Thread: Router problem or operator problem ?

Hi,

I am sure that with a bit of practice you will get a feeling for in which direction to cut in. It is the same with all tools on any type of end grain timber, chisel, plane, router and even saw, when you get to close to the end, the grain will split out. You will need to very carefully start at the end shaving little bits of in the opposite direction. Then you are free to router the rest without breakout. Or you could clamp a block at the end to stop the grain from breaking out but personally I find this does not 100% guaranty success.

Usually this chipping occurs when you're routing across the grain. To minimise this I do two things:

Firstly, clamp a sacrificial piece to the exit point. So when the router bit exits the work it starts cutting into this instead. Tearing can still occur, but it'd usually be even worse without this support.

Secondly, I try to plan my steps so that all cross-grain passes are made first, then the passes along the grain which will also remove any parts that may've torn out.

Which is not always possible, of course, but you'd be surprised how often it is with a little thought. eg. you could've made your slats extra wide, rebated the ends and then cut/routed them to final width.

Finally... multiple smaller passes are always good.

Thanks guys, will take onboard & see how we go.

Cheers.

Hi Ozziespur,

Yes this is a common technique error but easily corrected. It's generally best for beginners to cut from left to right and that gives rise to breakout at the exit point. A previous respondent has suggested the solution is to make a cautious climb cut at the exit point ie right to left direction then finish the cut with Left to right. The sacrificial additional board placed at the exit point is also a good method but a PITA to be doing all the time unless you go to the trouble of making a jig with the sacrificial board as a component thereof. An easy and very effective method when there are only a few cuts to do is to knife a deep score on the face and side where the cut will exit. You will get no breakout with left to right cutting if the cuts are accurately made and everything else is accurately aligned as naturally it should be.

Cheers Old Pete

Originally Posted by old pete

Hi Ozziespur,

Yes this is a common technique error but easily corrected. It's generally best for beginners to cut from left to right and that gives rise to breakout at the exit point. A previous respondent has suggested the solution is to make a cautious climb cut at the exit point ie right to left direction then finish the cut with Left to right. The sacrificial additional board placed at the exit point is also a good method but a PITA to be doing all the time unless you go to the trouble of making a jig with the sacrificial board as a component thereof. An easy and very effective method when there are only a few cuts to do is to knife a deep score on the face and side where the cut will exit. You will get no breakout with left to right cutting if the cuts are accurately made and everything else is accurately aligned as naturally it should be.

Cheers Old Pete

Good tip, I'll give it a go. Thanks old Pete.