webbill

Glad to find this site and grateful to the people that host it.

I havent done any wood working since 7th grade shop but enjoyed it back then. And decided I wanted to start building simple items like bird feeders and houses and maybe work myself up from there.

I never realized how versitile and complicated bits for a router could be. And people at the big outlets arent much help.

I was hoping that some of you could help me.

All I need is a router bit that will cut a groove that a 1/8" piece of plexiglass will slide into and a bit that will slightly round off one squared (sharp right angle) side of lumber.

Please tell me what I need to buy, and besides those two bits are there any not too expensive kits ( about $50 or under) that would have those two items in it with some others that I could play around with getting used to and practicing with my new router that you could recommend, or do you suggest just buying individual bits as the need for them arise.

Thanks,

Bill

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Roefa

Hi Bill -
Welcome! You will find some great folks in this group... always willing to help. I'd suggest that you look at some of the assortment sets to begin with; they're generally a "better buy" than purchasing bits one at a time. You can use a plain straight cutting bit for your Plexiglas (R) groove. A spiral up-cutting bit will cut a little easier, because it clears the shavings, but is not necessary if you don't try to cut too deep in a single pass.

Noting that it's been a while since you have done any woodworking, I'll suggest that you get some scrap wood and experiment... see what the various bits will do and how they "handle" under varying conditions. Also, there are some great books, TV shows and internet video clips available on router techniques. Above all have fun and don't let a few mistakes spoil the fun! Glad you have joined our Forum.

Roger
(Roefa)

__________________
Thinking outside the box? What box?

webbill

Thanks Roger, should I ask for a 1/8" plain straight cutting bit? (You understand that the groove is to put plexiglass in the wood, not the groove in the plexiglass. The cut will not be very deep and only about a foot long.

Please babysit me on this, I kind of promised something and on a deadline. I have read so many things on so many things about getting different tools including the router I am about brain dead.

So if I call up or go into a store and ask for 1/8" straight cutting bit will I get what I need. I understand that the depth on the router will be adjustable, am I correct?

Thanks,

Bill

bobj3

Hi webbill

You didn say how wide the slot will be,, the bit I would recommend
would be the one below ▼
Flat Bottom Round Over #5443
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../bt_groov.html

it will cut the slot and round over the slot at the same time...

BITS,, you can find many router bit sets on the net, most are over kill, buy one of the small sets and then buy the bits you want/need to add to your stock..

Like the ones below, in 1/4" and 1/2" shanks sizes..
http://cgi.ebay.com/30-pc-1-4-Shank-...QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.com/30-pc-1-2-Shank-...QQcmdZViewItem

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__________________
PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Bob J.

webbill

I went to the link you posted, those looked a lot fancier than I wanted to make. The groove I want to make would look like what a skill saw cut would look like straight edged. I assume I could adjust the router for how far away from the edge of the piece of wood and how deep the groove would be cut.

The kits looked nice, but it is like all the kits I have seen before they dont list what the individual bits are called or what they do.

Hamlin

Welcome to the forums webbill.
I agree on getting a simple "starter" set. HD, Lowes, etc. should carry such sets. As for your 1/8" slot. You'll want a 1/8" bit either a spiral (best choice), or a straight bit.

__________________
Ken

"A VETERAN"
"Whether active duty, retired, national guard or reserve - is someone who, at one point in their life, wrote a blank check made payable to "The United States of America", for an amount of "up to and including my life". That is HONOR, and there are way too many people in this country who no longer understand it." -Author Unknown

bobj3

Hi webBill

"they dont list what the individual bits are called or what they do"

Most have pictures of the bits but what you use them for well that's up to you
Click on the picture to see the pictures of the bits..

By the way that's about a $1.25 per .bit, that's hard to beat..

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__________________
PodCast videos
RWS on YouTube

http://www.routerforums.com/86898-post1.html
Besure and click on the Up Arrow key ▲ on the Youtube video, you can select other youtube videos on router tables
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/?s=dovetail
Machine Cut ▼
http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cut-dovetails/

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/woo...podcast-store/

http://www.woodshopdemos.com/menu2.htm

Bob J.

webbill

With the help I got here I found a bit set that had the following bits in it. It was one of the few that even listed the bits (most just have pictures of the bits but no listing of the names or picture of what they do to the wood), but this one still didn't have the sizes of the straight bits. I called the store and after having getting the department I was handed off to four people and finally got a man that used a router and he told me that one of the bits would do what I wanted.

Includes: (3) Straight; (1) Corebox; (1) Roundover; (1) Roman Ogee

What the rest will do I dont know, but it will be fun finding out. Until I started looking for that one little bit I never realized what could be done with a router. Saws are saws, drills are drills, but it seems like routers will do almost everything (including cut wood if you set the too deep, and drill holes if you set them too deep) with right bit.

Thanks again everyone.

Bill

Dr.Zook

Welcome to the Router Forums Bill. All you need is a 1/8" straight bit and a 1/4" round over. Good luck on your project.

__________________
Dave
the "Doctor"

In woodworking there is no scrap, only firewood.

Please edit your profile with a name and location so we can better assist you and make for a friendlier forum.

nzgeordie

Welcome Bill. Unless I missed something (entirely possible!), you don't say if you're table routing or plunge routing. This could influence any spiral bit you might use.

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Pete
I've cut it twice and it's still too short! But only at one end.