how to dig out dish

[farley]

Hi
I want to dig out a small dish. The wood is only about 3/4 inch deep.
I thought I would use the round bottom bit I have, but don't have the faintest idea of how to start. hope pix got attached

[Beave2012]

Hi
I want to dig out a small dish. The wood is only about 3/4 inch deep.
I thought I would use the round bottom bit I have, but don't have the faintest idea of how to start. hope pix got attached

The router bit would work, I would "cage in" the router base to guide it around the desired size. Then take shape passes until desired depth.

[ERLover]

An other option similar to what was suggested is to get a piece of hard board and a templet guide for your router base, cut out the center of the hard board to the appropriate size and place over your work piece and route away.

[reible]

I will say that is the wrong bit for the job. Would it could it work well yes but it will be a bear to clean up and get smooth. That is the reason they make bits that are designed to do the job.

The two basic bits I have are dish bits with and without a bearing. In the case of the non-bearing bit you would need a template guide bushing but it is unlikely you have one large enough. So the best option then becomes the one with the bearing.

You will need to prepare a template that the bearing will ride against while doing the outside edges and the a sub base for your router that is large enough to provide support to "dish" out the center. The template will need to be done so the edges are smooth and nicely rounded as the bit will cut what the template provides.

Here are a couple of pictures to help you see the bits that I'm talking about.

IMG_0357sc.jpg (83.5 KiB) Viewed 3776 times

IMG_0358sc.jpg (88.75 KiB) Viewed 3776 times

Good luck with the project and keep us in mind when you have it finished, as you know we like pictures.

Ed

[Mike907]

This may help:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4U5YZ2RKTU0

Mike

[ERLover]

Ya a round dish bit for the perimeter then a flat/straight bit to hog out and have a nice flat base in your dish. Make up a couple rails to set on the dish to support the router.

[farley]

ok, I am getting this. I made my templete and cut out the center. Looked around my shop and the guide are way too small for the dia. of the bit. So does anyone have an idea of how to increase the dia. of the guide? Unless these are items you buy.

[reible]

Still not the right bit but I guess it is best to let people learn the hard way..... Expect a LOT of sanding when the router part is done.

Yes guide bushings come in sizes. Depending on the router and the adapter you have will determine the size range. Typical guide bushings for porter cable type bushings end at an OD of an inch, you can get larger but not much more with that style of bushings. The bushing I have pictured above is 1-3/8" and will not fit standard pc sub base routers.

If you do attempt to use a guide bushing also factor in the difference in bushing size and bit size, the template will have to be larger by half the difference between the diameters.......

Ed

[lyall]

you need to block your template up some, so that the chips have a place to go.

[ERLover]

That core box bit should work for the perimeter cut with the right size template bushing, so you have a 3/8, 1/2", or 3/4" straight bit for cutting out the rest of the wood?