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Laminate trimmer for t-molding slot cutting?
lovespicyfood:
--- Quote from: PrizLucky on January 17, 2006, 10:01:42 am ---So if the laminate trimmer can handle the slot-cutting and can do some minor cuts to help flush mount my joystick; the only other task I had envisioned for my new router purchase was to use a pattern cutting bit to match up the two sides of the cabinet.. what do you think about that task for such a tool..? is that beyond what I'll be able to accomplish (sucessfully) with the laminate trimmer? or do I really need to just buy a full-fledged router.. I don't know how much real heavy duty wood working i'd do that would really require a router, so if i can get away with using a laminate trimmer that's probably the way I'd go...
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I'm a "newbie" and this "pattern cutting bit" sounds like the cats meow for my woodworking skills (lack of). Has someone used these bits before? Does it make matching the sides much easier? I would think so... Thanks for your HELP! I love this board! Hopefully I'll have a new cab in a few months...
PrizLucky:
a pattern cutting bit is basically a straight bit with a bearing on it.. so you stack your piece to be cut with the "pattern" you want to cut to (in this case it'd be my first finished side of the cabinet) and you can use the router to make the 2nd side exactly match the 1st.. (you have to cut the new piece down before running the router..)
here is an example: http://www.rockler.com/findit.cfm?page=5411
DrewKaree:
--- Quote from: PrizLucky on January 17, 2006, 10:01:42 am ---
I currently don't own a router,
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--- Quote from: lovespicyfood on January 17, 2006, 10:10:48 am ---
I'm a "newbie" and this "pattern cutting bit" sounds like the cats meow for my woodworking skills (lack of).
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Whatever you two decide, when routing, always move counterclockwise around the piece you're routing. The bit then feeds into the material, whereas doing it the opposite direction might cause "skips" and inaccurate cuts.
A pattern cutting bit will give you pieces that match exactly if the piece you're wanting to copy has void-free sides for the bearing to ride along. For example, if using plywood, make sure to fill in the edges if there's any holes in the plies. If your bearing rides into that gouge of missing ply, your "matching" piece will no longer be matching.
I'm not sure if they make pattern bits that'll work. Check out one of these three to get specs on what size shank (you'll need a quarter-inch shank with a laminate trimmer) they sell those bits in, and if there's a recommended speed they say not to go above or below. Match that up to the specs of the trimmer you're looking to get.
www.rockler.com
www.mlcswoodworking.com
www.leevalley.com
nostrebor:
--- Quote from: PrizLucky on January 17, 2006, 10:01:42 am ---I currently don't own a router, but I'm in the process of trying to decide which one to purchase to help me build my cabinet.. and this thread is great! I had thought about this before, but thought that some of the work might be beyond the capabilities of the laminate trimmers...
So if the laminate trimmer can handle the slot-cutting and can do some minor cuts to help flush mount my joystick; the only other task I had envisioned for my new router purchase was to use a pattern cutting bit to match up the two sides of the cabinet.. what do you think about that task for such a tool..? is that beyond what I'll be able to accomplish (sucessfully) with the laminate trimmer? or do I really need to just buy a full-fledged router.. I don't know how much real heavy duty wood working i'd do that would really require a router, so if i can get away with using a laminate trimmer that's probably the way I'd go...
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The laminate trimmer will work fine as long as you prepare properly. If you are going to use a pattern bit for cutting matching sides for example, you want to rough cut out the side with a jigsaw first. Trace the pattern onto the workpiece and then trim it out rough with a jigsaw, roughly 1/8"to 3/16" oversise (outside the traced lines) Then position your pattern, and trim the remaining 1/8" to 3/16" with the pattern bit in the laminate trimmer. This will give much better results than trying to cut the pattern out with just the pattern bit, and will keep you from burning up the laminate trimmer, which ir reality is just a light duty router.
nostrebor:
Drew left some great links. MLCS has been great for router bits for me, and they are usually the least expensive!
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