Thread: Does anyone have any tips for using a trim router to trim melamine edging?

personally on 16 mm I would do it by hand, although you make attachment to run against the panel and below the edge height

If you don’t have much to do .... by hand isn’t that difficult.

If you have a lot, or do it often then search on Timbecon for “Quad Edge Trimmer”. They are under $40 and trim both edges at the same time - easy to use, good results and a time saver.

Thanks both for your suggestions. I don't have a lot to do but I like the results when the trim router works well and to be honest, being the pig headed individual I am, I'm determined to get my 'trim router' to trim! That's what I bought it for

Don't hold the barrel of the router during operations. Just hold the base of the router that is over the work.

Easiest thing to do is clamp either a board or another panel together to widen the support base. Alternatively modify the fence guide to support the router on your panel

Me personally my vote would be to do it by hand, you'll get a better finish, no chance of damaging the panel, quieter, no dust etc.

If you're talking about 0.5mm edging, it's much easier to use a chisel. Hold the back flat against the face of the board and use the side of the chisel as a guillotine to shear the overhang off, then go over lightly with a fine file or sandpaper. Kinda like this, but using the side instead of the cutting edge to eliminate any risk of digging in



It's also free! (I'm assuming you own at least one chisel )

If you really want to use a trimmer, hold it as low as possible for better control.

A bearing bit should solve your problem. Set as shallow as practicable.

Originally Posted by rrich

Don't hold the barrel of the router during operations. Just hold the base of the router that is over the work.

Thanks Rich I just tried that and it works. My first run was perfect. Feels a bit dodgy till you get confident but it doesn't take long.

Originally Posted by rustynail

A bearing bit should solve your problem. Set as shallow as practicable.

I'm using a bearing bit but I didn't have it set shallow enough. I've now corrected that and as I said above results are good. For those suggesting doing it by hand? That's how I've done it for years and I've never really been happy with the outcome. Perhaps I'm just not very good at it? But the trim router gives excellent results when you use the right technique.

This is one of the reason I got rid of my trimmer, had trouble trimming edging.
I have fewer problems with my 1/4" / 8mm router using a bearing bit.
Trimming edging is one of those things that take practice. If I only have one or two edges to do I will often use a half round file. Why? Because I am use to doing it that way and it works for me.

+1 for by hand with a chisel. I use my trim router for roundovers, never used it for trimming Using a 25mm or larger chisel, it's really easy to keep it balanced and cut consistently.

Originally Posted by tonzeyd

Easiest thing to do is clamp either a board or another panel together to widen the support base. Alternatively modify the fence guide to support the router on your panel

Me personally my vote would be to do it by hand, you'll get a better finish, no chance of damaging the panel, quieter, no dust etc.

Sometimes one doesn't have the luxury of doing it by hand; in a production environment I used to use a timber straight edge that had one corner fairly heavily arrised. I'd clamp this to one side to give a wider base to work from; the arris allowed for any overhang of the edging on the clamped side.

Holding the router by the base is good advice.