Raised panels in the field

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Kevin Johnson

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Jan 23, 2007
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I want to create some raised MDF panels in the field.  I have no portable router table or portable table saw.  I had read once that spinning large bits like raised panel bits in a router freehand could be dangerous. But what if the router were on a rail?  I do have a 1400.  Has anyone tried this or does anyone have any thoughts on this operation?

Thanks
 
EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.  DO NOT DO THIS.  I had a conversation a few years back with the tech rep of a leading manufacturer who makes these cutters.  He was aware of a situation where a customer essentially gutted himself doing this -- not with a rail, but I would not trust the rail to protect me.  Buy a router table.  They are cheap.  This type of injury is horrible
 
ITs not that dangerous.  

As long as you clamp your workpiece well and hold the router with two hands its fine.   You just make sure you hold it firmly.   Thing is your doing it in MDF aswell which is one of the easiest materials to machine/router any way it flies through MDF

I think Brice did a video routering with a raised panel cutter.

JMB
 
Brice did do a video making raised panel doors using his 2200 handheld.  The reason that he even tried this was because he had some on a job that were almost the size of a full sheet of mdf.  The 2200 in this regards is an entirely different machine than a 1400.  The shear weight and mass of the machine helps with the control.  Brice was also very careful about not taking full cuts in one pass.

I personally don't think doing it with a 1400 would be a good idea.  But before you even go further in your thinking, check to see if your bit will fit.  My raised panel bits are just too large to fit.

Peter
 
Are you talking about making raised panel insert? Or routing a groove into a piece of MDF to make it look like a raised panel door?
 
I want to make a raised panel insert.  I am going to build a window seat and want to put 3 raised panels on the front.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
 
i think you would be better off making up a small router table to bring on site than trying it free hand
 
With the vertical type cutters it is possible. The 1400 cant swing the other type
 
I would be comfortable to do this with a OF2200 but not a 1400, not enough meat on the 1400. [smile]
 
Ok, I won't try it on the 1400.  I think I will make a small portable router table to do it.

I have one at my shop, but want to do everything on site. Years ago, before I made my current router table I used a sheet of plywood with a router attached to it as a table.  It sat on type of a galvanized metal trash can.  But it was so noisy it drove me crazy. Maybe I can build a small one that can be clamped right to the top of my MFT.

I appreciate everyone's input.  I did not want to get injured if my idea was "hair brained."
 
Kevin Johnson said:
I want to make a raised panel insert.  I am going to build a window seat and want to put 3 raised panels on the front.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
I would strongly advice using a router table.I don't think you will be able to cut with 1 pass with the 1400.

 
One other question since we are on the subject.

I am going to make a "quick and dirty" router table for this task.  I have 3 PC routers.  A 3HP in the router table and 2 1.75HP routers gatherring dust.  I have a "flat type" panel raising bit that I have never used. 

Do you think that I can use on of the smaller PC routers in my router table or do I need to un-mount the 3HP router?  Alternatively, I could buy one of those router bits that routes with the panel standing up, but if I don't have to buy one I could save a few bucks.
 
Kevin,

Going back to your original question, do you have a MFT/3?

On your other question, if you are spinning a large horizontal bit and have a 3 hp router with variable speed - use that.

Peter
 
Kevin Johnson said:
One other question since we are on the subject.

I am going to make a "quick and dirty" router table for this task.  I have 3 PC routers.  A 3HP in the router table and 2 1.75HP routers gatherring dust.  I have a "flat type" panel raising bit that I have never used.  

Do you think that I can use on of the smaller PC routers in my router table or do I need to un-mount the 3HP router?  Alternatively, I could buy one of those router bits that routes with the panel standing up, but if I don't have to buy one I could save a few bucks.
Click to expand...

Can you run the raised panel bit in the smaller, lower hp routers?  Sure, but I wouldn't advise it, especially if you want the motors and bearings to last.

I also think the raised panel bit should ideally be used in a router table or possibly the OF 2200.  The opening in the OF 1400 can't even fit a raised panel bit.
 
Here's the video Peter and JMB were referring to.


Peter Halle said:
Brice did do a video making raised panel doors using his 2200 handheld.  The reason that he even tried this was because he had some on a job that were almost the size of a full sheet of mdf.  The 2200 in this regards is an entirely different machine than a 1400.  The shear weight and mass of the machine helps with the control.  Brice was also very careful about not taking full cuts in one pass.

I personally don't think doing it with a 1400 would be a good idea.  But before you even go further in your thinking, check to see if your bit will fit.  My raised panel bits are just too large to fit.

Peter
Click to expand...

I did use the OF2200 in the video and project Peter mentioned.  The mass of the 2200 made it a piece of cake. Also, I made the cut full depth, all in one pass with a 3 1/4" bit.  I would recommend this technique to anyone with at least some experience with a router.  I total newbie, well, maybe not.  The large MDF panels I routed didn't need to be clamped but, be sure to clamp the work piece down like JMB said.  Here are a few pics of the completed wainscoting panels.
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With the 1400 you'll be limited to a fairly small bit.  If that size will work I think I'd feel okay about doing it freehand but I'd test it out on some scrape just to be sure.  Although I do like the idea of a quick and dirty table better.  If you panels are relatively small a vertical panel bit would work fine.  When you try to rout bigger sized panels that you can get into problems without a serious setup.  I believe you said you have three panels to make, if you're careful not to overload a smaller router I would you'd be fine.   

 
I've done it a few times to bevel the underside of a table top with 3" diameter cutters. The table top is clearly too large to pass over a router table so you have to take the tool to the wood.

I always clamp the table firmly, use a wide base on the router, and take very shallow passes.

Once I must have dipped the router very slightly, it caught the top and before I knew it, it had flown out of my hands, whipped through a clamp- I keep the chewed up metal as a reminder of what can happen- and the router ended up on the floor with the cutter still spinning. It was an OF1400 by the way. I have no idea how close it came to my head as it flew past.

I switched off the power, turned the lights off and left the workshop immediately to get a stiff drink. I don't know what I could have done differently to make the cut more safely, other than use hand tools.

I've repeated the cut since my near miss experience, but I am so, so careful when I do it. I've raised panels using this method, I've seen Brice's video and others, but I know what happened to me and I don't care what anyone says, it's a very dangerous technique.

Caveat emptor.

 
Kevin,

I admit that I don't remember if you can clamp to the front profile of the 1080 like you can with the MFT/3.  If so, and if the long length of your panel was small enough to allow you to clamp to the front extrusion with the edge of the board even with the top of the table and the good face out, you could set up a guiderail parallel to the front and use the router with a vertical raising bit on the guiderail with the router guiderail adaptor with the travel of the router from left to right.  Might not be the most elegant solution, but a thought.

Peter
 
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