Spiral router bits

[barkwindjammer]

Would a spiral bit (upcut/downcut) prevent the tearout I'm getting on pine using a straight trimming bit ?, I've been practising cutting rebates (dadoes) in scrap and their very feathery at the cut line

 

[Ian]

A downcut would be an improvement but in pine you may still get some.

Ian

 

[mailee]

Yes what Ian said is correct. I have used a downcut spiral bit on Pine and it does improve it but there is still some feathering on the cut edge. Try scoring the line with a blade before making the cut, that should help.

 

[Titus A Duxass]

As said before you will still get some tear out.
I use sacrificial backing and facing pieces, usually off cuts of thin mdf or ply, double-sided taped to the work piece.

 

[RogerP]

On occasions with softwood I've had better results using a good quality sharp HSS rather than a tungsten bit - but sacrificial backing/facing is probably the way to go.

 

[cutting solutions]

With a good cutter you should get a clean line all the time.
Is it sharp (send it away to have it properly sharpened)

 

[barkwindjammer]

Thanks for the replies, I spent a couple of hours making on of these http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=giengB-eyZk his 'improved version', turned my cheapo router speed to mach II, also mounted sacrificial pieces to the job as per Titus and Rogers suggestions-result ! cheers guys

 

[TheTiddles]

try a helical one instead of a spiral...

If you understand my point then you're a geek too.

Aidan

 

[barkwindjammer]

Nope, try as I might I can't think of a non-geeky response to that one Tiddles