Thread: Advice wanted on appropriate bit

Originally Posted by Gerryattrick

I have a job that has been outstanding for a while on the list provided by SWMBO. As she is about to find out that I have purchased another router which will be arriving in the mail within the next week I need to stock up on Brownie Points.

Our front (Cedar) door has an inset panel at the bottom that has raised panels within it. The inset is fine but the raised panels have been badly damaged by the previous owners dog scratching at it to be let in. I don't want to replace the door on the grounds of cost so I thought I would remove the raised panels using my router and then make up some replacement panels and attach them in place.

Question:

What would be the best router bit to use to router away the damaged panels? I guess it would be similar to "planing" the panel to remove the damaged bits back to a flat inset panel. I thought I could make a sled that would take the router and use the edges of the door (which would be removed and laid flat) to slide the sled up and down and have a space in the sled to allow the router bit to be extended to gradually shave the damage away.

My router can take 1/2 shanks and it would be nice to use something that would do more than just this job if possible

First job for the new Triton eh ...... Your approach of skimming the damaged panel back to a smooth surface sounds reasonable, provided that you have enough thickness of timber under the damaged area. The "sled" that you've described sounds ideal for the job.

You need some sort of a bottom cutting style of bit. Basically you need a bit that has carbide cutters on both the sides and all the way across the bottom of the bit. The bit that I've used to level some wide Red Gum slabs is from McJing's Tools near Sydney. McJing's call it a Bottom Cleaning Bit, and sell them in some fairly large diameters.

Router_Bit.jpg For skimming a relatively large surface like that panel in your front door, I'd go for as large a bit as possible, within reason, considering that you will essentially be using the Router hand-held, all but within a sled. You should only run the largest diameter bits when using a router table, as the really large bits can be dangerous when used handheld, as the large bit generates a log of gyroscopic force and the router it can easily get away from you when hand held. If you use some toggle clamps to securely clamp your router into the sled, then you will essentially have created an inverted router table that will be relatively safe when spinning a large router bit.

You'll find the Bottom Cleaning Bits about 1/3 of the way down this web page - https://mcjing.com.au/categorybrowse...?categoryid=95.

The bit I've been using to skim large red gum slabs is McJing Part Number JL1394-1. It is a 50mm diameter 1/2" shank bottom cleaning bit. I use it in a Triton MOF001 and have the router securely clamped into the sled, and the sled has guide rails to prevent router torque from turning the sled. The McJing router bits are sourced from China, and they are relatively cheap (this one being A$38), but much less expensive than other more upmarket brands. There are plenty of suppliers of these sorts of bit, although you generally need to look at specialist suppliers as the Big Box hardware stores don't generally stock them.

When I bought mine, I wasn't expecting much out of a cheap router bit, but that bit has now skimmed about fifteen 1400 x 600mm red gum slabs, and all I've had to do to the bit is keep it cleaned and once recently I touched up the cutting faces using a small diamond stone.

Don't forget you need to reduce the router speed when running such a large bit - I run my router on the lowest speed setting when using this bit in very hard red gum. With a softer timber such as your cedar door, you might be able to run it one or two notches faster on the speed dial. Using this router and bit combination, I usually skim up to 3mm deep cuts, moving the router slowly. You'll soon know if you're moving too fast (and/or cutting too deep) as the router will start to bog down under load. For the last finishing cut, I set the router to only take off about 0.5 mm. In red gum, that approach leaves a smooth surface that is ready for sanding.

As for other uses for this type of bit ... well the uses are limited .... but today I'm tackling some well worn hard hardwood stair treads that have been worn down in the middle after umpteen years of foot traffic. I removed the treads yesterday, thinking that I'd just flip them over and get a flat side, but no - someone has already done that years ago. So, today I'll use that bottom cleaning bit to skim them flat.

Regards,

Roy

Thanks Roy that sounds just the job.

I have emailed McJings to see if they ship to NZ and if they do I'll probably get the 1" version. The panels are not that big and the raised part not much more than 5mm so I should be able to do the job quite easily with that. I might find further use in cleaning up some recycled timber for a rustic coffee table I have in mind.

I don't want to make the job appear too easy so that I can justify the new router. Also the router I have at the moment is only fixed speed - another reason for the MOF001 with its variable speed.

McJings are now on my list of bookmarks.. I envy you guys the choice of shops with decent prices

Originally Posted by Gerryattrick

Thanks Roy that sounds just the job.

I have emailed McJings to see if they ship to NZ and if they do I'll probably get the 1" version. The panels are not that big and the raised part not much more than 5mm so I should be able to do the job quite easily with that. I might find further use in cleaning up some recycled timber for a rustic coffee table I have in mind.

I don't want to make the job appear too easy so that I can justify the new router. Also the router I have at the moment is only fixed speed - another reason for the MOF001 with its variable speed.

McJings are now on my list of bookmarks.. I envy you guys the choice of shops with decent prices

If it turns out that McJings don't export to NZ, then I think your next best bet for good quality router bits at the right price could be Tools Today in the USA. http://www.toolstoday.com/ I have bought from them a few times now, and they've had no qualms about exporting to Australia, so I assume NZ would be OK.

Their freight costs are pretty cheap (compared to some other US based companies) as well. In January I bought four router bits for making cope & stick and raised panel doors and the freight for all four to Australia came to US$12, and they arrived here in around 10 days. Their Amana branded bits (made in Italy) are high quality - obviously more expensive and better quality than McJings, but no where near as expensive as the other big AU retailers. Tools Today have a huge range of router bits types and sizes. Caution: Some of their bits are designed solely for CNC machines, and/or for cutting other materials besides wood, so make sure that the bits you select on their site have 1/4" or 1/2" shanks, and not some other odd size used by CNC machines.

Roy

I just use a standard straight carbide bit 32mm diameter. So long as the lowest point of the bit is a cutting edge, it will be fine. It doesnt give a perfectly clean face, but its pretty good, starting sanding grit of 120grit cleans it up in no time.

Saves having to buy a specific bit.

Make sure the raised panels have not been secured with any brads. Could cause a bit of damage to the bit (or you ).

Originally Posted by Handyjack

Make sure the raised panels have not been secured with any brads. Could cause a bit of damage to the bit (or you ).

Good point - I plan on going over it with a magnet but from what I can see the panel is actually solid and has raised panels on both the inside and outside. I could remove the panel and replace it with another but first I'd like to see if my idea will work. It will give me an excuse to make a sled and also to justify the router.

We are selling the house in the next couple of months and I plan on painting the door to improve its looks - it was painted green originally anyway and I have started to strip it back.

If I was staying put I'd probably replace the door but will leave that pleasure to the new owner.

@Aussie Roy - thanks for the link. I'll have a look at that site and add it to my bookmarks. Its great to have the options.

@Kuffy. that's a good idea as I need another straight cut and would probably get more use out of that than a bottom cleaner bit but I'll consider both options.

This is the door I am trying to sort cheaply(not a good image as I used my phone). If all else fails I'll replace the panel completely. You can see the damage at the top of the raised panel.

On a positive note the new router has reached these shores..shortly I will have to face "Er Indoors" so hopefully I can do the trick with the router