vapochilled

So I tried to make a 1x2 length of oak into a counter edge trim, ready to use with some tiles, basicly an "L" shape.
Set the depth for the router (1/2" Skill straight bit, brand new)
And started feeding from the right to left, taking no more than an 1/8"
Well, I have scrapped that length of Oak, and am left wondering what the hell I did wrong, it just tore the crap out of the wood.
I was feeding very slowly, sometimes you'd hear it cutting nice, then all of a sudden, it would just rip a lump out.

This happened whilst cutting the material away to leave the "L" I'd sized the material on the table saw, which cut without any problem, so I don't think it's material related.
This is clearly a "noob" error of sorts, but I'm at a loss, I did have a feather board in place to stop it kicking out, it just seemed to grip the wood and shred it!

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bobj3

Hi vapochilled

Oak is a strait grain wood so to speak and sometimes it will split easy...it has many fibers that hold it together but the key maybe the bit you are using give a rabbit bit a try out..

I should note the bit set below work great for what you are doing :
Edge Banding Router Bit Sets
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops...banding_anchor

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Bob J.

Drugstore Cowboy

I know this site is about routing -- so this may be sacrilege
But when I need to make a trim piece like that --
I usually forego the router and make 2 passes on the bench/table saw.

A side benefit of this procedure -
In addition to the trim piece I am making I sometimes (dending on the depth of the 'notch' being cut) also wind up with a thin strip of oak I can use for other trim work.

curiousgeorge

Were you feeding it against the grain?

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Mike

If you run your fingertips lightly along a piece of wood it will often be very smooth one way and rough the other. This is because of the ends of the wood grain on the surface. If you feed the wood the same way it feels smooth you should get the best quality cut. Feeding the opposite direction will cause more tear out since the ends of the wood fibers will naturally want to lift. You will at times run across wood that is just a mess, nothing will make it cut smoothly.

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vapochilled

Cowboy, you know the minute I hit "post" I thought about that, would have been so easy, but I wanted to <ahem> play with the router table.
I had not given grain direction even a minutes thought, told you it was a noob error.
I will post a picture later, I'm just astounded at how badly it ripped into the wood.
The edge banding bits, not sure how to achieve my goal with those? Now, would a spiral bit cut a little easier?
Though of course I'd table saw it now

challagan

I bet if you gave that rabbet bit a shot it would work for you like Bob J said. You can get a set of bearings to remove different amounts of wood. What you are doing is what they were designed to do. Even easier than the table saw.

Corey

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Drugstore Cowboy

Have to agree with Cory on that point

My preference for the table saw on this procedure is based more on the fact that I am cheap.
If the cut is at least 1/4" deep then I am left with at least a 1/8" thick strip of oak I can use for trimming out plywood edges etc.

Plus I don't have to worry so much about the grain issues that have been discussed.

But - there is definitely something to be said for the instant gratification of watching a nice sharp bit slice through your wood leaving nothing but a clean rabbet.

vapochilled

just ordered a rabbit bit set 1/2" with 5 bearings.
Meantime, I've ripped a new trim on the table saw. I tried to post a link to a photo but this site won't let you? What's with that? It;s hosted on my site, so no worries about copyright,lol

Mike

You need to make 10 posts before you can insert photos or links. This is to reduce the spammers. You are half way there, it wont be long.

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