Adding 45 degree chamfer

[Wilson joinery]

Hi everyone

As the title suggests, how do you add a small (approx 3mm) chamfer to mdf boards. I use a chamfer cutter in my 1/4 router but I’ve seen some use a block plane. What method do you use? How do you maintain the 45 degree angle if using a plane? With some sort of jig? Or just plenty of practice!!

Cheers
Pete

 

[Adam W.]

I draw two lines, one on the face and one on the edge and plane to that.

 

[Wilson joinery]

Brilliant thanks Adam. I’ll have a practice of that in the garage later.

 

[Adam W.]

I'm not so sure how it works with MDF, but I guess you need a very sharp plane to get a good finish. I use a smoother and then touch it up with a block plane depending on how large the chamfer is. For really big ones of a couple of inches, the electric planer comes out of its box.

I'm sure someone will be along soon to give guidance on how to go about sharpening your plane.

Enjoy!

 

[thetyreman]

you can use hand tools with MDF but you need a very sharp blade and it blunts blades very fast so be warned you'll be re-sharpening every 5 minutes.

 

[baldkev]

Hi everyone

As the title suggests, how do you add a small (approx 3mm) chamfer to mdf boards. I use a chamfer cutter in my 1/4 router but I’ve seen some use a block plane. What method do you use? How do you maintain the 45 degree angle if using a plane? With some sort of jig? Or just plenty of practice!!

Cheers
Pete

I would generally use a router, but sometimes for the odd small bit I'd use the block plane. After a bit of experience you learn to judge the angles, but at 3mm chamfer, it's not all that noticeable if you were at 35°

 

[XTiffy]

I would go for a combination of router (a bit shy of the finished size) and then block plane to take the final pass, as the router will give the 45 degree guide.

 

[Jacob]

Hi everyone

As the title suggests, how do you add a small (approx 3mm) chamfer to mdf boards. I use a chamfer cutter in my 1/4 router but I’ve seen some use a block plane. What method do you use? How do you maintain the 45 degree angle if using a plane? With some sort of jig? Or just plenty of practice!!

Cheers
Pete

Yes, block plane and practice. Have a go on some offcuts it's a very easy thing to do. Just the sort of finishing-off planing that the block plane is most used for.

 

[imageel]

My go-to for MDF edges is a roundover/ovolo bit rather than a chamfer due to the former being more resistant to knocks etc and also allows a better edge to accept a painted finish. Personally I find that using a block plane difficult to achieve and even and consistent width especially over larger lengths, most likely due to my poor technique, and as Adam mentions working to a line might be a solution.
I use a Wealden T1325 and find it gives a superb finished edge to MDF boxes and also a nice to-the-touch edge to door stiles
/Ed

 

[XTiffy]

I agree with imageel.
In our workshop we had a small radius router cutter (which we referred to as a "baby roundover") permanently set up in a cheap router, which meant no setting up to carry out just this function.

 

[Soulmiester]

I use my disc sander, set the table to 45, mark my lines and connect the extractor.

 

[mossym]

can highly recommend one of these, wait till they go on sale for considerably less than this

https://www.banggood.com/fr/HONGDUI...-p-1876760.html?cur_warehouse=CN&rmmds=search

 

[Wilson joinery]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone, turns out there is more than one way to skin a cat!

Cheers
Pete

 

[Jacob]

Thanks for all of the replies everyone, turns out there is more than one way to skin a cat!

Cheers
Pete

Well yes - but if it's just a few odds and ends the block plane is easiest and fastest. 3mm just 3 or 4 fast passes and job done in seconds.