Hello all! This is my first post here.
I don't do a lot of routing, but when I do, I usually have pretty good results. This is my first attempt at using a bearing guided flush trim bit to rout the edges of a rough cut piece to match a "Masonite" template. By rough cut, I mean cut with a band saw about 1/8"-1/4" outside my finished line. The material I'm using is 5/4 (1") oak stair tread. Template is attached to work piece with double faced mounting tape.
On my first attempt, for the most part, it went pretty well but in a couple of spots the router bit "grabbed the grain", caused some splitting, and ripped out some of the material inside the profile of the template. Unfortunately, I will need to cut a new piece and try again.
I am using a 3/8" X 1" X 1/4" shank flush trim bit with a guide bearing at the top to follow the template. My template shape has a few inside "corners" so I thought the 3/8 diameter bit would get into the corners a little better than a larger diameter bit. I considered buying and using a 1/2" X 1" bit but the 3/8 diameter bit was on sale at Lowes so I thought I would try that one first.
My questions are as follows...
1) Would the larger diameter 1/2" bit do a better job with less splitting and gouging than the 3/8 diameter bit?
2) I used the black Scotch brand HD (30 lb) double face mounting tape to attach the template to the work. Just to be safe I probably used more tape than I should have, pretty much all along the outline of the template. It held very well: perhaps too well, as it was very difficult to remove the template from the (damaged) work piece. Some of the hard board template stayed with the tape. Is the 30 HD tape overkill for this? Would I be better off with the regular 9-10 lb Scotch mounting tape with the white and green backing be sufficient to hold my template securely to the work piece?
3) I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions on how to avoid the above problems I had the first time around!
Thanks much for any assistance on this project! ZT
EDIT: While I am using a table mounted router, I just noticed there is another sub-forum dedicated to template routing. If the administrator believes I'd have better response on the template forum, or this question would be more appropriate in the template forum, please move this thread over there please!
Thanks! ZT
I don't do a lot of routing, but when I do, I usually have pretty good results. This is my first attempt at using a bearing guided flush trim bit to rout the edges of a rough cut piece to match a "Masonite" template. By rough cut, I mean cut with a band saw about 1/8"-1/4" outside my finished line. The material I'm using is 5/4 (1") oak stair tread. Template is attached to work piece with double faced mounting tape.
On my first attempt, for the most part, it went pretty well but in a couple of spots the router bit "grabbed the grain", caused some splitting, and ripped out some of the material inside the profile of the template. Unfortunately, I will need to cut a new piece and try again.
I am using a 3/8" X 1" X 1/4" shank flush trim bit with a guide bearing at the top to follow the template. My template shape has a few inside "corners" so I thought the 3/8 diameter bit would get into the corners a little better than a larger diameter bit. I considered buying and using a 1/2" X 1" bit but the 3/8 diameter bit was on sale at Lowes so I thought I would try that one first.
My questions are as follows...
1) Would the larger diameter 1/2" bit do a better job with less splitting and gouging than the 3/8 diameter bit?
2) I used the black Scotch brand HD (30 lb) double face mounting tape to attach the template to the work. Just to be safe I probably used more tape than I should have, pretty much all along the outline of the template. It held very well: perhaps too well, as it was very difficult to remove the template from the (damaged) work piece. Some of the hard board template stayed with the tape. Is the 30 HD tape overkill for this? Would I be better off with the regular 9-10 lb Scotch mounting tape with the white and green backing be sufficient to hold my template securely to the work piece?
3) I'd appreciate any tips or suggestions on how to avoid the above problems I had the first time around!
Thanks much for any assistance on this project! ZT
EDIT: While I am using a table mounted router, I just noticed there is another sub-forum dedicated to template routing. If the administrator believes I'd have better response on the template forum, or this question would be more appropriate in the template forum, please move this thread over there please!
Thanks! ZT