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Main => Woodworking => Topic started by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 01:05:57 pm

Title: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 01:05:57 pm
I need to cut a slot in the top of a 5/8" board that doesn't go all the way to the edges, this is to hold some acrylic in place.

The slot needs to be 3/16" wide and 1/4" deep, what is the best way to approach this to ensure the slot depth is perfect from end to end? I am assuming routing is the most accurate approach but 3/16" is smaller than any straight cut bit I have seen so far.

I bought a set of mini Dremel Router bits (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B005JRJGOA/ref=oh_details_o00_s00_i00) thinking they would fit my Dremel 4000 but they are to big to fit the chuck. I do have the router base attachment for the Dremel 4000, but even that may not help in this situation as I would need to be able to do a plunge cut as it's not edge to edge?? (Perhaps I could start the cut with a drilled hole?)

I do own a Bosch plunge router with 1/2 and 1/4" collets but these seem to big for this cut
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 01:12:04 pm
I think i just answered my own question, I was looking for the wrong thing. Don't know why i didn't just look for a 3/16 straight cut on a 1/4"  or 1/2" shank....need....more....coffee...

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A086UA/ref=ox_ya_os_product (http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001A086UA/ref=ox_ya_os_product)

$9 shipped
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: EightBySix on November 28, 2012, 02:40:49 pm
You can also make a plunge cut with a handheld circular saw too.
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 02:42:24 pm
You can also make a plunge cut with a handheld circular saw too.

Yeah but this is a slot not to full depth, so I can't use a cicular blade.
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 03:34:59 pm
Picked up a little plunge adapter kit and some mini router bits for my Dremel 4000, that will do the job.
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: PL1 on November 28, 2012, 04:03:06 pm
You can also make a plunge cut with a handheld circular saw too.

Yeah but this is a slot not to full depth, so I can't use a cicular blade.

You know you can adjust blade depth on a circular saw, right?

(http://media.insidewoodworking.com/circular-saw-review-front-pivot-depths-adjustment1.jpg)


Scott
Title: Re: Cutting a slot in the 'middle' of a board - how?
Post by: griffindodd on November 28, 2012, 04:05:04 pm
Yeah but I need the depth of the slot to be perfectly square end to end, the curve of the blade would give me a slope in the dges of the slot.