OF 1400 plunging technique??

[Jesse Cloud]

Hey all.  I'm routing a slew of mortises (wanted something bigger than the Domino will do) and need some advice on the best technique.

I'm using a template and copy ring/ bushings and that part is working fine.  What I want to do is to take several light cuts - say 1/8 th inch deep. 

How does one plunge the OF1400 just a little bit time after time?  I have a tendency to go too deep.

BTW, I saw the Triton router has a dial for plunging - that seems ideal, maybe I should suggest that in the "wish list" area??

Thanks in advance for your help!

Jess

 

[Brice Burrell]

Jesse, you can use a screwdriver to turn the screws to offset the turret stops. An alternative is to set you final depth then use brass setup gauge blocks to step the depth down at whatever increment(s) you want.

 

[JayStPeter]

If it doesn't really matter exactly, it is sometimes helpful to look at the right place when estimating your plunge.  Watch the distance between the stop and the turret while plunging and you can get pretty close to eyeballing 1/4 or 1/3 the distance per plunge.  Otherwise, Brice has the answer.  If you use the turret be careful, there are ghost detents that are easy to hit and overplunge.  The turret is one of the weaker points of the OF1400 IMO.  If possible, setup your jig so you clearly see that part of the router.

 

[Jimhart]

If it doesn't really matter exactly, it is sometimes helpful to look at the right place when estimating your plunge.  Watch the distance between the stop and the turret while plunging and you can get pretty close to eyeballing 1/4 or 1/3 the distance per plunge.  Otherwise, Brice has the answer.  If you use the turret be careful, there are ghost detents that are easy to hit and overplunge.  The turret is one of the weaker points of the OF1400 IMO.  If possible, setup your jig so you clearly see that part of the router.

I do pretty much what Jay described. I set the stop so it hits the turret at the full depth of cut I'm shooting for, then eyeball 2 or 3 gaps in between.

Jim

 

[Warrior]

I just set the stop to the depth I want. Then take multiple passes by feel. I like to kind of ramp or slope the mortise as I move side to side. Or plunge slowly as I move the router back and forth between the stops. I found this to be rather quick and never taxing on the router.

Eiji

 

[Notorious T.O.D.]

I fully plunge the bit at each end of he mortise and then remove the material in between with smaller lighter passes depending upon the total mortise depth.  I have cut many 1/2" wide by 2-3" long by 3" deep mortises this way for interior and exterior doors.  It is easier on the bit to have the material removed at each end. The cutting action will also be different if you are cutting end grain on the end of a piece of straight grain on the edge of a piece.

Best,
Todd

 

[Warrior]

Notorious,

I like that technique too.