Surfacing with OF-1400

[epankala]

Hi.

I've used simple rail system to surface some boards / flattened curve places.

So far I've used a 35mm (12mm shank) bit for the process and it has worked out rather nicely.

However I'm wondering what size of surfacing bits people here have dared to use with OF-1400?

I can see there are 1-3/4" surfacing bits (or larger) available from Amana, but I'm uncertain if they are way too big for a a handheld router vs. CNC machine.

So if anyone here has experience about surfacing with OF-1400 (or surfacing in general) I would be happy to hear if I considering a bigger bit is smart/stupid/dangerous/...  [unsure]

Thanks

 

[Holmz]

There Are a bunch of router sled approaches here and elsewhere:http://festoolownersgroup.com/festo...-slab-table-top-with-the-festool-router-sled/

Is this what you mean?

 

[epankala]

Yep I use something similar myself.

I am just asking about what size of bits people use with OF-1400 for surfacing.

2" bit feels rather big for a handheld router.

 

[Michael Kellough]

In a perfect world the larger the bit the quicker the job is done. But a larger bit has more leverage and will increase the load on the router even is the feed rate is the same. I'd get whichever bit is most economical in the 1 to 2 inch range.

In practice the router and or the sled wobbles a little when moved.
When that happens you'll get undercut areas that have arcs that confusingly look like overcut areas.
(It's only possible to get true undercut areas if the sled sags.)

A second pass over the whole area should knock those high spots down.

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I Went with a 38mm planing bit for surfacing.. I was surprisingly inexpensive. Going up in size will likely increase the price by quite a lot, and at this point I don't know how much I'll be using the function, or if there is a better method for doing this surfacing type of job. It seems to me it would be rather tiring on long pieces wider than say 10'"..

 

[Holmz]

I Went with a 38mm planing bit for surfacing.. I was surprisingly inexpensive. Going up in size will likely increase the price by quite a lot, and at this point I don't know how much I'll be using the function, or if there is a better method for doing this surfacing type of job. It seems to me it would be rather tiring on long pieces wider than say 10'"..

Maybe mentally tiring keeping mind how to feed the router.
More tiring would be a hand plane

 

[PreferrablyWood]

I Went with a 38mm planing bit for surfacing.. I was surprisingly inexpensive. Going up in size will likely increase the price by quite a lot, and at this point I don't know how much I'll be using the function, or if there is a better method for doing this surfacing type of job. It seems to me it would be rather tiring on long pieces wider than say 10'"..

Maybe mentally tiring keeping mind how to feed the router.
More tiring would be a hand plane

I'm just glad it's an option to surface with a router as I won't be getting any large planing or jointing tools anytime soon. The first floor tool after the CMS gear would likely be a bandsaw. I think I just build a little rough style as most of my work is going to out in gardens and parks...Doing ktiches I use readymade countertops and sheet goods--I want to build doors though and I think that size of job could be well suited to surfacing techniques with the router.