"Martin H. Eastburn" wrote in message
...
Is it a plunge blind hole ? or is it a cut from side or end ?
How will the wood escape ? Up spiral might be important if blind.

Martin

Plunge hole is blind. I'm hoping that if I don't cut too much at a time,
that the
wood "will find" a way to escape! Others suggested drilling a few
holes..that
would clearly be helpful in giving the wood a place to go as well. I'll be
buying an extra 4by4 to practice on..

Bill



Bill wrote:
I wish to cut 1/2" wide mortises all the way through a fourbyfour
(cutting from both sides of course). Was just about to order the Amana
bit# 45426 which is a double-fluted straight plunge bit, with 1/2" shank,
1/2" cutting diameter and a 2" cutting height.

Will use a DeWalt 2.25HP Router. Is the above bit adequate for this job
(or do I need to look at spiral-fluted)? Just because the bit has a 2"
cutting height doesn't mean I should plan to try to cut more than 3/16 to
1/4" at a time, right?


BTW, Swingman, you were right--there are more bits than I thought out
there! I assume that since I have a plunge router that I'll be able to
extend the abilities of a single bit a little. For instance, using a bit
with 1.5" cutting height to cut a 1" deep groove. I know, of course,
that one should not use a bit that is too much longer than necessary due
to deflection and vibration, etc. I don't have any router bits at all
yet, and my router hasn't even arrived yet, so I sure I'm destined to
learn a great deal! I can try my hand at chisel-sharpening in the
meantime.. Probably should dust off Bill Hylton's book (on the router)
on my shelf...

Bill