Thread: Need some metal routing bit advice.. please.

Cast Iron is really brittle too Ripper. It can throw out lots of really little chips grainy sort of stuff. Do a search on the web to find out about cutting speeds and cutting angles. I don't know what they are anymore. It isn't bad stuff to work just has to be treated with proper respect same as anything.

Studley

Makes good sense felllas.

Studley, I found this table in my drill press owners manual. First picture. For a 8mm diameter bit it says use about 1000 RPM. ??? See, I thought 100 RPM was bit on the slow side. ?? Doesn't matter.. (shrug) I don't really know.

Anyway, I did another little experiment today...attempting to rout a groove in an old #4 stanley body stuffup. (a previous failed experiment. Don't ask). Cast iron. Using that 2-way vise Kats suggested. Second picture

I fixed the quill so it wouldn't go up and down.. Clamped everything up. and just wound the body of the plane very ,veryslowly into the spinning bit...and to my complete surprise, Brilliant !....Third picture. The router bit seemed to survive the experience. No nicks. Didn't seem to blunten any. No chatter. Quite effortless actually. Your right, cast does cut nicely. Essentially this is just like a milling machine .. yes?

So, theres is the sort of groove I'm after to take the stanley 46 or 55 type spurs, which seem to be far better than the 3-point ones I was 'almost' going to use. . Schtoo your right. They will be prone to spinning. Just kidding myself they wouldn't. They don't seem to if the spin is in the direction of the tightening bolt. But if other direction...bolt will losen.

Anyway, thanks everyone for your imput. I should be able to mill a couple of grooves in my Record 44 no problem now.

I'm sitting here giggling actually. Bloody good trick there my man.

That worked really nicely. I'd like to be able to do that kinda thing with my drill press, but it's a cheap Chiwanese thing that came with a loose rattle as standard, so I don't think it will put up with that kinda thing.

The lathe should be fine though. Hafta make up an x-y table for it I think...