Hello,
After reading the article in the American woodworkers magazine on Table saw inserts I decided to try and make a no clearance throat insert myself but ran into a minor problem. I was unable to cut the clearance dado because I didn’t have the right router bit for the job. I have 1/2 inch dado bit which is way too big. The instructions called for a 1/4 inch bit. Can I substitute a 1/4 inch spiral router instead. Would that work? If I had a straight cutting bit I’d use that but I don’t have one.
One more question…. Is it true..Can you use ordianary oven cleaner such as Easy Off oven spray to remove resin or pitch from router bits? One of the articles in my book said you could also use Fantastik all purpose cleaner as well. I just wanted to make sure before I go ahead and dunk my bits in oven cleaner. The Delta router bits I am using are carbide tipped and teflon coated. Just want to be sure that these cleaners won’t damage the bits.
I’m thinking about purchasing an edge guide for my Porter Cable router and was just wondering if that would be worth the $30 (Canadian dollars) investment?
What type of oil is best to lubricate the bits? Or is a spray lubricant like Dri Cote (wax) better?
Well that’s all the questions for now.
Wanda
Replies
Oven cleaner works just fine on saw blades and router bits. There are more "green" cleaners available if you'd rather. The edge guide is wonderful, IMHO. As Sgian said (sort-of): it's a fence and it should come stock with every router. I have one for each of my PC routers -- get the good one with the micro-adjust. Not the bare-bones model. I don't (or haven't yet) lubricate my router bits, but if I did, I'd use PAM non-stick cooking spray, as that's what I use on my circular saw blade (when I need to) and on my bandsaw blade.
I take it your tablesaw insert blank won't sit flush, even with the blade lowered all the way? It's a royal pain in the back end, isn't it! I solved that problem (for regular 90-degree inserts only) by using a blade from my 6" dado set to get the cut started. When it comes to making ZC inserts for bevels and such, the only way I could do it was to lower the blank onto the spinning 10" blade. Not Fun!
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
"When it comes to making ZC inserts for bevels and such, the only way I could do it was to lower the blank onto the spinning 10" blade. "
WHAT?????
And you lived to tell about it? What kind of saw won't lower the blade below the table?
Rich
Jet contractor's saw among others. It's not unusual. The blade goes below the surface of the table, but not below the bottom of a ZCI blank. Believe me, I wasn't enthused, but I figued out a way to do it that kept my hands wellllll clearrrrr of the blade. Not going to share though. Plan to perfect a better method, then I'll share :-)
I noticed that the article Wanda was reading doesn't say a darn thing about how to get the 45-degree ZCIs started when this clearance thing is a problem. I don't think they wanted to share either, ROFL!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Hello Rich Rose,
Yes, believe it or not there are saws out there that will only lower the blade a fraction of an inch under the troat plate. My saw is one of them. It's a King Industrial 10" contractor saw. Not enough clearance for a 1/2 inch homemade troat plate. The dado clearance is absolutely necessary. Making an ordinary troat plate (when the saw blade is at 90ยบ) is not too difficult providing you have the right tools for the job...such as a #6 countersink, vise grips and a router with a 1/4 inch dado bit and fence system.
Wanda
I'm taking a cabinetry course at the local community college. The first project was to make a throat plate to fit the Unisaws in the shop. The Unisaws only lowered the blade maybe 1/4" below the surface of the table. To cut the slot in the inserts the instructor would hold the back end down with his thumb, the front end lifted off the table maybe 1", while the student would force the front end down on the spinning blade. Place the fence over the edge of the plate and raise the blade. The instructor helped the student for the first cut. Then the student was required to repeat the same procedure with his/her throat plate on the other three Unisaws so the plate would fit any saw.Jase--Is there a better way?
Hmm...
Wanda: I use a product called saw brite to clean my saw blades and router bits it does a cracker jack job of getting all the crusty gunk off them.. check around in your area there is a few other products just for that purpose..
Good Luck..ToolDoc
Hi tooldoc,
Just wanted to say thanks for the tip. I will have to see if I can find that product but I bet it's more expensive than oven cleaner or Pam.
Wanda
Wanda: How does $15.00 a gal sound? oh by the way you mix one gal with 4 gals water soo you end up with 5 gals pretty darn cheap cleaner dont you think???
Take Care.. ToolDoc
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