Drick

Hey guys,

I recently acquired a 45 degree lock miter bit. Do y'all have any tips on how to set it up in the router to get the best joints? Thank you.

Drick

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GoonMan

Hello Drick,

I have the 45 degree Lock Miter bit. It is a pain to set up but worth the time and patience in setting it up and using it.

I did a Google search and got several set up tips on it but it was still doing alot of test pieces for getting it just right. You can also order set up blocks for the bit. I also had to make a jig to run on top of my router fence to hold the up right piece. I will look at my set tips and see what web site I printed the tips from.

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Randy

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Woodnut65

Hi: The 45 degree lock-miter bit is a little difficult to set up, because each side of the joint is presented to the bit in opposite ways. One has to be flat on the table, and the other must be flat against the fence. Therefore the hieght is critical. The first time you set the bit up run alot of samples till it's perfect. Then save the last sample that you made that was perfect, to set it up for the next time you use the bit on the same thickness of material. Hope this helps..Woodnut65

Gilbear

I use the 45 degree lock-miter bits a lot. I believe Randy's right - the set-up blocks are definately worth the money ... good point to start from and they'll save you time, but they only get you close.
I also believe Woodnut65 is right - save the final perfect test piece as a set-up block - BUT IT'S ONLY GOOD FOR THAT EXACT SAME MATERIAL ... which is the same reason the set-up blocks can only get you close. It's the minute differences in material thickness that get ya.(By the way, if you're going to make your own setup block, once you've got it adjusted, actually use a thicker piece of material to save - it helps to have a vertical edge to set the fence against).
In general, for height, on the flat piece, you want the upper mitered bit edge to hit right at where your material thickness intersects the fence face, and for fence distance you want the lower mitered edge to hit right at the outside material face at the table surface of the verticle piece. Another way to look at that is that the spline is centered, but the exact center is hard to establish, both on the material and on the cutter. I use the set-up blocks to start and then adjust closer by laying a straight edge along the material and raising the bit or sliding the fence.
As you get close it can also become difficult to tell if you've gone too far because your shaving down to a mitered edge - I'll take a pencil and just lay it flat and run it along the material corner to leave me a colored edge to see.
But in the end, at least for me, it's still adjusting by eye and running a few test pieces to get it perfect. On a good day, it usually takes me 2 or 3 trys.
If somebody's got a less painful or more exact way, I'd really like to hear it - I've had no instruction, and have just sort of bumbled into doing it this way. The first time I used that bit, I almost ended up yanking it and throwing it against the wall (Instead I went inside, had several scotchs and called it a day) - but now I love em and it's gotten easier with practice.

Holbren

Here is a video that should help.

http://www.woodsmith.com/video/154-R...leJoinery.html

The two keys to success are to adjust the bit height so the stock is centered on the bit and the bit should protrode from the fence a distance equal to the thickness of your stock.

Hope that helps,
Brian

Gilbear

Brian, nice find on the video, and you sure managed to say it in a way more concise manner than I could come up with - I couldn't figure out how to explain and ended up with diahrea of the keyboard!

Maurice

Many thanks for that website, it sure solved a lot of problems for me.
Mo

Drick

Thanks for all the great help guys.

Randy, next time you're in Baton Rouge, maybe we can get some coffee.

Drick

GoonMan

Hello Drick,

Let me know when you have a fresh pot of Coffee on and I will help you set up that Lock Miter bit. I live in the Baton Rouge area. Or I will wash the old grounds of Community out of mine and make a fresh one.

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Randy

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Gilbear

Just a quick follow-up - check out the following link for another spin on bit set-up

http://www.ukworkshop.co.uk/guides/lockmitre/index.php