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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.
I would love your input on future videos and blog posts!
I’ve gotten quite a few views on my only other video I’ve filmed How to Cut Plywood With a Circular Saw video, and the only reason I ever filmed that was because I had a reader ask to see the process I used to cut plywood. I’ve had comments on my YouTube channel and some here on the blog that people would like more videos, but instead of guessing what you want or need, I’d love some input!
I’ve had some people contact me through email and basically ask about how to get started at all in woodworking, so my idea is to film a video series for the complete beginner. How many of you would be interested in that? What DIY problems do you have that I might be able to help solve? What questions do you have about woodworking? What would you like to see more of here at Pink Toes and Power Tools? Your input doesn’t have to be just videos either.
Comment your ideas below or contact me at:
pinktoesandpowertools (at) gmail (dot) com
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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pinktoesandpowertools
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