Routing

[1oppo]

Hi

I need to rout a slot in a board that is 3" wide, the slot is cross grain. It is close to the end of the board. What is the best way to do this?

Thanks
Ed

[dbhost]

Not sure I get quite what you mean. Like a 3" wide slot across the entire work piece? Perhaps you might consider using a Dado stack, and cut the slot in several passes... I've done that for half laps a bunch...

[Black wallnut]

Assuming that you want a dado that is 3/4" or narrower then I would suggest that you set up your router table with a fence and guide the workpiece through using a sacraficial square block as a backer/ pusher. Hold both the work peice and the the pusher block away from the cutter, meaning that your hands will never be directly over the bit. keep both in firm contact with each other and the fence and you should not have problems with tear out. However if you do not have a router table you could guide your hand held router with a piece of scrap that is squared.

[shoottx]

The how to depends on the capabilities you have. If I understand your question correctly, you need to cut a slot across the grain of a 3" wide board close to the end of the board.

1. If you have a dado set for the table saw, use the dado and the cross cut method available.

2. Router table set up the table with a fence guide the distance from the end and select the correct width router bit and make several passes to achieve the correct depth. When cutting use a guide or follow on board to keep the board straight and to eliminate tear out.

3. For hand held router, clamp the piece to be grooved between to other boards that will provide enough support for the router base. Clamp a guide fence to the boards and make several passes to get the appropriate deth.

4 Build a router jig like a mortise jig and clamp the work piece in the vise and cut the slot.

5 cut it by hand. use a hand saw and make two cuts that determine the width and depth of the required slot. Make one or two cuts in between the edges and then clean out the slot with a chisel.

I am sure there are other methods, but those come to mind quickly

[1oppo]

I didn't make my post very clear, the board is 3" wide and I need to rout a slot so that I have 1 1/2" adjustment, the slots are 2" from both ends.

Thanks
Ed

[dbhost]

Uh...

Nope. That didn't help... Perhaps a picture of what you are talking about would help...

[cabinetman]

That cross grain groove/dado, could be done on the TS with a sled, or just a miter gauge. It could be done on a router table with a sled, or backed up with a sacrificial block.

For those types of dadoes, I use a dado jig, I specifically made for those types of procedures. It's shop made and very easy, accurate, and quick to use.
.

[JR]

It sounds like this is the idea.

You'll want a plunge router with an edge guide. Use a straight bit, the diameter of which equals the width of the slot. Stand with the long part of the board to your left, and the end into which you are cutting the slot on your right.

Set the edge guide so that the bit is the correct distance from the end of the board (2", either centered on the bit or from the edge of the bit to the end of the board, as you desire). Position the bit over one end of the slot, plunge the router part way into the board (<1/4"). Move the router until the bit reaches the other end of the slot. Lift the router and move it back to the start of the slot. Plunge the bit again, up to 1/4" deeper than the first time. Rinse and repeat until you have cut through the board.

Repeat for the other end, following the same rules for board to the left and slot-end to the right.

IMPORTANT: You will want a sacrificial piece of wood below where you are cutting, for two reasons. 1. It will save your workbench . 2. It will keep the back side of your slot from tearing out the wood of your board.

Depending on how critical the 1.5" length of the slot is, you might consider setting up stops of some kind, limiting the travel of the router along the length of the slot. This would make sure that each cut would start and stop in exactly the same place. If this is for a shop jig, or some other incosequential purpose, just mark the ends of the slot with a pencil and eyeball the bit as you plunge it in. Even if the purpose is fine woodworking, you could eyeball the whole procedure, leaving the interim cuts just short of the line. Then at the end you could carefully move the bit right up to the line.

HTH,
JR

[cabinetman]

I didn't make my post very clear, the board is 3" wide and I need to rout a slot so that I have 1 1/2" adjustment, the slots are 2" from both ends.

Thanks
Ed

Your post still isn't clear. Questions:

1. What kind of wood is it?
2. What is the thickness of the stock (board)?
3. What is the depth of the slot?
4. What is the width of the slot?
5. Is the adjustment centered?
.

[1oppo]

JR is right about what I want to do. I wasn't sure if I could go across grain with the board being so narrow. Thanks for all the replies.

Ed

[JR]

I wasn't sure if I could go across grain with the board being so narrow.

If the router seems a little "tippsy" on the edge guide you could clamp a couple of scrap pieces of wood onto the sides of the board. In this way, the end of the board could be made to have a longer edge, making it steadier.