Thread: Type of bit

Hey Bodgey

A. Either can be used but will require different technique. The Spiral Cutter is more expensive BUT will give you a better cut. Guys like PAt Warner reckon that the good old straight bits are the most widely used and economical router bits on the market.

B. I've found patience to be your best friend when routing I personally would't go deeper than 1/8 inch with the bits you've mentioned. Generally the lighter the cuts the better the results.

C. Longer bits are available often marketed as "Long Shank" straight bits etc etc LArge n long Spiral cutters come at a premium. These days I tend to do the bulk of the work with a straight bit then finish cut with a Spiral...............Depends on how perdantic I need to be for the Job at hand though.

D. Take a lighter pass or if you can climb cut...................reduces scorching considerably and gives a cleaner cut (Do this safely though otherwise you'll get some nasty kickback)

E. Sounds like your collets cactus..............I wouldn't dream of using a potentially bodgey collet your router wont say sorry to you if something bad happens at 10 000 rpm. Try a different collet if you can and see how you go!!!

Hope this helps bodgey

Regards Lou

A. 3/8th spiral upcut.
B. Ask Lou
C. Ask Lou
D. Ask Lou, could slow the routers rpm to help.
E. Ask Lou!

Gday Bodg

A. Either will do the job, spirals are reputed to be more efficient at chip clearance in morticing but plenty of woodworkers "make do" with straight bits. Vacuum chip extraction can help here.

B. Conv. wisdom suggests no deeper than the diameter of the bit you're using in one pass. In reality prob depends also on how the timber machines, the quality of bit, controlled feed rate, etc.

C. Can get longer bits, better brands are usually longer than cheapo bits. 30mm deep shouldn't be a problem with most standard bits I'd reckon.

D. Burning may indicate trying to cut too much in one hit, a blunt router bit, poor chip clearance, router speed too high, feed rate too slow. Some woods machine better than others, or can be more prone to burning. You mentioned a v slow feed rate, sounds like router running too fast or trying to take too big a bite.

E. Have heard of spiral bits being inclined to pull out of the collet if not correctly held, if it's happening with a few different bits though the collet may be dodgy. I assume this is the B & D router on your morticing gizmo, it's a fairly cheap router, so ditto the collet you'd assume, should be able to hold the bit safely, though.

Maybe check the bit shanks with verniers to check they are in tolerance.


Cheers..............Sean