Results 1 to 12 of 12

Thread: juice grooves in cutting boards

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    schenectady, n.y.
    Posts
    131

    juice grooves in cutting boards

    need some help need to make templates to route juice grooves in cutting boards. without thinking i made a template to rout outside of pattern. it is better i guess to rout from an inside template. any help will surely be appreciated.

  2. #2
    Not sure what difference it makes to have a template to route inside or outside but anyway, I use some dish router bits.
    Might be difficult to find one with a bearing. Some here...http://www.routerbits.com/cgi-router...32434_18875+16

    The bit looks like this

    The result is at the link.
    Last edited by Brian Penning; 07-20-2007 at 7:55 AM.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Ottawa, ON Canada
    Posts
    1,473
    I've always found that routing inside a template is easier. The rotation and the torque of the router pushes it against the template.
    Grant
    Ottawa ON

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2005
    Location
    Waterford, MI
    Posts
    4,673
    With an inside template you can attach blocks underneath to slip down over the edges of what you're routing and hold it in place. WIth an outside template you'd either have to double stick tape or screw it to the work which wouldn't be my first choice. If you've only got to do a couple though, a decent edge guide would probably work just as well as long as you clamp some stop blocks on to stop the grooves at the corners.
    Use the fence Luke

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    South Carolina Low Country
    Posts
    43
    Quote Originally Posted by Grant Wilkinson View Post
    I've always found that routing inside a template is easier. The rotation and the torque of the router pushes it against the template.
    Wouldn`t that be a function of feed direction?

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,775
    Paul,

    I make lots of Corian cutting boards in my shop. We cut them on a CNC router and use a 3/8" bullnose bit to machine the blood grooves about 5/16" deep.

    If you have a cad drawing (vector based) I can make your template for you real quick. You will need to provide some details, let me know if I can help.

    .

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2007
    Location
    schenectady, n.y.
    Posts
    131
    keith-- unfortunately i don't have a cad drawing. the ones i route juice grooves in are 12x12, 12x15, and 12x18 with radiused corners. 1 1/2 inch radius. my other option is to do a stopped groove on the board. but that would look funny with the radius. thanks

  8. #8
    I made the same mistake. After making the outside template, I realized I'd probably overshoot on the corners, so I made an inside one instead which worked real well. I used double-sided tape to stick the cutting board down to a piece of particle board. Then I screwed some boards that were planed to exactly the same thickness as the cutting board all around it, and I screwed the template into them. With everything rock solid, I routed it in a couple passes and it worked out great.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Hayes, Virginia
    Posts
    14,775
    Paul,

    The blood grovves we route are continuous, they follow the contor of the board including the handle. I have to agree that a stopped groove may not be the best option.

    In your case I also think that an inside template is the best choice especially if you produce cutting boards on a continuing basis. The time you spend designing and building a comprehensive routing template will be worthwhile.

    .

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Ottawa, ON Canada
    Posts
    1,473
    Austin

    You're right, of course.
    Grant
    Ottawa ON

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Sun Peaks, BC Canada
    Posts
    66
    Quote Originally Posted by Keith Outten View Post
    Paul,

    The blood grovves we route are continuous, they follow the contor of the board including the handle. I have to agree that a stopped groove may not be the best option.

    In your case I also think that an inside template is the best choice especially if you produce cutting boards on a continuing basis. The time you spend designing and building a comprehensive routing template will be worthwhile.

    .
    I am planning on making an end grain cutting board out of maple and purpleheart. Would it be foolish to try to route a groove in the endgrain and if not, do you have any suggestions that would make it easier?

  12. #12
    Quote Originally Posted by Basil Rathbone View Post
    I am planning on making an end grain cutting board out of maple and purpleheart. Would it be foolish to try to route a groove in the endgrain and if not, do you have any suggestions that would make it easier?
    I have made 5 different boards with purpleheart and maple, I have had no problem cutting the groove in them with a 1/4 inch round nose bit and an outside template.
    I cut them about 1/4 inch deep and use a Bosch Colt router to do it. With the outside template you have to really watch it that you don't over run the corners.

    Here are two of the latest boards.

    P8061590.jpg P8061593.jpg

Similar Threads

  1. Laser cutting plywood
    By Thomas Hempleman in forum Laser Engraving General Topics
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 06-16-2011, 7:59 PM
  2. Cutting Boards Completed (pics inside)
    By Matt Wachter in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 9
    Last Post: 12-18-2006, 6:19 PM
  3. Cutting board and wood movement
    By Dave Falkenstein in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 2
    Last Post: 03-11-2006, 1:59 AM
  4. cutting board question
    By Robert McGowen in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 02-17-2006, 2:55 PM
  5. White oak for cutting board????
    By Lynn Sonier in forum General Woodworking and Power Tools
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: 07-16-2003, 10:35 AM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •