Cutting grooves (stopped) in non-standard boards

[MarkoSharko]

Hi,

I'm trying to cut a stopped groove in a piece of wood 12" long by 4.5" wide by 23/64" thick. 

When using the OF 1400 with rail guide, there isn't enough wood under the rail to get a secure hold.  The router causes the wood to twist out of position (which ruins the groove).

What do people do?

  -  I don't have other pieces the same thickness so "building up" some sort of base or using double-sided tape on the sides are not options.

  -  The wood is too thin to use horizontal clamps that might otherwise go under the rail or MFS.

  -  Using the MFS system has the same problems as above.

Any help would be great

 

[bkharman]

Get a piece of mdo, mount the router to it. Flip it over in between two saw horses. Put a fence on it (can use mdf or mdo here too)

You have a quick temporary router table and can route that without issue.

Cheers. Bryan.

 

[peter halle]

you could mount that board to a larger board with double side tape.  Then use shims to but up some support stacks (also using double sided tape) that are the same size as your workpiece or workpiece and mounting board, as necessary, under the rail perpendicular to the unsupported rail.  Then use clamps to clamp the whole sandwich down to your workbench, etc.

If you have an MFT/3 then you could do similar with clamping elements holding the mounting board.

Peter

 

[MarkoSharko]

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the idea of making a quick router table.  Since I'm cutting stopped grooves, I was hoping to use the plunge capabilities of the OF 1400.  Also, for long boards (24"), the fence would need to extend almost 24" to each side of the bit.

Is there really no way to do this from the top down?

Mark

 

[MarkoSharko]

Hi Peter,

Thanks for writing.  I've been hoping to avoid double sided tape and shims.  My pieces is too thin to use the clamping elements.  A "built-up" piece could be clamped I guess.

Isn't there an easier way to do this?

Mark

 

[bkharman]

Hi Bryan,

Thanks for the idea of making a quick router table.  Since I'm cutting stopped grooves, I was hoping to use the plunge capabilities of the OF 1400.  Also, for long boards (24"), the fence would need to extend almost 24" to each side of the bit.

Is there really no way to do this from the top down?

Mark

You can still "plunge"... just have the stop in the right place and carefully place the workpiece down onto the bit.  I do it all the time for flutes and such.

Cheers.  Bryan.