Routers (Tools)

The router is a power tool with a flat base and a rotating bit extending past the base. The spindle may be driven by an electric motor or by a pneumatic motor. It routs (hollows out) an area in hard material, such as wood or plastic. Routers are used most often in woodworking, especially in cabinetry and moulding production. They may be handheld with the bit projected downwards or affixed to router tables, with the bit projected upwards. Some woodworkers consider the router one of the most versatile power tools. There is also a traditional hand tool known as a router plane, a form of hand plane with a broad base and a narrow blade projecting well beyond the base plate. Either tool can be used to create and flatten the bottom of a hollowed recess in materials. CNC wood routers add the advantages of computer numerical control (CNC). The laminate trimmer is a smaller, lighter version of the router. Although it is designed for egde trimming laminates, it can also be used for smaller general routing work. As they are smaller and less powerful, they can be easier to control, even when using one hand. Rotary tools can also be used similarly to routers with the right bits and accessories (such as plastic router bases).