Router guide apparatus and method

An apparatus for guiding a router relative to a guide surface on a workpiece, said router having a rotatable bit protruding from the underside thereof, comprising,

• a pair of guide pins,
• means for securing the guide pins to the underside of said router at positions spaced apart from one another and radially spaced from the bit,
• said guide pins protruding from the underside of said router for continuous engagement with said guide surface as the router is advanced along the workpiece,
• said means for securing the guide pins comprising a subbase plate having a tool opening and a plurality of guide pin openings adapted to receive said guide pins and means for securing said subbase plate to the underside of the router with said tool opening positioned for protrusion of said bit through the center thereof,
• a plurality of tilt pins, at least one of said tilt pins being positioned on the subbase plate is spaced relation from said tool opening for supporting the subbase plate at a first height above said workpiece and another tilt pin positioned on the subbase plate on the opposite side of said tool opening for supporting the subbase plate at a second height whereby said subbase plate is tilted relative to said workpiece.

An apparatus for guiding a router relative to a guide surface on a workpiece, said router having a rotatable bit protruding from the underside thereof, comprising,

• a pair of guide pins,
• means for securing the guide pins to the underside of said router at positions spaced apart from one another and radially spaced from the bit,
• said guide pins protruding from the underside of said router for continuous engagement with said guide surface as the router is advanced along the workpiece,
• said means for securing the guide pins comprising a subbase plate having a tool opening and a plurality of guide pin openings adapted to receive said guide pins and means for securing said subbase plate to the underside of the router with said tool opening positioned for protrusion of said bit through the center thereof,
• said guide pin openings including a plurality of pairs of holes aligned along a line disposed in intersecting relation with the center of said tool opening, the holes of each pair being arranged on opposite sides of and equidistant from the center of said tool opening.

A method of guiding a router along a workpiece having a guide surface thereon comprising,

• providing a pair of guide pins,
• securing said guide pins to the underside of the router in radially spaced relation from the cutting bit thereof,
• engaging said guide pins against said guide surface,
• moving said bit into working engagement with the face of the workpiece, and
• cutting a routed line in the face of said workpiece by maintaining said guide pins in engagement with said guide surface while simultaneously advancing said guide pins along said guide surface,
• said guide surface including a corner between first and second linear guide surfaces and wherein the step of advancing said guide pins along said guide surface includes
• advancing said guide pins along the first guide surface until one guide pin engages said corner,
• advancing said one guide pin along the second guide surface while simultaneously advancing the other guide pin along the first guide surface to the point of engagement with said corner thereby cutting an arcuate routed line in said workpiece, and
• advancing both guide pins along said second guide surface.