Many plastics machine as easily as wood. You might need to turn the speed on your router down to keep from melting the plastic.

This is one job that a router table won't help with as far as I can see. You either need to use a pattern with a brass guide or put a frame around the board to guide you. It will work much better with a plunge. You can cut the groove without one but it will be hard to start the groove without a little wobble in it.

 

Well, I ended up using the table to do it and it came out pretty darn good. what I did was mark out the start/stop points on all four corners, then marked the cutter width on the fence. I set the depth of cut with my depth gauge.Then when I started to cut the groove I just lined up the starting lines and eased the board down onto the cutter,when the stop point lines lined up I tilted the board up off the cutter. Just repeated the process for all the sides. So my first real project came out well. Also I used the fence the make the outside to groove distance the same all around the edge of the board.

 

I'm glad it worked out for you Al. I usually try to discourage any one from doing an operation on a router table where they have to lower the work onto a spinning bit. There is always a risk that the bit may hook the wood and pull the work harder than you can control it and since you usually have a pretty good grip on the piece it means that your hand will get pulled with it, possibly into the bit. You have quite a few years experience with operating machinery, a round nosed bit isn't as likely to grab the piece as some other bits might be, and you were machining plastic and not wood so you made it work. There have been some members who posted pictures of their fingers after returning from the hospital and they all said the same thing. "I know it didn't seem like a good idea but..."

If you are serious about routing you should look at a plunge router purchase. Many jobs can be done easier and safer with a plunge. Harry Sinclair (Harrysin) has some very good tutorials on using guide bushings here on the site.

 

+1 on Charles' post.....

 

Thanks for the responses all, I have plans to get a plunge router sometime soon as I can already see it is the way to go for a lot of operations. I have looked at the postings and tutorials and wish I would have found this site before I bought the router I did. I suppose that is why hindsight is always 20 20. Al

 

Thanks, Bill. I will take a picture today and see if I can post it. Al
Let see if it workshttp://www.routerforums.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=64777&stc=1&d=1378726844

Wow, I can not believe it I did it. Put a picture on here. Thanks again Bill. Al

 

A good result, Al.

 

Thanks James, this job is really easy for most of you I'am sure,since it was my first ever real job I had been thinking of how I was going to do for days before I finally had it worked out in my mind. right now I will be saving for a more powerful router and planing a table for it. I believe this first table will be just plywood until I get the hang of it. Al

 

Looks like a really great job you did there.

When I come across a new procedure I have to learn in a project, I usually sit on it a couple of days while I toss it around in my brain. For me it is a fear of screwing up. But I finally get around to it and because of all the planning involved, it "usually" works out pretty well.

 

My thoughts exactly.:agree:

 

Hi, Al.

As Mike writes, a picture worths more than 1000 words.

Very nice cutting board.

 

Thanks, now to start some wood work. Soon I hope.