Router: Using a raised panel bit without a router table

[LBCarpentry]

Everywhere online is saying it must be used in a router table. Has anyone used one over the top though. Only got two panels to router. I understand the dangers but is it an absolute no go?

Router bits look to be around 75mm in diameter so a nice slow speed and steady hand I guess?

 

[Blackswanwood]

I’m not being flippant but there’s probably a good indication that you shouldn’t do it based on what everyone is saying online.

 

[MikeG.]

You're a carpenter/ joiner. You ought to have a router table. :wink:

 

[Inspector]

They don't recommend it for a reason. It is a huge bit that can easily get away from you and come back to bite.

You can do it but you will want a router with a soft start and turned down as slow as it can go. The most important thing is to set the depth of cut to just take a little off with each pass especially for the last few passes where you are using the full bit. When I say a "little" I mean at least half a dozen passes. That many passes ups your exposure and risk, especially when that bearing is about to come off the end.

Making a quick router top out of a sheet of birch plywood with the router screwed to it and nailed to a couple sawhorses makes it infinitely safer than doing it by hand. A board held with a couple clamps serves as a fence.

Pete

 

[LBCarpentry]

You're a carpenter/ joiner. You ought to have a router table. :wink:

an experienced one.....

so i binned it and got a spindle moulder... :lol:

,,,its just that the spindle moulder is currently set up for another task :roll:

 

[LBCarpentry]

They don't recommend it for a reason. It is a huge bit that can easily get away from you and come back to bite.

You can do it but you will want a router with a soft start and turned down as slow as it can go. The most important thing is to set the depth of cut to just take a little off with each pass especially for the last few passes where you are using the full bit. When I say a "little" I mean at least half a dozen passes. That many passes ups your exposure and risk, especially when that bearing is about to come off the end.

Making a quick router top out of a sheet of birch plywood with the router screwed to it and nailed to a couple sawhorses makes it infinitely safer than doing it by hand. A board held with a couple clamps serves as a fence.

Pete

Nyers I was considering this. If over the top is a no go - and it seems like it is, then this is the next least tedious task :lol:

 

[Eric The Viking]

Do you own one of these? I do.

Should you use it freehand? Simply put,

NO

I've just deleted the rest of my reply based on yours above.

"I lost my fingers because the spindle moulder was set up for another job..." Seriously?

 

[thetyreman]

I would use a hand plane.

 

[Trevanion]

The long and short of it is in a solid router table if the cut for whatever reason bites it'll chuck the lightweight workpiece back, in a hand-held router with the workpiece clamped it'll chuck the router back with the large sharp thing spinning at over 100 times a second back at the operator.

This is a good example of routing gone wrong, granted it's climb-cutting on a palm router doing a job that's really too much load without handles, Graphic Video Warning: https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=261

 

[doctor Bob]

This is a good example of routing gone wrong, granted it's climb-cutting on a palm router doing a job that's really too much load without handles, Graphic Video Warning: https://youtu.be/xseF_8mUIJg?t=261

It is a good example of routing gone wrong. As you say though, totally different to what LBC wants to do, he knows what he's doing, the chap in the video is a wally.

 

[Trevanion]

I dunno Bob, I've certainly seen people that have been woodworking most of their lives still be complete wallies on occasion...

Didn't we have a guy who had over thirty years of experience advocate running timber over a surface planer with cast-iron weights on top? :lol:

 

[doctor Bob]

Didn't we have a guy who had over thirty years of experience advocate running timber over a surface planer with cast-iron weights on top? :lol:

Stop it, I miss the old rogue ......... he was very adept and slippery as an eel in a discussion but at least the old boy discussed rather than got angry and shouty, at no point did it feel like he was unhinged unlike a few others
I still don't think he did the above practice, I think he said it because he likes being unique and then couldn't back down so kept up the pretence.

 

[LBCarpentry]

I would use a hand plane.

Not on a tricoya panel you wouldn’t.

And if you would then your not using my plane

it’s a resounding no, I get it.

Big hole in ply it is (hammer)

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Not that I'm suggesting you do it without a table, but I suspect with a bit of thought/planning you could get rid of a load of waste with standard straight cutters first. I've use cutters before that have been recommended for use only in a table, it's been perfectly OK ....... but I've made sure there was absolutely nothing to distract or get in the way, and taken half a dozen or more passes.

 

[thetyreman]

I would use a hand plane.

Not on a tricoya panel you wouldn’t.

And if you would then your not using my plane

it’s a resounding no, I get it.

Big hole in ply it is (hammer)

fair enough, I just presumed you were using solid woods, what about using a table saw? or is it too big for that?

 

[toolsntat]

Is there a theoretical reference to show this danger?
Because saying it shouldn't be done doesn't tell you why not to do it.
There is much said about a cutter "biting" and coming back on you.
What's it biting on if you're going forward in the correct manner.
High speeds and large circumference gives a scary gyroscopic effect but no one has mentioned if this is why.
Cheers Andy