Tenon Router Video

[harry strasil]

Only people who have been at my demoes have seen my Tenon Router at work. I keep talking about it and I decided to make a video of it in action.

A real nice piece of material would not show its capabilities well, so I picked a piece that would challenge it, and one no one in their right mind would even consider using for a Tenon except maybe me.

The prepared Tenon, a piece of salvaged Oak pallet. A real choice specimen.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/tenonrouterdemo001.jpg

I tried to place the digital camera where it would show the cutting action. I preset the cutter to a depth of the thickness of a piece of copy paper. The video is a bit out of focus in an attempt to get a better view of the action, and I have no idea how to enhance videos or slow them down.

Notice that the blade is set askew to enhance the cutting action. I normally set the blades of my shop made routers askew so that they are slicing across the grain of the wood at an angle for a smoother finish. This knot was exceptionally hard. LOL But there is no chip out and the tenon cheeks are absoulutely parellel with the main part of the surface. A SHARP cutter is essential.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/th_tenonrouterdemo002.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/?action=view&current=tenonrouterdemo002.flv)

[harry strasil]

I tried the other end with no knot and a sixteenth inch of cut, and trying to go slower, which causes problems in that hard oak, faster is easier cutting.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/th_tenrtr2.jpg (http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v81/irnsrgn/wood/?action=view&current=tenrtr2.flv)

[Will Boulware]

That's amazing!

[Harlan Barnhart]

OK. I will now bump a tenon router up on the "build" list.

Mr. Strasil, maybe you should patent this design.

[Eric Brown]

Good job Jr. Another trick is to use an old Stanley router and mount it to a board like Harry has. This gives you an easy to adjust standard cutter.
Harry has the advantage of larger width (skewed) cutters though.

Thanks Jr.

PS: Your holdfasts are my favorite hold-downs now. They work great.

[Jim Koepke]

Another great tool idea from Mr. Strasil.


PS: Your holdfasts are my favorite hold-downs now. They work great.

I'll second that. I have been using them to hold planks being sawn on my bench. They work great, easier and faster than setting up clamps. They are more solid than using the vice.

jim