Ensure you don’t have any loose hair, jewelry, or clothing. Use hearing protection, airway protection, and eye protection. Choose a flat, stable surface in a well-lit and spacious area. Always clamp the material you’re working on to keep it stable. Do not force the router. Allow the tool to do the work. Use a sharp bit.

Always use a router guide, or fence, when using unpiloted bits. Router bits that have bearings are called pilot bits. Pilot bits work in handheld or table mounted routers. You can use them with or without a fence to guide the workpiece. Before using a router fence, make sure there is no wood waste on the work surface.

Just clamp or screw a straight guide to the workpiece. The wood router's bearing rolls along the guide, and the bit cuts a straight, smooth edge. Use plywood, medium density fiberboard (MDF) or a perfectly straight board as your guide. Inspect the edge of the guide before you rout. Any bump or crater in the guide will transfer to the workpiece.