Router Bit Grabbing

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 11:10 am

This question arose from some rather simple table top pattern routing of soft white pine with no knots; what would normally expect to be a very mundane wood working task.

Is there anything other than grain pattern that would cause the router bit to grab the work piece (climb out - like I was feeding the wrong direction)?

I have just been cutting some small shelf brackets and whiling doing this the wood, two or three times, was nearly yanked out of my grasp. I quite routing and finished up on a drum sander..

I was using a nearly new bit and inspection indicates nothing obviously wrong with the bit.

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 12:01 pm

Hi Dusty,

Could you post a picture of your set-up? Other wise we might have to play 20 questions and still not get to the issue.

Ed

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:16 pm

First, thank you Ed for fixing my double post. I tried to delete it but it doesn't offer me that option. I have had that happen before and I don't know why.

The following are two pictures of the router setup which I have used many, many times.

mickyd · Post by **mickyd** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 2:35 pm

Ed...if you delete your post on dusty's duplicate thread, maybe that will allow him to delete it?

reible · Post by **reible** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 3:01 pm

Hi,

The problem is the jig. You need a place to get started and the edge/end is not the place. If you make the straight edge of the pattern about an half inch longer then you can get from the starting pin/safety pin to the bearing on the pattern before you get to the part to be routed... no more problems.

If this isn't clear I'll try and draw something up later tonight.

Working on moving the bedroom furniture around while listening to the rain... can't wait to get this project finished.

Ed

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 4:37 pm

mickyd wrote:Ed...if you delete your post on dusty's duplicate thread, maybe that will allow him to delete it?

That is not the issue, micky. I attempted to delete the duplicate before ed posted.

I had posted and then left my computer for a while. When I returned, about an hour later, my post was on my screen and I thought I have failed to post so I did it again. Then I realized I had duplicates and I attempted to delete but could not. The delete button was not displayed.

I just now posted this and then returned to edit it. The delete button is now available. I'll go right from here to the post in question and see if I can delete it now.

PS Nope.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 7:32 pm

Hi Dusty! Excuse me, after looking at your photos, I have to ask a question or two. Since the router bit's bearing is on the top, it looks to me that you are trimming a piece of MDF below. I would have thought the reverse would have been what you wanted. Is this the case?

Is that white thing to the right of the router bit (2nd Pic) your starting/safety pin?

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 8:04 pm

charlese wrote:Hi Dusty! Excuse me, after looking at your photos, I have to ask a question or two. Since the router bit's bearing is on the top, it looks to me that you are trimming a piece of MDF below. I would have thought the reverse would have been what you wanted. Is this the case?

Is that white thing to the right of the router bit (2nd Pic) your starting/safety pin?

Yes, that is the safety pin.

The pattern was on top but the piece being trimmed was a piece of white pine (not MDF). It does look like MDF in the photo.

charlese · Post by **charlese** » Tue Nov 17, 2009 10:39 pm

As long as you were routing from right to left - not taking too much wood - the speed was correct - and the bit was sharp, I don't know why this happened.

How about this - your hand pressure on the wood was light and when the bit found irregularity, the different cutting pressure did the dastardly deed. I'm guessing your nearly new bit isn't as sharp as it used to be.

dusty · Post by **dusty** » Wed Nov 18, 2009 5:31 am

This is one of those situations, that occur in a shop from time to time, that I just dread. Without knowing exactly what was wrong, what do you correct? If you correct nothing, will it happen again? Most likely!

The wood was clear, soft pine. The bit is relatively new. Feed direction was correct. Safety pin was in use.

The kick was uncontrollable and happened on two different pieces. The tear out that occurred was destructive. I don't believe I let loose of the piece while feeding.

I must go back and do this again. I don't want this to be like my shaper experience. I have not used the shaper since I had the accident years ago and probably will not. Now the shaper experience was horrific; this was nothing like that. But for a good surgeon, I could have lost a finger in the shaper experience.