Usually only use my router for bigger projects, dados, shelves, etc., but trying to rout a pattern. My wife asked for some book page holders for her and the kids, like this: pic
I sketched out a design, and made a template out of 1/4" hardboard. I recently made a router table, so decided to use that with my flush trim router bit. If it matters, it's a top bearing bit, so in the table it was on the bottom. I have some 3/4" maple and I taped the template to it. I tried to make sure to move the piece into the router bit, moving the piece from left to right.
When I was doing some of the cuts, it worked really well. But on some of the cuts, the bit kept grabbing the piece. I think it may have something to do with going into the edge where the grain is, but I'm not good enough at reading the grain to figure it out. It just kept biting chunks out so I stopped. What was I doing wrong? Is there a way to go all the way around the pattern and not have this happen?
My other idea was to take the router out of the table and use a guide bushing or the flush trim bit. The problem with the flush trim bit is that since it's small, I'm not sure I can clamp everything down and still get close enough. With the guide bushing, I'm not sure how to secure the piece to go all the way around. Do people usually have scrap under the piece so they can plunge into that as well? And maybe some scrap pieces on the sides to hold it in place?
Thanks for any guidance, I don't have a ton of experience so never done anything like this before. I don't have a scroll or bandsaw, so I can't cut it out that way. Is the router a good way to do this project? Since I want to make several, I thought a pattern would make sense.
Have some bruised knuckles and ego, but hopefully I can work this out before Christmas. No pressure!! Thanks!
I sketched out a design, and made a template out of 1/4" hardboard. I recently made a router table, so decided to use that with my flush trim router bit. If it matters, it's a top bearing bit, so in the table it was on the bottom. I have some 3/4" maple and I taped the template to it. I tried to make sure to move the piece into the router bit, moving the piece from left to right.
When I was doing some of the cuts, it worked really well. But on some of the cuts, the bit kept grabbing the piece. I think it may have something to do with going into the edge where the grain is, but I'm not good enough at reading the grain to figure it out. It just kept biting chunks out so I stopped. What was I doing wrong? Is there a way to go all the way around the pattern and not have this happen?
My other idea was to take the router out of the table and use a guide bushing or the flush trim bit. The problem with the flush trim bit is that since it's small, I'm not sure I can clamp everything down and still get close enough. With the guide bushing, I'm not sure how to secure the piece to go all the way around. Do people usually have scrap under the piece so they can plunge into that as well? And maybe some scrap pieces on the sides to hold it in place?
Thanks for any guidance, I don't have a ton of experience so never done anything like this before. I don't have a scroll or bandsaw, so I can't cut it out that way. Is the router a good way to do this project? Since I want to make several, I thought a pattern would make sense.
Have some bruised knuckles and ego, but hopefully I can work this out before Christmas. No pressure!! Thanks!