Thread: pattern cutting bit, 8 mm diameter, 30 mm long

Carbitool in Australia have them, but that might not help you. Leuco make 8x30mm carbide bits, they won't be cheap but they're industrial grade

Unfortunately your plan won't work quite so easily.

There's a reason why you can't get smaller diameter bits in longer lengths: deflection at high rotation speeds could make them dangerously unstable. Using solid wood (even if it's only pine) means that sometimes you're working 'with' the linearity of the fibrous structure, and sometimes against. This will inevitably lead to spelch or even splitting of your toys.

One way to avoid this would be to invert the assembly in the places where you're cutting against the grain, but this would require not only dual templates, but an even longer shank length, introducing even greater deflection and instability. Better to stick with your drill and scrollsaw in my opinion!

Originally Posted by Pogo02

This is my first post outside the toy section, and I only just discovered the router, so please forgive me if this is a stupid question.
For my hobby I make quite a few simple toy cars like pictured here.IMG_9423a.JPGIMG_9420a.JPGIMG_9408a.JPG
The body of the cars is 28 mm thick. At the moment I saw them with a scroll saw. This results in a smooth cutting face, but takes forever. To speed things up, I bought a router and want to make a template out of 6 mm solid wood, and use a pattern cutting bit to copy the template to a 28 mm thick car. Because of the design of the windows the bit can not be more than 8 mm in diameter. This presents a problem, because I can only find bits of 30 mm length with diameters of 12 mm or more. That will help me with the outside of the cars, but not with the windows.
Are there any bits that will stand up to this job? If 8 mm is impossible, 10 mm would maybe be an option too, so those suggestions would be helpfull as well

Thanks for your help

You need to consider an alternative method of routing this type of project. My advice is to consider the use of template guides with a straight cutter though you will not find an 8mm long enough to cut all the way through. Simply construct a few templates and with the material secure in a Jig holder the various processes can be achieved with a smooth finish to the surface being cut less time sanding and each project can be repeated over and over exactly the same size each time. I am also convinced that they can be produced quicker and with only one tool the router. I have produce a similar design to the third photograph submitted> I have not produced one with 'windows' as yet but I must give it a go. Just as a matter of interest instead of routing a thick piece I will construct the various shapes in half the thickness then glue together. Two shapes are produced in the same Jig Holder simply by 'Flipping' the Template. This posting has given 'Food for thought' on how they can be produced. I'll take the projects to our local Men's shed and give them a few more lessons on the use of the router out of the Table mode' I'll look for the photographs and post them later. A final note the wheels were also produced with the router using the template guides.

Template Tom

Here is the designs I have been working onIMG_1012.jpg

Make the template double sided so that you only have to rout 15 mm deep. Use holes drilled thru the stock to locate the template on the other side. The wheel axis would probably be suitable holes. When I had a similar job requirement I had a special router cutter made which incorporated a small roundover at full depth to save the work of rounding the edges.

Originally Posted by Bohdan

Make the template double sided so that you only have to rout 15 mm deep. Use holes drilled thru the stock to locate the template on the other side. The wheel axis would probably be suitable holes. When I had a similar job requirement I had a special router cutter made which incorporated a small roundover at full depth to save the work of rounding the edges.

Beat me to it.

PM sent.

Originally Posted by Bohdan

Make the template double sided so that you only have to rout 15 mm deep. Use holes drilled thru the stock to locate the template on the other side. The wheel axis would probably be suitable holes. When I had a similar job requirement I had a special router cutter made which incorporated a small roundover at full depth to save the work of rounding the edges.

That is a great idea though I think it would not be possible to complete all the processes if you intend to use template guides when routing the window section
because of the small dimensions also using a cutter with a small rounding over would require a larger template guide

Investigation has been completed on producing templates to complete the three designs all I need to do next is to find the time to put the process into action I will post the final results soon

Presented a project to one of our mens shed members who had never used a router before and in between his woodturning days he has spent a couple of sessions with the router I'll keep you posted

Originally Posted by Template Tom

Investigation has been completed on producing templates to complete the three designs all I need to do next is to find the time to put the process into action I will post the final results soon