The time has arrived for the newest Pink Toes and Power Tools video: How to Use a Router to Make Drawer Fronts! Woop, woop! Mind you, I had to watch a teenager’s Minecraft editing video in order to figure out how to use Microsoft’s MovieMaker software so that this could happen. Nothing can humble you faster than realizing that you need help with video editing and then proceeding to listen to someone explain it to you whose voice still cracks. The video is NOT going to win any awards, but at least this one doesn’t have any black and white portions that I can’t figure out how to get back to normal, like the How to Cut Plywood With a Circular Saw video.
Setting up your router to the correct height and depth
You are going to need to set up your router before you make the cuts so that it is creating the proper depth for the 1/4″ plywood insert you will put into the middle. Use a piece of the actual plywood you will be using for the middle of the drawer insert. Raise your router bit so that it is just a slight bit higher than the top of the plywood piece.
Now you are going to set the fence back far enough to create a lip in the drawer frame that the 1/4″ plywood drawer middle will rest on. I use a speed square so that the fence is square and set the fence back far enough that half the blade is showing. If I were doing any more than half the blade, I would probably make two passes–one pass for all the boards and then move the fence back again for the second pass for all the boards. I could do all of mine in one pass for this project.
Here’s a side shot of my router all set up and ready to go. You can see where it will hit the wood boards. I take the time to look over all the boards I am using and decide which side I’d like to be the face of the drawer (obviously this side would be free from any flaws). I mark the edge with a squiggly line drawn down the entire length of the part I want to router out.
How to use a router to make drawer fronts video
Now that the router is set up to the correct height and depth, you need to test it out on some scrap to make sure it will all work. After you have verified that the router blade is properly positioned, you are ready to cut all your boards. The video will explain how to go about the routering part.
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Here is a link to the Kreg Multi-Purpose Push Stick I am using in the video. I’ve used this push stick with my table saw quite a few time now, when I’m ripping narrow pieces. It is narrow enough that it fits between the fence and the blade and keeps my fingers away from it all. I’m sure you can figure out how to assemble the other tool in the video–fancy, I know! These are basically cheap ways to get by without feather boards for the router table.
Assembling the drawer fronts
I wrote up a post about how to assemble the drawer fronts with the Kreg Jig and pocket holes.
Donna says
I would enjoy a beginner woodworking series! Count me in 🙂
Learning to build some of the things I’ve asked the hubby to make would greatly increase the likelihood of projects getting done in a timely fashion!
Pinktoesandpowertools says
Thanks Donna! I thought the same thing when I started and I figured it would go one of two ways–I would get them done OR he would, to keep me away from his garage lol! I jest–I actually had more time than he did, so it made more sense. And he does NOT have the patience for it either. Glad to have you on the journey!
CeCe says
Hi, love the blog! I would absolutely LOVE to see a beginner woodworking series! I’ve been an aVid DIYer for some time now, and since buying my first home, have begun to tackle some renovations myself, including some woodworking projects…but I find that a lot of the terminology I’m reading on blogs isn’t so obvious to me, and some how-to’s assume I’m already familiar with tools I may never have used. A video series would be incredibly helpful!
Pinktoesandpowertools says
Great CeCe–thanks so much for your input! I really appreciate it. I felt exactly the same way about the terminology when I was starting out too. I’m kind of getting excited about the idea of the beginner videos–that always helps motivate me. Thanks again!