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description: Audio advice and discussions with audiophiles and professionals. Free discussion forums, open to all and frequented by industry experts. Ask questions and get advice on stereos, speakers, hi-end amplifiers, pre-amps, home theater, tube hi-fi, turntables, vinyl, tweaks, music, films, video, DVDs and more.
items: barbecued bits
items: Re:Smoky the Bear, says"......
items: May I offer one other note?
items: Re: May I offer one other note?
items: Re: Smokey the Bear, says "How True, Mr. Lo"
items: You might be in a Catch-22
items: Re: You might be in a Catch-22
items: Unrelated, but I was impressed

barbecued bits
type: item
description: Ok, I admit it: I bought one of those Vermont Mfg $4.00 router bits. I think I started my depth too deep-- close to a quarter inch in 1/2 in. MDF. I'm using a rototool with this bit and worked pretty well the fisrt few passes. Then on about the 4th usage (on one of Bill Fitmaurice's desings that have rabbeted or dadoes slots) I got a lot of smoke and a black channel where the bit overheated. There was a hot cinder down in the shavings too. I kept an eye on the whole work area not knowing if there was another hotty around. So my question is: Is the speed too high or low, the motor not powerful enough (I had all those good passes) or is the bit so poor it can only take a couple uses?
creator: lon
date: 2005-04-24T19:09:28-00:00

Re:Smoky the Bear, says"......
type: item
description: I've started fires with 3 1/2 HP routers and 3/4" carbide bits turning at 22k. The culprit is the heat that builds up in the compresed wood fibers and transfers to all that getting-denser-by-the-minute dust. For dadoes use an upshear bit or clear the cut (back up the bit)every few inches. Rabbets should be ok. It;s when the dust has nowhere to go trouble starts.
creator: BillEpstein
date: 2005-04-24T20:42:59-00:00

May I offer one other note?
type: item
description: I'm thinking that a $4 VA bit is HSS - which means that it'll cut about 4 linear feet before it's so dull you could run it against places the sun don't shine without fear of signifigant harm
creator: wunhuanglo
date: 2005-04-24T21:10:10-00:00

Re:Smoky the Bear, says"......
type: item
description: Fires? Jeez. :-/ I've avoided that but there still is noticeable burnt smell in the shop from the workpiece. There was a good breeze and the smoke got let out a window. Smell hangs on though. My rate of progress on this has been pretty slow. I should let the workpiece air out someplace. Next time I'll keep my kitchen fire extinguisher handy.
creator: lon
date: 2005-04-25T04:24:46-00:00

Re: May I offer one other note?
type: item
description: This is the craftsman forum, but, well until I know I can do something, I'd rather experiment with entry level product. Getting through all those zig zags on one of Fitz's designs has been a big challenge for me.
creator: lon
date: 2005-04-25T04:29:30-00:00

Re: Smokey the Bear, says "How True, Mr. Lo"
type: item
description: The advantage to HSS is the ability to sharpen. So, Lon, sharpen that thing! And let the Sun shine in..........
creator: BillEpstein
date: 2005-04-25T07:53:55-00:00

You might be in a Catch-22
type: item
description: Lon, I understand completely. You don't want to invest in quality tool until you're sure you're able to do it and enjoy it enough to continue to do this. BUT ... you're making it harder on yourself by using entry-level tools and it doesn't sound like it's much fun. Do you know someone with a good quality router and bits that you can borrow from? Believe me, it makes the job a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. Gar.
creator: GarMan
date: 2005-04-25T17:05:46-00:00

Re:Smoky the Bear, says"......
type: item
description: This might be an urban legend, but I've heard stories where smothering ember, started by hot router bits, is sucked into a vaccum, burning down an entire shop.
creator: GarMan
date: 2005-04-25T17:09:17-00:00

Re:Smoky the Bear, says"......
type: item
description: It's probably true, not legend. I had to look in the waste to see where the ember was that I had to poke out. Where there was that much smoke, there had to be some fire. The rototool spins at around 17,000 rpm. First few passes went ok. I'll have to upgrade the bit and take a smaller pass. Hell, it's a hobby-- no rush. But setup on this job for a bunch of zig zags is a drag. I'm leaving it go for a few days.
creator: lon
date: 2005-04-26T04:28:56-00:00

Re: You might be in a Catch-22
type: item
description: Do you know someone with a good quality router and bits that you can borrow from? No. Believe me, it makes the job a whole lot easier and more enjoyable. It's good advice, but I live alone and in an apartment at that. No friends with tools. When I meet somebody, I _ask_ them if they have tools, no kidding. No takers. Gar.
creator: lon
date: 2005-04-26T04:33:24-00:00

Unrelated, but I was impressed
type: item
description: I had a job in a US Gov't metallurgical laboratory when I was in school. They had a bench-mounted belt sander - very old and beautiful cast iron machine. The sander was vented into a 4" galvanized smokepipe vacuum line that ran up the wall about 10 feet then overhead about 40 feet until you lost sight of it. One day I decided to put an edge on a knife using the belt sander. What I didn't know is that the guy who generally worked in that lab used the belt sander exclusively for magnesium. All across the ceiling the bottom of the tin pipe glowed a brilliant orange - very impressive. Zinc dripped like condensation onto the floor. Ooops.
creator: wunhuanglo
date: 2005-04-26T08:50:49-00:00

Re: You might be in a Catch-22
type: item
description: I think my local HD rent routers, but you have to supply your own bits. If you're routing MDF in your apartment, be careful of the dust. Breathing that stuff in can't be good for you. I love the workability of MDF, but the dust it generates is a real pain. Sticks to plastic surface like iron filling to a magnet.
creator: GarMan
date: 2005-04-26T15:57:46-00:00

Re: Smokey the Bear, says "How True, Mr. Lo"
type: item
description: What's HSS anyways? Anyway I am back in this thread because I did touch up up my one bit with some 100 sandpaper and it looks smoothe and shiney again. I am not ready to spend $16 on a Porter Cable bit for this job. Gotta try it with what I have again. And I rechucked the thing to about half of the total 3/8 in cut and will make 2 passes.
creator: lon
date: 2005-05-01T04:07:59-00:00