What is a Trim Router Used For?

 

A trim router is a small but versatile woodworking tool used for cutting and shaping edge profiles such as trimming of grooves and slots on wooden and other material surfaces. It is a smaller version of the standard router. Its compact and lightweight design makes it easy for use by holding it with one single hand. A trim router is sometimes called laminate trimmer because it was originally designed to cut laminate wood flooring. Today, trim routers are used for a wide range of tasks which include rounding over edges, flush trimming hardwood edges and a whole lot more. This article will take you through some of the popular uses of trim routers.

Profiling edges

The trim router is great for profiling wood edges. For example, to make the edge of a board straight, you can use a straight router bit to trim it down to a smooth, straight edge after you have rough-cut the large material to size with a circular saw. When edge trimming, the size of the router bit you use can make a huge difference in the quality of the final cut. A shear or spiral bit will help you eliminate splintering on the edge of the material. Their flutes are angled instead of running parallel to the body and shank of the bit. This makes a significant impact on the way the bit performs. Generally, shear and spiral bits cut the surface of the stock with a slicing motion instead of chopping straight into the material which results in a cleaner cut.

Cutting hinge mortises

The trim router can also be used to make a door hinge mortise just as it is done with a chisel except that using a standard trim router is more efficient and neater. Draw an outline around the hinge and set the depth the router should go. Place your router on the outline created and turn the router on until it cuts to your desired depth. Repeat the process on all the four sides of the outline you have made. The bit chosen is important because the door hinge needs precision cuts with proper space. A ¼ inch straight bit inside a standard guide collar is suitable for this operation. Many trim router models come with bases that take guide collars but if yours doesn’t, you can buy an accessory sub-base that will.

Bringing veneer edges into perfect alignment

You can use a trim router to bring veneer into alignment. When you are making veneer from re-sawn material, the veneer panel could be larger than its substrate. A trim veneer can be used to quickly bring the veneer edges into perfect alignment. A climb cut can be used if the veneer is thin. This is a good way of preventing the veneer from chipping or tearing at the corners. A solid carbide laminate trimming bit is a good choice for this application but you can also use a flush trimmer with a sheer cutting angle.

Final thoughts

With its narrow base, light weight and low centre of gravity, a trim router is even more efficient than a full size router for operations like routing shallow hinge mortises. The trim router is a versatile tool. Don’t be deceived by its small frame, it can be used for a wide range of tasks including routing for inlay cavities and a host of other operations.