Small corner miters on router table

[Al Launier]

I'm curious how the woodworkers on this forum route small corner miters on small plaques. I recently made a jig, RH & LH ended, to hold a 5" x 7" plaque while routing a formed shape for the 3/4" corner miters to match the the four sides. With the short length of wood of the corners & the open gap in the fence behind the router bit I couldn't hold the plaque securely to prevent the corners from "dipping" into the bit while routing, causing unwanted results, anywhere from deformed shapes to splintered gouges.

Using a tall router bit that had the shape I wanted, I was able to adjust the height of the bit on the edge of the board. However, the height of the bit prevented me from using the guide bearing at the top of the bit as it was higher than the thickness of the plaque. So, I made a stop-block on each end of a wooden plate that was then attached to the miter head. This plate was slotted so I could slide it along the face of the miter head to position the stop-block where needed & then tighten it in position. Once this was done I no longer need the fence to guide the plaque by the router bit. I could just position & hold the plaque against the stop-block & against the face of the miter head to rout the small corner miter on the plaque.

Phew, I hope I described this clearly. If not, I'll take pictures later.

So after routing the plaque corners I started wondering how do you fellow woodworkers miter the corners of small pieces on your router table to prevent the "dipping"?

[johnny means]

Zero clearance fence and router plate.

[Brian Holcombe]

I use a miter gauge with a stop and clamp the part. The bit matters a lot too, I use large diameter 'mortising' bits for a lot of cross grain work and they cut very cleanly. They have a mild down shear to them and good chip clearance.

[Al Launier]

Johnny, I hadn't thought of a zero clearance fence. Great suggestion! I'm off to make some blanks now for future use. Thanks a lot!

Brian, I cannot clamp the workpiece in place as the plaque is laying flat on the router table. Thanks for the thought.

[Rick Potter]

put a piece of 1/4" thick masonite/mdf/whatever over the table of your router, push it into the bit while running, then remove and put some double stick tape on it, and put it back on.

You now have a zero clearance table, and the little work piece will not 'dip'.

That and the above zero clearance fence should solve the problem.

Use a push pad for safety.

[Al Launier]

Thanks Rick, that's exactly what I did. Works great!