[Gazzalodi]

Router - PC 892
Speed - 10000 & ~13000 RPM
Bit - Bosch 84703MC 14deg dovetail (1/4 collet)
Table - Bosch RA1180
Stock - The best 3/4" pine Lowe's has to offer... or, the only wood in the store.
Depth of cut - 1/4"

This is my first router project since highschool (25 years ago). I have started making test cuts in preparation for this project.

When making a dado cut for shelving I am seeing 'fraying' of the wood along the edge of the cut. This is only happening when I cut the slots. Cuts for the dovetails on the shelves themselves are clean and smooth. The fraying is consistant along the entire length of the cut. After a couple of cuts at 10k rpm I increased the speed to around 13k but the results were the same.

The wood that is not completely removed is easy enough to clear off with my fingers. But I would prefer to be making nice clean cuts if possible.

I have included some photos of the router table setup, the frayed dado, and a joined test.

My questions are:
A - Am I using the router incorrectly? I don't think I am. I have seen this done numerous times so I believe it is within the capacity of a router to make this cut. The case for the dovetail bit even shows a dado cut. I recall making these cuts back in the olden days, but not with a dovetail bit.

B - Do I need to be cutting deeper for the groove? I just eyeballed it.

C - Am I using the wrong speed for the wood stock? Should I be going even faster with pine?

D - Is this just a characteristic of pine? Would a harder wood provide a smoother cut?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[Gazzalodi]

Thanks for the info everyone.

Just to clarify. The bit is new, the photos were of the first several cuts made with it.

I increased the speed, and changed the depth. Still seeing a little fraying, but I have it to the point where I can knock it off by just running my fingers over the cut a couple of times.

Other than my pitiful table saw skills, the first book shelf is coming along nicely. I have all the dados cut for the sides, the top and bottom shelf are dovetailed. Just have to cut to size 2 more shelves (dangit) and dovetail them.

I do have another issue.

The router table I have is 18"x27" and still seems too small of a workspace to do much with. The furthest from the fence touching side of a piece of wood I can go for making a cut is 3 inches. That worked okay for the top and bottom dados, but for the 2 middle shelves I had to pull the router out of the table and do them hand held. I was looking around today for an extension table or something. Everyone I mentioned it too gave me a look like I was asking them for banana soaked in motor oil. Basically I'm wondering if anyone makes an aluminum table (like the Bosch router tables) with all the slots for fences and table saw miter gauges (I have the same issue with the table saw, the fence will only go out to 12"), that can be secured the main table. Has anyone heard of such a thing?

Thanks again,
Dave

 

[Gazzalodi]

Thanks Bj,

I think that's what I'll be working towards, once I get a drill press. The mortise jig looks a bit intimidating though.

Right now I was just clamping a second piece of wood on top to act as a guide. Still had some drifting issues, more with the handheld saw than with the router though. I do think I need to knock out a few more bookshelves for the family first though. I was starting to get nervous looks from the wife because all the material I was buying for the bookshelf project was to expand the workshop and not actually to make the bookshelves.

Thanks again for the example.

Dave