> Hi All,

> I am making a router table and I was quickly reminded why I rarely use the
> router - wow! can it make a mess in a hurry!

> I rate a power tool's ability to do "work" by how fast it makes
> a mess - the router is right up there with the electric planer and second
> only to a chainsaw!

> Does anybody have a setup for a router to hook it up to a vacuum system to
> control the dust while milling beads and coves on the strips?

> Any suggestions for setting up a fence for positioning/guiding the strips?

> My strips are pretty consistent in width but it would be nice to be able
> to improve them since I am milling them anyway. In a typical setup, the
> strip against the fence and the fence setting would control the depth of
> the cove without reference to the bead side of the strip.

> I was going to route the bead first and was hoping to mill the cove in
> some way that it would control the width of the strip [relative to the
> bead] at the same time. Anybody done this?

> Thanks in advance for the help.

> Hank

I made a fence 4 inches high, 3 inches wide, attached a vacuum to the back side. On the front side I inserted a 3/8" thick insert 2" x 4" to serve as a zero clearance insert. I firt did the bead with the bit infront of the fence inserted wood from left to right, used a vertical and horizontal feather board. Made a hell of alot of chips. When I made the cover (similar set up, but used the zero clearance insert by pentrating the bit through the insert. The dust/chips all went into the vacuum.

If anyone wants a picture write me and I will put it on my webpage "http://www.gulftel.com/~wklaus";

Walter H. Klaus