I was using a DeWalt 2.5hp router with a fairly new bit to round over the edges on some pine utility shelving, when I encountered a stretch where the bit seemed to be tearing the wood away, leaving a fairly rough surface – almost like I’d hit it with a rasp. I noticed I was a little less than max speed, so I cranked it up, with no effect. I tried climb routing, again with no change. It being utility shelving, I just kept on and came back later with a little sandpaper, which smoothed it down but still left pits.
Any idea why this happened? Is that just the way pine is? The boards are the glued-up pine shelving from HD, cheaper than solid pine shelving. The router bit wasn’t super expensive, but has probably seen less than 200′ of routing.
proje
Replies
I experienced something similar !! Routing (Bosch 2 HP) an edge of fir. The routerbit - a good quality CMT - lifted large splinters out of the wood.
I don't know for sure why this happened. I think it's part of the nature of fir, it happens when you cut to deep, taking of to much in one go... reducing feedrate and depth of cut and cutting with the fibers might solve the problem. I have only experienced it routing fir.
Ole
.... I Love the smell of sawdust in the morning....
Try taking a first shallow cut then run the router in the opposite direction for the last cut. Going slower, obviously.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)
PlaneWood
Sometimes wood simply resents being brutalized by a machine, or a hand tool for that matter. Of course, fast growing/quickly harvested Pine is one of the worst.
Knock the sharp edge off the shelving with a block plane. It's only utility shelving as you've pointed out.
Some wood, often from the same flitch, can tearout spontaneously, nothing you can do about it.
Nonetheless, I think it's your cutter. You're on the sharpness 1/2 life of the wear curve. If an end grain cut on the same stock burns, your cutter is party to blame. Slow speed is a contributor too. These little router bits have an efficiency factor that relates to power & speed. Stay under the max and the work (energyxtime) goes up and so does tearout.
Routers
Maybe it is just the wood after all. Do you really think multiple passes are required on a 1/4" roundover bit? In pine?
Thanks for the feedback!
proje
Oh! 1/4". No.
PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy (maker of fine sawdust!)PlaneWood
What's required is what the wood dictates is required. Try multiple passes/slower feed/faster feed on some scrap. Use whatever works.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled