James W Prichard Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 I have a 2 hp bosch router and am contemplating using a 3" magnate surface planing bit to flatten my hard maple bench top. Does anyone have experience with this? http://www.amazon.com/Magnate-Surface-Planing-Bottom-Cleaning/dp/B009X5MZ74/ref=sr_1_7?ie=UTF8&qid=1423599633&sr=8-7&keywords=planing+router+bit#customerReviews Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 You don't have the power to run a surface planer that size nor should they be run on a handheld router. Look at bits between 1 1/2 and at most 2" 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Flattening slabs with a router, can't say I've ever done that. I like the 1.5" Freud bit for this. I think I paid close to $40 for mine, maybe less. I would advise against using a wider bit. Due the overall safety of the use (you). I have had this one kick back and it is scary. Oh, and don't climb cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 You may consider asking a local cabinet shop if they will put it through their drum sander. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rodger. Posted February 10, 2015 Report Share Posted February 10, 2015 Go old school! Grab a jack plane, a jointer plane, a smoother, and a pot of coffee and go at it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cochese Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 I did my workbench with a 3/4 straight bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 I have used a 1 1/2" bit in a 3 hp router and it gets to be hard work if you take to big of a depth per pass. So a good rule of thumb is the wider the bit the shallower the cut should be. The lower your horsepower the slower rate of feed and shallower cut makes it impractical. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted February 11, 2015 Report Share Posted February 11, 2015 Secondly is the style of bit. The spoil board cutters do make the surface smoother, thats what they are made to do but they cut across the whole face of the cutter, handheld bits do not. You need a bunch of router and the router needs to be locked down solid other wise you have a hazard. A spindle has much more power than the biggest routers made a 3hp spindle is a real 3hp they cut circles around handheld routers. The Freud 12-194 should be about the right bit for the job. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brendon_t Posted February 12, 2015 Report Share Posted February 12, 2015 I've always used a 1" bit for flattening with my handheld and shop made jig. I'll tell you straight out there is no money you could pay me to throw that large of a bit in a handheld router and go to town with it. . 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Cancelleri Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Those bits are for CNC machines that use RPM controllable spindles. I'd never spin that in a hand router, RPM is too high, and way too dangerous. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted February 13, 2015 Report Share Posted February 13, 2015 Even a multi speed router at its slowest is too fast for those kind of bits , especially hand held. The bit PB referred to is as big as I would use in my PC 7518 handheld. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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