DREMEL 231 Shaper and Router Table Instructions
- June 6, 2024
- DREMEL
Table of Contents
Model 231
Shaper/Router Table
Original instructions
GENERAL SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
WARNING
READ ALL INSTRUCTIONS.
Failure to follow all instructions listed below may result in electric shock,
fire, and/or serious injury. The term “power tool” in all of the warnings
listed below refers to your mains-operated (corded) power tool.
SAVE THESE INSTRUCTIONS
WORK AREA
a. Keep the work area clean and well-lit. Cluttered and dark areas invite
accidents.
b. Do not operate power tools in explosive atmospheres, such as in the
presence of flammable liquids, gases, or dust. Power tools create sparks that
may ignite dust or fumes.
c. Keep children and bystanders away while operating a power tool.
Distractions can cause you to lose control.
ELECTRICAL SAFETY
a. Power tool plugs must match the outlet. Never modify the plug in any way.
Do not use any adapter plugs with earthed (grounded) power tools. Unmodified
plugs and matching outlets will reduce the risk of electric shock.
b. Avoid body contact with earthed or grounded surfaces such as pipes,
radiators, ranges, and refrigerators. There is an increased risk of electric
shock if your body is earthed or grounded.
c. Do not expose power tools to rain or wet conditions. Water entering a power
tool will increase the risk of electric shock.
d. Do not abuse the cord. Never use the cord for carrying, pulling, or
unplugging the power tool. Keep cord away from heat, oil, sharp edges, or
moving parts. Damaged or entangled cords increase the risk of electric shock.
e. When operating a power tool outdoors, use an extension cord suitable for
outdoor use. The use of a cord suitable for outdoor use reduces the risk of
electric shock.
f. If operating a power tool in a damp location is unavoidable, use an earth
leakage circuit breaker. The use of an earth leakage circuit breaker reduces
the risk of electric shock.
PERSONAL SAFETY
a. Stay alert, watch what you are doing, and use common sense when operating a
power tool. Do not use a power tool while you are tired or under the influence
of drugs, alcohol, or medication. A moment of inattention while operating
power tools may result in serious personal injury.
b. Use safety equipment. Always wear eye protection. Safety equipment such as
dust masks, non-skid safety shoes, hard hats, or hearing protection used for
appropriate conditions will reduce personal injuries.
c. Avoid accidental starting. Ensure the switch is in the off position before
plugging in. Carrying power tools with your finger on the switch or plugging
in power tools that have the switch on invites accidents.
d. Remove any adjusting key or wrench before switching the power tool on. A
wrench or a key left attached to a rotating part of the power tool may result
in personal injury.
e. Do not overreach. Keep proper footing and balance at all times. This
enables better control of the power tool in unexpected situations.
f. Dress properly. Do not wear loose clothing or jewelry. Keep your hair,
clothing, and gloves away from moving parts. Loose clothes, jewelry, or long
hair can be caught in moving parts.
g. If devices are provided for the connection of dust extraction and
collection facilities, ensure these are connected and properly used. The use
of these devices can reduce dust-related hazards.
h. Do not work materials containing asbestos (asbestos is considered
carcinogenic).
i. Take protective measures when during work dust can develop that is harmful
to one’s health, combustible or explosive (some dust are considered
carcinogenic); wear a dust mask and work with dust/ chip extraction when
connectable.
POWER TOOL USE AND CARE
a. Do not force the power tool. Use the correct power tool for your
application. The correct power tool will do the job better and safer at the
rate at which it was designed.
b. Do not use the power tool if the switch does not switch it on and off. Any
power tool that cannot be controlled with the switch is dangerous and must be
repaired.
c. Disconnect the plug from the power source before making any adjustments,
changing accessories, or storing power tools. Such preventive safety measures
reduce the risk of starting the power tool accidentally.
d. Store idle power tools out of the reach of children and do not allow
persons unfamiliar with the power tool or these instructions to operate the
power tool. Power tools are dangerous in the hands of untrained users.
e. Maintain power tools. Check for misalignment or binding of moving parts,
breakage of parts, and any other condition that may affect the power tools
operation. If damaged, have the power tool repaired before use. Many accidents
are caused by poorly maintained power tools.
f. Keep cutting tools sharp and clean. Properly maintained cutting tools with
sharp cutting edges are less likely to bind and are easier to control.
g. Use the power tool, accessories and tool bits, etc., in accordance with
these instructions and in the manner intended for the particular type of power
tool, taking into account the working conditions and the work to be performed.
Use of the power tool for operations different from those intended could
result in a hazardous situation.
h. Use clamps or another practical way to secure and support the workpiece on
a stable platform.
i. Use only genuine accessories.
SERVICE
a. Have your power tool serviced by a qualified repair person using only
identical replacement parts. This will ensure that the safety of the power
tool is maintained.
SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS FOR ROUTERS
GENERAL
- This tool should not be used by people under the age of 16 years.
- Always disconnect the plug from the power source before making any adjustment or changing any accessory.
ACCESSORIES
- Use only accessories with an allowable speed matching at least the highest no-load speed of the tool.
- Do not use damaged or deformed router bits.
- Only use sharp router bits.
- Protect accessories from impact, shock, and grease.
BEFORE USE
- Avoid damage that can be caused by screws, nails, and other elements in your workpiece; remove them before you start working.
- Always check that the supply voltage is the same as the voltage indicated on the nameplate of the tool (tools with a rating of 230V or 240V can also be connected to a 220V supply).
- Dust from material such as paint containing lead, some wood species, minerals, and metal may be harmful (contact with or inhalation of the dust may cause allergic reactions and/or respiratory diseases to the operator or bystanders); wear a dust mask and work with a dust extraction device when connectable.
- Follow the dust-related national requirements for the materials you want to work with.
- Be sure the tool is switched off when plugging in.
DURING USE
- Always keep the cord away from moving parts.
- Never use the tool when the cord or base-plate (=protective guard) is damaged; have it replaced by a qualified person.
- Keep hands and fingers away from the router bit when the tool is switched on.
- In case of electrical or mechanical malfunction, immediately switch off the tool and disconnect the plug.
- In case the router bit is blocked, resulting in jerking forces on the tool, immediately switch off the tool.
- In case of current interruption or when the plug is accidentally pulled out, immediately switch off the tool in order to prevent uncontrolled restarting.
- Do not apply so much pressure on the tool that it comes to a standstill.
ENVIRONMENT
DISPOSAL
The machine, accessories, and packaging should be sorted for environmental-
friendly recycling.
ONLY FOR EC COUNTRIES
Do not dispose of power tools into household waste!
According to the European Guideline 2002/96/EC for Waste Electrical and
Electronic Equipment and its implementation into national rights, power tools
that are no longer usable must be collected separately and disposed of in an
environmentally correct manner.
APPLICATION ADVICE
- Use the appropriate router bits.
- For cuts parallel with the side of your workpiece use a rip fence.
- Protect yourself against the effects of vibration by maintaining the tool and its accessories, keeping your hands warm, and organizing your work patterns.
ASSEMBLY
ATTACHMENT FOR USE WITH DREMEL ROTARY TOOL MODELS 300, 395, 398, 400,
4000.
ATTENTION: Read the entire instruction manual carefully before using your
Dremel Shaper/Router Table. Retain instructions for future reference. This
attachment will convert Dremel Rotary Tools to a Shaper/Router table for edge
forming, routing, grooving, shaping, sanding, edges, jointing, etc.
See Figure 1:
A Base
B Carriage Bolt
C Tool Holder
D Large Knob
E Depth Adjustment Screw
F Nut – Square
G Depth Bracket
H Bracket Screw
I Pin
J Mounting Screw
K Thumb Nut
L Guard
M Sleeve
N Clamp Screw Nut
O Washer #9
P Washer 4,8 mm
Q Fence
R Wedge Clamp Screw
S Wedge
MOUNT TABLE TO WORKBENCH
The SHAPER/ROUTER TABLE comes assembled ready to mount on the workbench. After
determining table location, predrill the bench using a 3,2 mm diameter drill
at the four mounting hole locations. Secure the table to the bench using the 4
wood screws, and washers. (Included with the Shaper/Router Table.)
See Figure 2:
A 4 Wood Screws & Washers
B Use 50 mm x 100 mm as an alternative mounting option
INSTALL ROTARY TOOL TO TABLE
See Figure 3:
A Guard
B Fence
C On/off switch must face forward so the left-to-right motion will turn
tool off.
D Depth Adjustment Screw
E Clamp Knob
- Make sure the power cord of the rotary tool is unplugged and install the required router bit.
- Loosen the clamp knob and adjust the height of the tool holder to the lowest position.
- Move the rotary tool from the underside in the tool holder and turn the nut on top of the tool holder to fixate the rotary tool. Use the open-end spanner to fasten the nut.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
CHANGING ROUTER BITS
- Loosen the clamp knob and adjust the height of the tool holder to the lowest position.
- Rotate the rotary tool so the shaft lock button can be operated through an opening in the tool holder.
- Apply the shaft lock button and loosen the router bit.
- Remove the router bit through the table and install another router bit.
- Apply the shaft lock button and fixate the router bit.
CUTTING DEPTH ADJUSTMENT
Loosen the clamp knob and turn the depth adjustment knob to set cutting depth.
The depth of cut will be the amount the bit extends above the shaper/router
table.
See Figure 4:
A Large Knob
B Depth of Cut
C Table
D Depth Adjustment Screw
E Tool Holder Assembly
Adjustment markings on the side of the tool holder facing outward are marked
in inches and millimeters. View the markings prior to starting your project.
Turn the depth adjustment knob to set desired depth. To ensure proper
settings, rout,e and measure cut on scrap material.
See Figure 5: Depth Adjustment Markings
A Inches in 1/8 inch increments
B Millimeters in 5 mm increments
ROUTER FEED DIRECTION
The router spindle turns in an anticlockwise direction when viewed from above
the table. For best control and quality of cut, feed the work into the bit in
the direction that the bit will tend to pull the work to the fence. Feed the
workpiece from right to left as shown.
See Figure 6
The feed direction is extremely important when using a pilot bit freehand on
the edge of a workpiece as well as when using the fence with all bits.
See Figure 7a: Feed Direction without Fence See Figure 7b: Feed Direction with
Fence
A Feed Direction Arrow
Tips Table:
- Wrong Direction – Hard to control
- Feeding too fast – Overloads motor
- Dull bit – Overloads motor
- Cutting too large or deep in one pass – Overloads motor
- Feeding too slow – Leaves friction burns on work.
ROUTING USING THE FENCE
-
Unplug the rotary tool before making any fence adjustments orbit changes. Feed the work against the rotation of the bit as shown. Most fence cutting is done with the support wedge adjusted to the right where it is in line with the fence.
See Figure 8: Fence
A Clamp Screw Nut
B Feed Direction
C Support Wedge -
The Center cylinder of the guard can be adjusted up when making cuts using the fence. Loosen thumb nut, lift the cylinder up and secure by tightening thumb nut.
-
When shaping small pieces or when finishing the cut on narrow, long pieces, use a push stick. Use 5 x 50 x 200 mm (metrics) piece of lumber notched as shown to make this push stick. It will enable you to keep your hands away from the cutting area.
See Figure 9: Feed Direction for Straight Cuts with Fence
A Large Knob
B Center Cylinder
C Thumb Nut
D Push Stick -
To cut a straight groove, install the bit and set the depth of cut using the depth adjustment knob as shown in Fig. 4. Loosen large the knob on the left end of the fence assembly to the proper distance from the bit to give desired groove location. Retighten large knob. Take a trial cut on scrap lumber to check the depth and location of the groove.
-
When trimming the entire edge of a workpiece, adjust the support edge for support of the workpiece on the left side of the cutter. First, adjust the fence to control the amount of cut. Take a trial cut of about 50 mm long and check the amount of cut. Turn rotary tool off. Loosen wedge clamp nut and slide wedge to left until wedge contacts workpiece. Retighten clamp nut to secure wedge to the fence. The workpiece will not have support on both sides of the cutter. (See Fig. 8)
WARNING
Place material between router bit or accessory and fence while routing or
sanding edge.
ROUTING USING PILOT BITS
- When bits with pilots are to be used, move the fence back only enough to allow the amount of cut to be made. Keeping the fence close to the bits allows the fence to serve as a rear guard. In special cases when the fence must be removed from the table, adjust the center cylinder of the guard down to provide protection from the revolving cutter.
- Only piloted bits can be used without the fence. The workpiece should be kept between the cutter and the operator, and fed from right to left.
- Feed the workpiece past the cutter without stopping and with a consistent speed, A change in feed or a dwell will cause an irregular cut.ExPANDED TABLE WORK
EXPANDED TABLE WORKSURFACE
The Shaper/Router table is designed to make it easy to expand the size of the
working surface. Use 10 mm thick solid core plywood. Cut a rectangular hole in
the plywood to fit over the table and secure using (8) #10 wood screws, 12 mm
in length. Support the table at both ends by securing 40 mm high lumber
supports to the plywood base. (See Fig. 10) (Hardware not included)
See Figure 10:
A 40 mm
B Slot to Clear Guard
C Rectangular Hole to fit over Table
D 40 mm High Supports on Both Ends will rest on Bench
E 10 mm Plywood
SERVICE AND WARRANTY
This DREMEL product is guaranteed in accordance with statutory/country-
specific regulations; damage due to normal wear and tear, overload, or
improper handling will be excluded from the guarantee.
In case of a complaint, send the tool undismantled together with proof of
purchase to your dealer.
CONTACT DREMEL
For more information on the Dremel assortment, support and hotline, go to
www.dremel.com
Dremel Europe, P.O. Box 3267, 4800 DG Breda, The Netherlands
All Rights Reserved
2610004525 310309