I am trying to put the finishing cuts on a table top and make the ends square to the front and back edges. I made a rough cut on one end making it 1/8″ the longer than necessary. I then clamped a straight edge to the top and used a router with flush trim bit to clean up the cut.
Here’s the problem: the top is slightly thicker than 1″ and my trim bit is 1″ so I decided to make two passes to handle the situation — with the first cut the guide bearing followed the template straight edge and cleaned up the cut nicely. For the second pass I let the bearing ride against the clean cut of the first pass, but the bit did not cut completely flush to the first pass. I moved the template back a 1/64″ and tried again — same result. I am totally confused as to why the two cuts aren’t flush.
What is wrong with my technique?
Thanks for your help.
paul
Replies
Hey Paul,
Nothing wrong with your technique. My guess is that the bit didn't cut perfectly flush the first time either. Perfectly. I think the cutter and bearing have just a hair different diameter. This shows up for some reason more in the second cut.
I s'pose another possibility is that the cutter was not ground straight. If it was ground a hair off so the diameter at the bottom of the cutter is smaller than at the top or with the bearing, then it could cause this. If you take a big or deep pass the first pass, more of the cutter will be in use with a greater chance the cutting edge closer to the bearing matches the bearing's diameter. Then you take a smaller second pass and it shows up.
Or you have gremlins in your shop. That answer is sometimes the only one that works for me in my shop. Good luck. Gary
Thanks, Gary. I will try taking a shallower pass on the first pass and see if that improves the situation.paul(damn gremlins!)
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