Question About A Router Bit


Hammer5573

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  • 1 month later...
On 1/28/2023 at 1:17 PM, JohnG said:

I certainly wouldn’t want to use a router bit with 4” cutting height. Can you start out with a bit with a bearing at the base and then finish from the other side with a bit that has the bearing at the tip? 2” cutting length can definitely be found. 

Agreed. I don't believe I've ever seen anything beyond 2", and for good reason. You may find longer cutters in the shaper world, but I would only use those with a power feeder or a carriage that held the work piece and kept the hands *well* back. As John said, the solution is to perform 2 cuts, the first with the template on the bottom of the workpiece (assuming you're doing this at the router table) and the top bearing removed. Then replace the top bearing, flip the workpiece and ride the top bearing on the material you routed with the first pass. I've used this many times to shape 3" thick corbels for kitchen cabinetry. Just be conscious of when you're cutting against the grain (because on one pass or the other it can't be avoided) and adjust feed rate appropriately. I'd suggest doing the more difficult cut on the *second* pass so that you're assured of a smooth reference surface from the first cut.

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