A router is a valuable woodworking power tool that can be used for a variety of projects. Initially, routers were used to carve out material in the face of a piece of wood. As products have developed, routers now have a wider variety of uses. Depending on the router bit that you use, a router can still be used to carve out a niche in a piece of wood. Routers can also be used to create a decorative edge on a piece of wood or a spindle. Routers that are manufactured by top companies, such as Porter Cable, will offer a full line of bits to accompany their routers.
Router tables are a nice luxury when you are using a router. Router tables give you a stable work area with an ergonomically correct height. Some things to consider when you are shopping for a router table are the size of the workspace, and the amount of storage. If you will typically be working on large projects, it makes sense to invest in the largest tabletop that you can afford. If your projects are normally smaller, a more moderately priced router table will likely work. If you do not have a workshop, you will want a router table that offers ample storage so you can keep all your equipment together.
Wood routers are a key component of any serious handyman's arsenal. Because of their flexibility, a router is likely to receive a lot of use. Invest in a quality router, a variety of bits, take excellent care of it, and your router should last a lifetime.