What follows are some of the best conditions in which to cut small parts, along with alternative methods if your setup doesn’t quite fit the bill.

A small shop owner talks about issues related to his new router.

A small shop owner talks about issues related to his new router.

A small shop owner talks about issues related to his new router.

A small shop owner talks about issues related to his new router.

A small shop owner talks about issues related to his new router.

Placed on top of an aluminum vacuum deck, the sacrificial bed allows the machine to fully cut through material without permanently damaging the deck. When set correctly, the tool will very lightly mark the surface of the MDF, which can be skimmed regularly to keep it smooth and flat and to minimize vacuum leakage.

Placed on top of an aluminum vacuum deck, the sacrificial bed allows the machine to fully cut through material without permanently damaging the deck. When set correctly, the tool will very lightly mark the surface of the MDF, which can be skimmed regularly to keep it smooth and flat and to minimize vacuum leakage.

Placed on top of an aluminum vacuum deck, the sacrificial bed allows the machine to fully cut through material without permanently damaging the deck. When set correctly, the tool will very lightly mark the surface of the MDF, which can be skimmed regularly to keep it smooth and flat and to minimize vacuum leakage.

Placed on top of an aluminum vacuum deck, the sacrificial bed allows the machine to fully cut through material without permanently damaging the deck. When set correctly, the tool will very lightly mark the surface of the MDF, which can be skimmed regularly to keep it smooth and flat and to minimize vacuum leakage.