Can you use a router like a saw to cut wood?

Question

Can one use a router to cut wood in a similar way that a jigsaw would cut wood? What are the upsides and downsides of using a router to cut wood?

It seems simple enough, but then again, I've never used either machine. I would think that you could just set the router to a deeper threshold than you usually would, in order to cut through the full depth of the piece. Or perhaps you could flip the piece over after routing one side and finish the cut by routing on the underside.

I ask because it's of course less costly to have one router than to have one router and one jigsaw, particularly for a sporadic user like myself.

Answer 1

It's entirely possible, and often reasonable. Without going as far as buying a CNC router (handy, but expensive) simple jigs and sleds permit cutting precisely circular holes (eat your heart out, jigsaws) and precisely straight edges (like a tablesaw with no need to use a jointer afterwards - indeed, many people with tablesaws use a router jig to joint boards if they don't also have a giant jointer.) A different sort of sled allows a router to act as a surface planer, as well, and a variant allows use as a curved surface planer.

There are, of course, compromises. You give up more waste in "saw" kerf. You may need to take multiple cuts at increasing depth or you risk overloading, bogging down, and snapping the bit.

From personal experience, you don't want a low-quality router with poor bearings. This is a tool where cheap can be expensive and expensive can be cheap. And it is certainly true that having more money in router bits than even a good router costs is perfectly normal.

Answer 2

It can be done, but to use a router to cut wood is not optimum. Jigging a router can be more complex and a router will usually cut out a much wider swath and create way more sawdust and wood chips. The router will also cut much slower in thicker materials and has big learning curve issues regarding proper direction of cut.

When you start considering a router for cutting you will want the best quality router bits and even then they will still get dull when removing huge amounts of material. I would venture to guess that the cost of router bits alone would very quickly out pace the cost of an entry level jig saw.

Answer 3

Of course you can use a router to cut through wood! It's done all the time. But, using a router to cut through wood is typically reserved to a CNC router. For humans, a jigsaw would be easier to control.

Answer 4

The router is primarily used in conjunction with fences, jigs, held in place (router table) but hardly ever freehand. A jigsaw is primarily used freehand following some outline, but hardly ever using a jig or held in place.

Just because you can doesn't mean you should. Using a router freehand is difficult to control and somewhat dangerous - which may be an understatement. I'm not talking about a trim router or Rotozip type tool, but a full size 1.5HP and greater router.

You cannot cut a 3/4 piece of wood in one pass - you will burn your router bit. Not to mention the noise and amount of chips far surpasses that of a jig saw.

For instance, you have a template, you trace the template onto a piece of wood, you rough cut it out with a jig saw or band saw and then you use the template and router to flush trim the rough cut edges in a single pass.

If you only used the router to cut out the templated piece, you would have to make multiple passes with the router, extending the bit a 1/4 or so at a time, cutting the full diameter of the bit each pass. I would rather replace a jig saw blade then a router bit.

The right tool for the right job should be a wood workers mantra.

A router is not a saw and a saw is not a router.

Answer 5

You can use a router to cut wood, but it's not typically used the same way a jigsaw is. A jigsaw is often used freehand. A router is always used with a jig or pattern, except when doing edge work where the router bit will have a guide bearing, or you'll use a fence.

Answer 6

I am using a router to cut out a pattern on dozens of 4' by 8'plywood. It works great but it shreds and is tough going through. I broke a top bearing bit yesterday after 15 minutes. I am going to continue this way for the small area because it will be quicker (and can plunge) than a jigsaw, but based on the advice here, I will start trying the jigsaw too, and the skill saw for the long straight cuts. I will wind up spending about $100 on router bits, but it is doing a tremendous amount of work.

Answer 7

Yes a router can be used to cut right through wood and sometimes it makes sense to do so. It leaves nice clean edges, can cut sharp curves and can follow a template.

No I don't think it's a replacement for a jigsaw. A jigsaw is usually used freehand and can successfully be used freehand even under sub-optimal conditions (such as a vertical not particularly flat workpeice).

A router will cut in any direction and has no natural tendency to keep going in the same direction. Usually that means either.

1. You use jigs/guides of some sort to guide the body of the router.
2. You use an "edge following" bit to follow some sort of template.

You can freehand with a router, but I would only do it under ideal conditions with the router sitting on a large flat surface.

Another problem with routers is dust production, at least with the router I have while it did come with a dust collection adapter the adapter seriously got in the way of using the tool.