Did not know where to post this so here I go. I am making some basic shelves for my lovely wife and I am using a template and flush bearing bit on my router table. The shelf supports are curved and when i was routing a curved area that had end grain the router bit really grabbed the pice and made a big gash in it. What am i doing wrong? Should I flip it over and using the opposite of a flush trim bit (forgot what that bit is called)? Why does it does this? Any idea?
Kenney66
Replies
Before trying that, slow the router bit down. Take a light cut. Those two steps could very well solve the problem.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Another proud member of the "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)
Edited 12/12/2005 12:48 pm by forestgirl
Kenney66,
My experience has been similar to yours. In order to produce a clean cut you'll need to route with the grain. If your curve is concave you'll need to cut toward the center, if it's convex you'll need to cut away from the center.
This typically implies reversing the template, however, there may be an alternative. Lee Valley has a template bit with bearings both above and below the cutter. Others may have something similar.
With this bit you won't have to move the template. Rather, you'll flip the panel with the template attached and adjust the height of the bit.
Good luck,
Bill
TREND also do a double ended bearing guided cutter.
regards Teabag.
Freud also has double bearing flush trim bits. Attach the template to top side, set bit height so that top bearing follows the template and rout all sides that can be done face up with the grain. Flip the material and template, raise the bit until the bottom bearing follows the template and rout the rest. 1/2" shank X 3/4" diameter is item 50-509 and 1/4" shank X 1/2" diameter is item 50-501.
Freud America, Inc.
Charles, I wish I knew that this morning. A top and bottom bearing flush cutting bit would have made my day easier.I'll order one tonight.
thanks mike
before you order the double bearing bit...I believe the LeeValley is 5/8" high, which makes it difficut to use in stock larger than that. Look for one that has a height of cut larger than 3/4"..
I'm not sure why LeeVally has one that only goes 5/8" when most stock used by people is 3/4"...
If you have one on another bit use a larger bearing.. Makes a lighter cut for the first pass.. Change to the 'normal' bearing for the bit and 'go for it'!
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