Dewald Swanepoel Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I'm confused. I'm busy building a router table and I've just tried to perform my first cut on the inverted router but things are not working as expected. I'm trying to route a dado in a length of MDF. This is for a T-track that goes into the fence. The dado is 19mm wide and 16mm deep but I'm cutting it in increments of 5mm, so not a whole lot of material removed. The problem I'm having is that the router really is struggling, and from the get go I start burning the wood and the router bit. It's as if the brand new router bit was blunt to start with but I know that is not the case. The router is a fairly cheap Ryobi but I've routed various cuts in MDF before and it cut through it like a hot knife through butter. The only things that are new here are 1. the router is upside down, I've only ever used it handheld before 2. the bit is 19mm diameter. It's not huge but it's bigger than any bit I've ever used before on this router. I'm not sure if that could be a reason? But then, if the bit was too big for this router to handle, shouldn't the router just moan and groan? Why is it burning the wood and the bit? 3. the cut is quite long, 1.2m to be exact. But I'm getting this problem from the outset so the length is irrelevant. Any help please? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TerryMcK Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Try reducing the cut depth to 3mm. Even at 5mm it is removing a lot and MDF is tough on bits as are a lot of manmade materials. Increase the feed rate slightly too as you may just be hanging in the same place for too long. Put a shop vac on the router dust extract as the build up of waste could be affecting the cut. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewald Swanepoel Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Thanks. My word, I didn't think that 5mm would be too deep a cut but I'll definitely bear that in mind once I get a new router bit. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kohl Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 just a thought: is the router flexing in the table insert, pinching the blade? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewald Swanepoel Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 just a thought: is the router flexing in the table insert, pinching the blade? I'm not sure I understand the question. How would the router "flex" and how would that "pinch the blade"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim Kohl Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I'm not sure I understand the question. How would the router "flex" and how would that "pinch the blade"?If the router is moving (tilting) when u are moving the work piece it would bind the bit. I see this in factory saws that are not lined up properly. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewald Swanepoel Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 I see what you mean but no, I don't really think this would be a problem in my case. I'll double check to be sure though. Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
knotscott Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 If you're using a new bit, that's a variable in the equation....it should be sharp, but maybe wasn't sharpened properly, or has become damaged, or dulled really quickly, etc. I'd try a different bit just to rule that variable out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dewald Swanepoel Posted February 23, 2015 Author Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Good idea, thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tim0625 Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Depth of cut is 5mm...about 1/4 inch. Should be ok. I'm thinking the bit is dull or like Terry said, you're too slow in your feed rate. Think back...how many cuts have you made like this and in what material...particularly the last material you cut with it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrandonD Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Just because I've made similar bonehead mistake before, are you routing in the correct direction? I ask because you said you've never used a router table before. The feed direction is reversed when you flip a router upside down in a table. If you go the wrong way you are pushing against the bit and risk serious kickback. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted February 23, 2015 Report Share Posted February 23, 2015 Do you have dust collection set up? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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