How to set up a T-Molding slot cutter ??

[pharoah007]

Is this right?

there is a washer on either side of the cutter.  see 1st pic
 

[Epyx]

Yes, looks correct.  Just remember to test rotation direction followed by a cut on a piece of MDF/Plywood scrap of the same width as your actual piece. This will help ensure you have just the right depth and centering for your actual piece.    Here are some additional pics:

http://www.justfreud.com/freud_slot_cutting_bits.htm
http://www.fine-tools.com/scheibennutfraeser.html

[pharoah007]

Right on.

thanks man.

[miles2912]

No it's not.  The bering is what glides the cutting bit along the wood.  It should be above the blade.

[D_Harris]

No it's not.  The bering is what glides the cutting bit along the wood.  It should be above the blade.

Not necessarily. http://www.ehow.com/how_6647838_use-slotting-cutter-router-bit.html

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[BobA]

Just look at the assy pics on google and it is easy to see the correct way.

Pictures

[DaOld Man]

No it's not.  The bering is what glides the cutting bit along the wood.  It should be above the blade.

If the slot being cut is exactly center of the width of the board, what difference would it make?

[DNA Dan]

So I think I figured out that there are some differences in how you can use a router and it reverses the feed direction. It's my understanding that you want to feed the blade so that it cuts INTO the material, that is to say, the blade cuts into the leading edge you are feeding, not from the piece of wood out towards you. So in pharoah's photo, the way that bit is set, if the wood is between the router and the operator, he would feed that bit left to right. However, if the piece is on the other side of the router (which is untypically the way to route) and NOT between the operator and the router, he should feed the router right to left. I mention this because on some of my larger pieces for my cab I could not reach across the entire sheet to route with the material between me and the router. So I had to push the router away from me against the fence. This changes the feed direction. Right?

[javeryh]

That slot cutter looks OK to me although I prefer the bearing on top.  The blade is also facing the right way - the teeth need to spin into the piece (clockwise).

Also, to test depth a great trick is to take a piece of scrap, set the depth to where you think it is supposed to be and route out a small section.  Flip over your piece and try to get the cutter back in the slot - if the slot is exactly centered then it will slide in easily.  If it doesn't then you know you are off and a slight adjustment is necessary - it usually takes me about 3 tries to get it perfect.

[D_Harris]

So I think I figured out that there are some differences in how you can use a router and it reverses the feed direction. It's my understanding that you want to feed the blade so that it cuts INTO the material, that is to say, the blade cuts into the leading edge you are feeding, not from the piece of wood out towards you. So in pharoah's photo, the way that bit is set, if the wood is between the router and the operator, he would feed that bit left to right. However, if the piece is on the other side of the router (which is untypically the way to route) and NOT between the operator and the router, he should feed the router right to left. I mention this because on some of my larger pieces for my cab I could not reach across the entire sheet to route with the material between me and the router. So I had to push the router away from me against the fence. This changes the feed direction. Right?

Wrong...

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[EvilNuff]

...So in pharoah's photo, the way that bit is set, if the wood is between the router and the operator, he would feed that bit left to right. ...

You have it backwards.  If you look at the router from above the bit spins clockwise and you want to move the router itself counter-clockwise around the outside of a piece of wood.  Here's a very terrible drawing:


From this you can see the blue arrow shows the rotation of the bit and the green arrow shows the direction you move the router.  If you follow this path the router moves against the direction of motion and you can control the cut.  If you move in the opposite direction the rotation of the bit can cause the router to move out of control.

[DNA Dan]

Thanks for the clarification. It makes sense, but going this direction on particle board chews out the corners. I think I need a sharper bit.

[DaOld Man]

Bit could be dull, you might also try to clamp two pieces of scrap to the particle board making a sandwich, with the particle board in the middle. Of course unless your scrap pieces are as long as your cut, you will need to reposition your router bit when you get to the end.
I made my first juke box out of particle board, and I got to say, I didnt like working with it at all.

[EvilNuff]

Thanks for the clarification. It makes sense, but going this direction on particle board chews out the corners. I think I need a sharper bit.

Corners can be a different story.  Here's a pretty good reference for starting out, read the part about climb-cuts on page 2:
http://www.familyhandyman.com/DIY-Projects/Woodworking/Woodworking-Tools/router-basics

[DNA Dan]

Yeah I was basically climb cutting the whole piece. It didn't seem that out of control with particle board because it's softer than solid wood. This was with a flush trim bit. I haven't received my t-slot cutter, but I am sure going the wrong direction with one of those is a lot more of an issue because of the type of cut. Great info, thanks.