I am routing some 18mm birch ply non standard shaped curves, for a PC
desk, and will want to cut the ply with at least three seperate passes
with the router. Can I only do this by using a 1/2" guide bush or is
there a way of making more than one pass by using a cutter with a
roller bearing? I intend to make the template from 4mm MDF with a
jigsaw and then sand the edge smooth.

On 20 Nov, 13:45, Housemartin wrote:
I am routing some 18mm birch ply non standard shaped curves, for a PC
desk, and will want to cut the ply with at least three seperate passes
with the router. Can I only do this by using a 1/2" guide bush or is
there a way of making more than one pass by using a cutter with a
roller bearing? I intend to make the template from 4mm MDF with a
jigsaw and then sand the edge smooth.

I'm just abeginner with routers. But using a cutter with a bearing is
very easy.
I think you should use a cutter with a bearing on the shaft rather
than on
the end of the cutter.

Arthur

Housemartin wrote:

I am routing some 18mm birch ply non standard shaped curves, for a PC
desk, and will want to cut the ply with at least three seperate passes
with the router. Can I only do this by using a 1/2" guide bush or is
there a way of making more than one pass by using a cutter with a
roller bearing? I intend to make the template from 4mm MDF with a
jigsaw and then sand the edge smooth.

You can use one with a top bearing, but you will need a thicker template
(or at least a set of spacers to keep it at bearing height). Otherwise
you will nick the template and then you are stuffed!

--
Cheers,

John.

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I'm just abeginner with routers. But using a cutter with a bearing is
very easy.
I think you should use a cutter with a bearing on the shaft rather
than on
the end of the cutter.

Arthur

Yes thanks,
but that does not help me, because if the template is 5mm wide then
how can I increase the depth of the cut and still have the bearing
resting on the edge of the template?

Housemartin wrote:
I'm just abeginner with routers. But using a cutter with a bearing is
very easy.
I think you should use a cutter with a bearing on the shaft rather
than on
the end of the cutter.

Arthur

Yes thanks,
but that does not help me, because if the template is 5mm wide then
how can I increase the depth of the cut and still have the bearing
resting on the edge of the template?

You could get different sized bearings. Start with a large bearing to
give a shallow cut then decrease in steps of say 3mm until the bearing
size matches the cutter size.

Andrew

On 20 Nov, 16:17, Housemartin wrote:
I'm just abeginner with routers. But using a cutter with a bearing is
very easy.
I think you should use a cutter with a bearing on the shaft rather
than on
the end of the cutter.

Arthur

Yes thanks,
but that does not help me, because if the template is 5mm wide then
how can I increase the depth of the cut and still have the bearing
resting on the edge of the template?

If the cutter you're planning to use is not long enough to trim the
18mm ply
in one go, then just extend the height of the cutter and the bearing
will then
rest on the ply that you have trimmed.
You might have to do this in multiple passes if you have a lot of
material to remove.

Arthur

Housemartin wrote:
I am routing some 18mm birch ply non standard shaped curves, for a PC
desk, and will want to cut the ply with at least three seperate passes
with the router. Can I only do this by using a 1/2" guide bush or is
there a way of making more than one pass by using a cutter with a
roller bearing? I intend to make the template from 4mm MDF with a
jigsaw and then sand the edge smooth.

Router on its own isn't the best tool for doing this because of the multiple
passes required.

Use the template to mark the outline, then use a jigsaw to cut the rough
shape very slightly larger than the template - 2 mm is enough. Then use the
bearing cutter to trim the edges flush to the template in one pass..

Much quicker.



--
Dave - The Medway Handyman
www.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

On Nov 20, 8:56 pm, "The Medway Handyman"
wrote:
Housemartin wrote:
I am routing some 18mm birch ply non standard shaped curves, for a PC
desk, and will want to cut the ply with at least three seperate passes
with the router. Can I only do this by using a 1/2" guide bush or is
there a way of making more than one pass by using a cutter with a
roller bearing? I intend to make the template from 4mm MDF with a
jigsaw and then sand the edge smooth.

Router on its own isn't the best tool for doing this because of the multiple
passes required.

Use the template to mark the outline, then use a jigsaw to cut the rough
shape very slightly larger than the template - 2 mm is enough. Then use the
bearing cutter to trim the edges flush to the template in one pass..

Much quicker.

--
Dave - The Medway Handymanwww.medwayhandyman.co.uk
01634 717930
07850 597257

Yes many thanks for that, its obvious to me now.Thanks for all your
replies folks.
Think I will go and buy a new brain!