Duane Bledsoe
01-02-2012, 5:18 PM
OK, talking about router bits. First, I see obvious advantages to each bit in their uses. I comprehend how they work (reading about them anyway, I've never used either one).
I've read how to use an upcut bit when mortising so that the wood shavings and chips were channeled up and out of the hole. This makes perfect sense.
I've also read where a downcut spiral bit is what I need to rout a dado in veneered plywood to help keep the veneer from raising as I cut. This also makes perfect sense. But if a downcut works for a dado, which is just a really long mortise to me, then how is it that the wood shavings and chips are channeled out of the way......or are they?? And since it works here, then why wouldn't it work for a regular mortise?? Is it because a mortise is sometimes a lot deeper and the shavings may have a harder time getting out of the hole, and therefore cause problems??
The reason I ask is because I am debating spending that $40 gift card I have on a couple of nice router bits that I might not otherwise put that much money on at this stage of my woodworking. If I only need one bit to do both mortises and dadoes then I could use the rest on something else, like a layout square or marking knife. Each bit is by Bosch and costs about $18 to $20. I'd love it if they were the 1/2" shank, but they are only the 1/4" shank, and also cut 1/4". I figure a 1/4" bit will work anyway for dadoes and mortises, even if I have to make multiple passes. I can always rout a bigger hole or dado with a smaller bit, but not go down in size with a larger bit.
I've read how to use an upcut bit when mortising so that the wood shavings and chips were channeled up and out of the hole. This makes perfect sense.
I've also read where a downcut spiral bit is what I need to rout a dado in veneered plywood to help keep the veneer from raising as I cut. This also makes perfect sense. But if a downcut works for a dado, which is just a really long mortise to me, then how is it that the wood shavings and chips are channeled out of the way......or are they?? And since it works here, then why wouldn't it work for a regular mortise?? Is it because a mortise is sometimes a lot deeper and the shavings may have a harder time getting out of the hole, and therefore cause problems??
The reason I ask is because I am debating spending that $40 gift card I have on a couple of nice router bits that I might not otherwise put that much money on at this stage of my woodworking. If I only need one bit to do both mortises and dadoes then I could use the rest on something else, like a layout square or marking knife. Each bit is by Bosch and costs about $18 to $20. I'd love it if they were the 1/2" shank, but they are only the 1/4" shank, and also cut 1/4". I figure a 1/4" bit will work anyway for dadoes and mortises, even if I have to make multiple passes. I can always rout a bigger hole or dado with a smaller bit, but not go down in size with a larger bit.