On Sunday, 23 July 2017 21:43:42 UTC+1, Roger Mills wrote:
On 23/07/2017 20:53, jkn wrote:
Hello all
This is an enquiry about how to use a router to cut a slot in the end of a sheet of wood.

Below is an ASCII-art side view of the sheet. The wood is around 18mm thick.

The slot needs to be say 3mm across, and perhaps 15mm deep.


| | slot approx 3mm from edge

| | 3mm slot, 15mm or so deep

/ / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
/ / / /
|-| |------|
| | | |
| | | |
| |_| |
| |
| |
|SIDE VIEW |

| ~18mm | thickness of wood

I have a Router (1/2" chuck) available to me. I originally presumed that the
approach would be to get a suitable 'deep pocket' router bit and cut the
slot in several passes. However I cannot find such a router bit and am
wondering if there are any other options.

I am expecting to have it pointed out that the 3mm strip of wood left on the LH side of the slot will be very weak. I do realise this... a last resort is to
make a rebate rather than a slot, but this leaves me with a different
finishing problem.

Thanks for any pointers and suggestions

jon N

Forget the router. This is a job for a table saw or - at a push - a
biscuit jointer.

+1, a 3mm wide bit has too little strength or rigidity. FWIW you can get 3.2mm spiral saw bits, but you won't succeed with one.


NT