Suggestions for gluing up a walnut table top

[ChuckM]

Would the 1/2 bit be less prone to overheating and burning than the 1/4?

The difference is too small to have an impact on the edge outcome. What matters more is the feed rate, grain direction, and dust collection.

If you are concerned about burns, use a two-step approach: rout the first circle a hair larger, and then reset the circle jig to cut to final diameter. More work, but better chance for a burns-free result.

Same technique applies to routing a pattern on the edge.

 

[RKA]

At some point the shaft has to neck down to 1/4", so that weak point is still there.  The more you want to hog out, the less desirable the smaller bit becomes.  I try to remove under 1/2 of the cutting diameter on the bit when doing stuff like this.  In some cases I'll just take multiple passes to stay under that limit.

 

[rvieceli]

[member=65650]LloydM[/member] I'd also suggest not trying to do this in a full depth cut. Make more than one pass at the thing.

I like ChuckM's advice on a slightly larger circle at first (once again in multiple passes) and then maybe do final pass at full depth for the finish.

Ron

 

[LloydM]

Thanks for all the great tips, yes the last time (and the only time) that I did this I did do it in multiple passes. I'm thinking it's going to take 4 or 5 passes. The Rockler Eliptical jig that I used is solid in terms of maintaining it's position so I don't need to worry much about  going off track

 

[ScotF]

Lots of small passes is the easy way to do this. It will result in a good cut and will put less strain on the router and bit.

 

[LloydM]

Hi everyone, I cut the circular table top with a half inch spiral up cut bit. It worked perfectly. I’ve got another question for the group though I’m trying to put a 1/16 inch round over on the edge using my Mf700 router.

But despite changing the settings the bit is not actually touching the wood. It’s almost as if that circle is not allowing the cutting portion of the bit to come in contact with the wood. I don’t know if this is a limitation of the MF 700 router or just a problem routing the outside edge of a circle?