Raised panel question

[rcp612]

I'm in the process of building raised panel doors out of 3/4" red oak. The problem I'm having is tearout, especially along the cross grain cuts. I've tried using 4 different fence settings and gradually raising the bit but, still end up with tearout.
I have Holbren bits, have tried various speeds, both on the router and feed, to no avail. What's my problem ? Is the preferred method to gradually raise the bit or, to gradually increase the fence set-back ?

[softop41]

Use a backup block behind the stock you're cutting so there is support when you come to the end of the stock. Coarse-grained woods tear out more than do tighter grained woods like maple but tear out on cross-grain operations is hard to aviod.
HTH
Jerry

[ragswl4]

From an article in FWW: For horizontal panel raising bits the bit should be raised on each pass. For vertical bits, the fence should be moved. On the last cut, take no more than 1/16" for a smooth finish.

I use a vertical Whiteside bit and take 1/32" on the last cut, little to no sanding required. The wood is Goncalo Alves (aka:Tigerwood or Brazilian Koa) which is more dense than oak but finer grained. Cuts smoothly.

Bit speed for large horizontal bits is recommended at 8,000-10,000.
Bit speed for veritcal is 18,000-22,000. I run mine at 16,000-18,000 per the manufacturers specs. Make sure you follow the speed recommendations if you are spinning a large horizontal bit. Check with Holbren to see what it is.

[Daryl]

I like to do all my cros grain cuts first, then the cuts wth the grain will clean up all but the worst tear out.

[footprintsinconc]

exactly everything that all three of the above people have said.

i made my raised panels out of red oak. horizontal bits is what i used (rockler). make sure the speed is adjusted per the width of the bit (see router speed post in "project related questions" section). dont make the wider cuts in one pass, make it in three passes at least, every time making a deeper cut, such that you only take off approx a 1/16" or so on last cut to get a smooth finsih. always do the cross grains FIRST and have a scrap pieces at the end of your piece to avoid tear outs. finally, then do the cut parallel to the grains (this gets rid of any tear out that did take place)

happy routering!

[Ken Massingale]

What the previous 4 folks said, especially the backup block and do the end grain first.

[Russianwolf]

there is one other trick you can try in addition to the ones above.

Make a couple plunge cuts along the edge you're working. these provide places for any tearout to stop before they get too bad.


So your edge will look something like this

----u----u----u----u---u-

[Holbren]

Here is a nice instructional video. These are Timberline bits but the concept is the same.

http://www.woodworkingonline.com/200...cabinetmaking/

[JimD]

All I can say is I agree and I have made lots of red oak raised panel doors - at least a couple dozen - with no visible tear out. I used MLCS bits. If you do more gradual cuts, 3 or 4, and do the end grain first I think you will have success. Also note that a little tear out may be hidden when you put the panel into the frame - but only 1/8 to 1/4.

Jim