Charles Neil - The Magic of Routers

This is a 5 DVD set that gives you over 10 hours of instructions on everything you want to know about using a router. On disk one he reviews different routers. Then he explains some of the many different types of router bits that are available and how they are used. He then talks about the different ways to guide a router and follows that up with a discussion on hand held routing and using a router table. Although he does not tell you how to build a router table he does show you some things to look for and think about when you design your own router table. He talks about using patterns and begins to show some of the many jigs that he has developed to make routing easier and safer.

On disk 2 he talks about making large panels, making a “D” handle, how to make circles and wheels, how to run narrow stock and something he talks and show a lot though out the DVD’s and the is how to make and use patterns. He then talks about how to cut veneer with a router, how to do fluting for quarter columns and reeding on a bed post.

This disks ends with a discussion on how to do inlay with a router and how to make your own router bases. He even show you how to make a jig he calls a “Thing-A-Ma” jig for routing odd shapes like a goose neck.

Disk 3 covers beading, mortise and tenons, door rails and stiles, box joints, making moldings, hinge mortise, raised panels and how to do a pedestal base.

Disk 4 begins with a discussion on the different between an oval and an ellipse and how to lay them out. There is a section on the different types of dove tail jig and how to do sliding dovetails and dovetail splines and dadoes.

Then he saves the best for last. On disk 5 he shows how to make a pie crust table top. Again he really goes into detail how to make the patterns and in some cases how to make patterns to make a pattern. With this method you can make a pie crust table with very little or no hand carving. The last thing he shows is how to do a goose neck. He explains that this is probably the must difficult thing you can do with a router but he takes you through it step by step.

Charles tells us several time that router is nothing more then a motor with a bit on the end of it. He encourages us to think outside the box. As in the rest of his DVD’s you feel like you are right there in the shop with him and when he screws up he shows you his mistake and tell you how to fix it.
This DVD is excellent for the beginner and the advanced woodworker. In 10 hours you will learn all the things that he knows about using a router from over 30 years as a professional woodworker.