John Poole
03-09-2011, 1:52 AM
I have walnut billets that are approximately 2 1/4" square by 12". I'd like to be able to join them into longer pieces and I'm considering the Amana Finger Joint Shaper cutters.
http://www.amanatool.com/shaper/999.html
tells us that these two models have fingers with the following widths:
999 22/64" (or 11/32)
SC300 13/64"
Both have finger depths of 3/8" and a cutting head height of 1 1/2".
I'm unable to determine if for the number of fingers for the SC300 over the 1 1/2" height is more than the 999; I believe it to be so, but there is no downloadable profile for either head to make that determination.
More importantly, I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with either or both of these cutter heads.
Aside - for another project, I tried to make box finger joints using dovetail template system and straight bit and the walnut simply ate up the bit. I then tried the table saw approach using a finger joint jig and found making 1/4" cuts in 1/2" walnut to be very risky business. So, I'm concerned about how well making finger joints on a shaper (3 HP - Robland) will work and look forward to someone's comments who has experience doing so with hard woods. Maybe I'm pushing the limit?
http://www.amanatool.com/shaper/999.html
tells us that these two models have fingers with the following widths:
999 22/64" (or 11/32)
SC300 13/64"
Both have finger depths of 3/8" and a cutting head height of 1 1/2".
I'm unable to determine if for the number of fingers for the SC300 over the 1 1/2" height is more than the 999; I believe it to be so, but there is no downloadable profile for either head to make that determination.
More importantly, I'd like to hear from anyone who has experience with either or both of these cutter heads.
Aside - for another project, I tried to make box finger joints using dovetail template system and straight bit and the walnut simply ate up the bit. I then tried the table saw approach using a finger joint jig and found making 1/4" cuts in 1/2" walnut to be very risky business. So, I'm concerned about how well making finger joints on a shaper (3 HP - Robland) will work and look forward to someone's comments who has experience doing so with hard woods. Maybe I'm pushing the limit?