to cut an edge profile on a workpiece. But there are two basic types of routers: trim routers and plunge routers.
What Is A Trim Router
The term “trim router” can be confusing to some people. It is a tool that does very specific tasks, like trimming the edges of furniture pieces and cutting decorative edges on woodwork projects. The purpose of this article is to demystify this common woodworking tool for you!
The one thing all trim routers have in common is that they power their blade with electricity. This allows them to cut through hardwood (and other materials) like butter, which would otherwise dull blades used with handheld tools like hand saws or bench planes. Trimming routers also come with collets or chucks for different diameter bits; typically ¼ inch and ½ inch are the most popular sizes among home-use trim routers while 3/8 inch and ¾ inch sizes are most popular for professional-use trim routers.
Trim routers have a compact design with their handles that can be mounted flush directly to the base of a handheld router or on top of a table surface with an accessory kit. Trimming routers sit low enough even in the smallest form factor so as not to interfere with the workpiece. Trimming routers are also useful for clearing small spaces that can’t be reached with a regular-sized router and they do not require as much downward force (pressure) to make cuts like plunge routers, which makes them ideal for use on smaller pieces of wood where more control is necessary.
What Is A Plunge Router
A plunge router is a tool that can be used to cut out shapes in wood. It is different from other routers because it has the ability to make very detailed cuts. The plunge router’s blade moves up and down, which makes it easier for you to control where the blade goes, as opposed to the standard router whose blade spins around on an axis. There are many things you can do with a plunge router!
A plunge router has an adjustable base that allows it to go below its normal depth limit by plunging into the material being worked on. This makes it possible to make cuts across the face of sheet materials without damaging their surface finish as well as creating mortises in thick timbers using these types of routers were otherwise impossible due to restricted access. It also gives more flexibility in terms of the depth and height which can be set up.
List Of 10 Differences Between Trim Router VS Plunge Router
If you’re not sure which type you should buy, here are some differences between them that will help make your decision easier!
1. Trimmers have fixed bases which mean they can only be used at certain heights. This makes them great for smaller work, but not if one is trying to do larger-scale projects such as cutting large sheets down or working on a raised surface like an elevated deck where it might require setting up at different angles and heights.
2. There are some models that allow their base to slide along a rail system perpendicular to the handle axis; this allows any desired trimming angle (up to 90 degrees) whereas other trimmers allow adjustable handles that change orientation relative to the motor housing in order achieve more ergonomic setups when doing fine detail work.
3. Trimmers usually come with smaller bases, but not if one is trying to do larger-scale projects such as cutting large sheets down or working on a raised surface like an elevated deck where it might require setting up at different angles and heights.
4. Trim routers are smaller and lighter than plunge routers.
5. Trimmer router bases can attach to a workpiece on their own using screws, while the base of a plunge router has to be attached with clamps or by another method entirely since it lacks screw holes.
6. Trimmers generally don’t have as much power as plungers.
7. Trimming bits for trim routers tend to be thinner and less expensive than those made specifically for plunging applications.
8. Plungers give you more options when routing into corners that aren’t accessible from above because they allow you direct contact with your bit at all times instead of relying on gravity alone as trimmers do. It also allows access over a much larger area.
9. Trimming bits also tend to have a smaller diameter, meaning they can’t cut as deep as plunging router bits. This makes plunge routers superior for thicker stock and panel raising applications too since the bit won’t be limited by its size or lack of access from above depending on your workpiece orientation.
10. Trimmers are great if you plan on doing mostly straight routing with minimal corner-cutting where gravity will allow easy feed of your wood/material through your cutter head without getting stuck. Trimmers can be great for beginners on a budget as well.
11. Trim routers are best for small work surfaces and will not break through the material.
12. Plunge routers offer many features such as depth stop, adjustable height, and a removable sub-base plate.
13. A Trim router’s strength lies in being able to fit into tighter spaces because of its size whereas a larger tool like a plunge routing requires more power to operate well or else it could damage your project by going out of control due to lack of precision which results from weak pressure the cutting edge.
10 Use Cases Of Trim Router And Plunge Router
1. A trim router is a versatile tool that can be used for many different purposes depending on the attachment. The most common attachments are a straight bit, flush-trim bit, and cove/round over bit.
2. Trim routers can be used to create decorative edges with the roundover or cove bits. For example, the 1/8″ shank size works well with detail work or shallow cuts.
3. A flush-trim bit can be used to cut out small pieces of wood without leaving any visible marks on the surface.
4. Straight bits are primarily used for cutting dadoes in plywood or creating grooves inboards. The bits are interchangeable so you can use them for different purposes depending on your needs.
5. A dado head attachment allows you to make clean cuts by routing slots into boards at various depths.
6. It’s an all-in-one power tool that includes a router bit, saw blade, and cutting guide. You can also adjust the height of the cut quickly and easily by using the thumbwheel located on top of the machine.
7. It has a variety of features including variable speed control from 8500 to 22000 RPMs which allows you to achieve the desired depth without having to change blades often.
10 Use Cases Of Plunge Router
1. The plunge router is used to cut parts of workpieces with a straight edge.
2. When the cutter is at the top, it can be used for cutting dadoes and rabbets.
3. It can also be used as a shaper by using different types of blades.
4. Plunge routers are often fitted with an adjustable fence that allows you to make repeated cuts in one direction without moving the router itself.
5. The plunge router may also be fitted with a pattern bit or guide bushing which helps you create accurate patterns on your material.
6. In most cases, this type of router will have a depth adjustment knob that allows you to set how deep each cut will go before starting another pass across your workpiece.
7) A plunge router’s base plate will usually have several holes drilled into it where screws attach it to the machine’s motor shaft and allow for quick adjustments when changing bits or accessories.
8) A plunge routing has many uses depending on what attachments are being used with them – some common ones include sanding discs, spindle sander drums, template guides, flush trimming bits. Though these tools are generally not as powerful as their larger counterparts, they can be used for some heavy-duty tasks as well.
Conclusion
Conclusion paragraph: If you need a router to do some trim work, the Trim Router is your best bet. However, if you want to plunge through material or have more room for maneuverability then the Plunge Router will be better suited for your needs. The deciding factor between these routers is how much space you have available and what type of precision cuts require – either large deep ones with plunging capability or small precise cuts that can be done by trimming without too much trouble.
