Milling machines are used heavily in the metalworking industry, but what if you are doing a spot of woodworking? Is a milling machine going to come in useful? Can you use a milling machine for woodworking?
Yes. You can use a milling machine for woodworking. You should have absolutely no issues using a milling machine for woodworking. They are going to be great for cutting decorative sides or even making joinery holes on your projects.
Let’s explain.
What Is a Milling Machine and How Is It Used in Woodworking?
Perhaps the best way to describe a milling machine is to say that it is like a huge, stationary router.
If you are an avid woodworker, then you will likely know that the job of a router is to cut decorative marks on a piece of wood or, in some cases, cut holes so you can join pieces of wood together (e.g. dovetailing).
A milling machine does a similar job, but it is stationary. There is a cutter put in the milling machine. You then pull that cutter down onto the wood and material is removed. When you have cut whatever you want up, you move the wood and cut the next hole.
Milling machines can be used in a variety of ways when it comes to woodworking. However, they are most often used to cut decorative edges or joints.
For the rest of this page, we are going to class handheld routers as milling machines too. This is because a lot of people consider them milling machines.
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What Are the Advantages of Using a Milling Machine for Woodworking?
You can easily cut decorative sides to your project without issues. There is no need to be accurate. Just grab the right cutter for the cuts that you want to make, and you are going to end up with the same size hole each and every time. It is amazing.
A lot of people find that when they use a quality wood milling piece, they end up with something that looks so much better than it would have done.
Honestly, even the newest woodworkers can spruce up their work quite significantly when they use a milling machine.
Perhaps one of the greatest benefits of a milling machine (especially if you are using a handheld router) is to cut joints in the wood.
For example, if you wanted to cut a dovetail joint with any degree of accuracy, then you would need to use a milling machine. It is almost impossible to make a cut like that without one!
What Types of Projects Can a Milling Machine Be Used for in Woodworking?
Pretty much all woodworking projects can benefit from the use of a milling machine to some degree. However, the most popular ones will be those that involve any sort of repetitive decorations or grooves on the wood e.g. if you were trying to groove some channels into the wood, or even digging holes into the wood.
If you want to create beautiful-looking joints, then you may also find that using a milling machine (again, particularly a handheld one) will make those joints look so much better.
How Do You Set-Up And Operate a Milling Machine For Woodworking?
How you set up and operate your milling machine will be dependent on the product that you are using. A stationary wood milling machine will be used in a far different way from a handheld router.
This means that you will always need to check the instruction manual for the wood milling machine that you own.
In almost all cases, it is going to be a case of putting the milling bit into the milling machine. You can then use the depth stop to determine how far you want that piece to plunge into the wood. Remember, it is unlikely that you will want it to go in too far.
If you are planning on using a jig for this job (common if you are using a handheld milling machine/router), then make sure that you use the right milling piece for that.
After that, it is a case of setting the speed on the router (normally a high speed when you are working with wood), and plunging the bit into the desired location.
The bit will cut through the wood at the required depth, normally quite fast. You can then move the milling machine or the wood around to get the cuts that you want to make.
What Safety Precautions Should Be Taken When Using a Milling Machine for Woodworking?
First and foremost, you want to ensure that the milling machine is operating at a fairly high speed. The exact speed will be dependent on the wood that you are using. You do not want it to be too slow, though. If it is too slow, then the wood will start to splint.
You will want to ensure that you are wearing safety googles and safety gloves when you are using a milling machine. If you do not, then there is a good chance that you could end up with wood splinters hurting you.
If you do not have an extractor connected to the milling machine, then you should also wear a protective mask so you are not breathing in any of that dust.
Go slow when you are using the machine to ensure that you are not causing the wood to chip off and fly at you. The milling machine should be doing most of the work, not you.
If you find that you have to put too much pressure on the milling machine bit, then you should up the speed.
Final Thoughts
You can use a milling machine for wood. In fact, it is a vital tool
You can get both handheld milling machines (sometimes called routers) and stationary milling machines.
A milling machine can be a great addition to your workshop if you find yourself doing a lot of intricate decorative work or are trying to create beautiful joints.