Quick router bit question

[Anthony Whitesell]

I purchased a tongue and groove router bit set from MLCS (Item #7737 http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bit_tongue_groove.html) and it came with some shims. What are they for or where do they go?

[Greg Hines, MD]

I purchased a tongue and groove router bit set from MLCS (Item #7737 http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pages/bit_tongue_groove.html) and it came with some shims. What are they for or where do they go?



Between the cutters, to fine tune the total profile for slight differences in stock thickness, within reason.

Doc

[john bateman]

They can be used on the tongue cutting bit, between the bearing and the cutter, to create a tighter fitting tongue an groove joint.

[Peter Quinn]

Ditto. Adjust the tongue. Over time new carbide tends to wear just a bit and this may necessitate an adjustment, or you may want a more relaxed fit for some applications. After sharpening they will almost certainly require adjustment.

[Anthony Whitesell]

That's what I thought they were for. Now that I have the answer, I went home and tried out my new router bit set. Slick. Beats the heck out of the multiple pass thing on the table saw. MLCS sent me two packs of ~8 shims with one pre-installed on the cutter. I had to install a second for a tight fit. One shim was OK but loose and three wouldn't fit together. Heaven forbid the groove cutter wears too much I have only 2 shims available to remove in the tongue cutter. :eek:

[Jim Becker]

Unless you are running commercial quantities of rails and stile work, it's unlikely that you're going to have an issue with the number of shims in the kit, Anthony, at least in the reasonable lifetime of the cutters.

[Lee Schierer]

On my Freud adjustable T&G set they are for changing the size of the tounge and groove. http://us.st12.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/freud-tools_2010_14755962

On your MLCS set it looks like only the groove can be adjusted for fit to the tounge.