Warning: My tight grip on the router gave me hand cramps for days

I was working on a detailed edge profile and held the router way too tight for hours. By the end of the day, my hand was locked up and sore. A more experienced cabinetmaker saw me and said to relax my grip and let the tool do the work. Now I make sure to take short breaks every twenty minutes to shake out my hands. It feels silly, but it keeps the cramps away and my cuts stay smooth. That small change saved me from a lot of pain.

3 comments

3 Comments

jenny_nguyen891mo ago

How do you know when your grip is too tight versus just right? Especially on those tricky edge profiles.

the_dylan1mo ago

Did my buddy's over-gripping crack his profile, like @ward.robin said?

ward.robin1mo ago

Actually, keeping a firm grip is sometimes necessary for control and safety. A totally relaxed hand can make the tool wobble on tricky cuts. You just need to find a balance so you're not white-knuckling it the whole time.