Thread: Cabinet Door Set With or without Backcutter

Originally Posted by boxers

How important is a backcutter?

Not essential

Originally Posted by boxers

How important is a backcutter?

Depends on your level of skill, balanced with getting the most out of the tool.
what the back cutter does, is in conjunction with your stile and rail bits that come in the matched set, the backcutter ensures that the edges of the raised panel are the right thickness to fit into the groove in the door frame made by the other bits. it will, however reduce the height to which you can raise the panels, even if just slightly. if you are confident that you have the ability to rout the panel edges to the correct thickness without the back cutter it is probably the way to go. cheaper and more flexibility of use. I recently bought my set and it doesnt have a back cutter.

Check out

http://www.newwoodworker.com/bldraspnldors.html

G;day.
I am currently making some doors using the CMT set with a back cutter. I have removed the back cutter and using panels 17mm thick on door frames of 21mm. This leaves the rear of the panel sunken in but the front is flush. This is working well and looks good. I see that the CMT cutter set with the back cutter is in fact $10 cheaper that the same set without the back cutter at Carbatec at the moment. One can then always use the back cutter if desired. Some experimentation will show the differences. As noted by the other members, that if the back cutter is used, the bit height must be correctly set, but making several passes is still possible by using fence adjustment. If the router table insert is not large enough for the 89mm bit, use a 9mm piece of MDF as a false table. Just cut a 100mm hole at the appropriate spot. Then use a 25mm pice of MDF laying flat as a fence after routing out some place for the bit to spin.
Hope this helps
Les