Router bit set for cabinet doors

[jovani]

I am looking for a first time cabinet doors router bit set. I have never build cabinet doors, but will like to give it try.
With so many options, and styles, what do you recomend for a novice wood worker? I purchased some of the books on routers recomended in this forum and have been reading them. Is anyone recomend a router DVD for beginners?

[Black wallnut]

I'm still using the first reversible set I purchased years ago from MLCS. With their free manual cope and stick doors are not too much for newbies. There are other options that are worth looking at. Stacked bits and matched bit sets are also available. All three types will produce equally great results with careful set-up and adjustment.

I think that the Router Workshop may have links on their site to previously aired episodes that detail this type of joinery. Might be worth a look.

[mashtun]

Router bit set for cabinet doors

I was at the local Rockler when the Freud truck as there, and the Freud said that any boxed Freud bit sets come with a DVD on how to use it. Can't Vouch for how good the DVD would be, but just an FYI.

Also I did see some guy had a video of exactly how to do it out on the internet. I can't find it right now, but if I do I will post it.

John

[JimD]

I have found MLCS (MLCSWoodworking.com) to be a good combination of decent quality and low prices. They have all three types of bits, reversable, stacked, and twin bit sets. I have one of each but have not used the twin bit set yet. They may be the easiest/safest. I bought a set when PriceCutters was doing a closeout on JoinTech bits. You might want to check and see if they still have any. The bits look good but I haven't cut any wood with them yet. An advantage of the twin bit sets is you cut with the wood face down for both the cope (cutting the ends of rails to fit over the molded edge) and stick (making the profile that shows on the inner edge of all the frame pieces). If you keep the stock flat to the router table (router table is mandatory to use these bits) you should have very little sanding to flatten the front of the frame.

I like stacked bits better than reversable. If you get a reversable, make a picture of how it goes for the two cuts - it can be a little confusing. I made a bunch of doors with a Grizzly reversable in ogee pattern. They work.

The primary advantage of a stacked set is that you don't have to change bits. I do the cope cut on a sled with a bed of 1/2 bb plywood and have only a minimal height adjustment to make before doing the stick cut. A disadvantage of this type of bit is it sticks up a lot while you are making the stick cut - the one you do the most. Keep your hands out of it.

You need some sort of backer for the cope cut. Simplest is just a square scrap you can hold your rail against as you push it thorugh the bit. Sleds with a clamp are a definite step up. No need to but it, a few scraps will make a good sled. A clamp is not necessary, it just helps a little.

I like to finish the panel before glueing up the door. That avoids the panel shrinking and exposing an unfinished edge. I finish the inside edge of the door (avoiding most of the area that will be glued) at the same time. Then glue up, then sand the frame flat, then finish the frame and apply another coat to the panel.

Jim

[LinuxRandal]

Brian, from Holbren had a run on an overstock of a basic cabinet bit set a while back. It isn't expensive normally and is a good learning set (don't want to ruin a high dollar set). You might consider posting a wanted in the classifieds, or checking out his site and asking if he has any "damaged box" specials.

As for the dvd's, I don't know of any, but I would certainly check out YouTube and your local libraries.

[JimD]

Norm did a show on using a router. One segment was making the frame for a door using the kind of router bits we are talking about. I don't know if that's one you can get but it could be worth looking if you really want one. I would get some inexpensive wood and give it a try (like poplar).

Jim

[Parkingmeter]

jovani, cabinet making DVD's

I am looking for a first time cabinet doors router bit set. I have never build cabinet doors, but will like to give it try.
With so many options, and styles, what do you recomend for a novice wood worker? I purchased some of the books on routers recomended in this forum and have been reading them. Is anyone recomend a router DVD for beginners?

Marc Sommerfield has some very good DVD's that will guide you through every step of making cabinets. I can personally recomend getting his DVD's as I used them step by step in learning how to make them myself. In fact what I did was to put a TV and DVD player in my garage and watched his DVD's step by step while building my first cabinets. I believe he sells his DVD's for $10.00 each and that is a much easiesr way to learn cabinet making than reading books.

Of course he sells router bits and sets, of which I bought, and that is just fine by me, I know I have every one of the bits needed to make cabinets without spending money buying bits I don't need.

http://www.sommerfeldtools.com/

[twistsol]

I'll second the vote for Marc Sommerfeld's videos and bit sets. After I saw him at the WW show in Phoenix last year, I bought the entire set of DVD's. The videos are quite good but are definitely a set. In each video, he refers to something he showed you in another video. There also is alot of sales included in the instruction.

Because I have three bathrooms and a kitchen to remodel in this house, I spent far too much money on stuff from his catalog and bought the top end cabinet making set. I can wholeheartedly recommend everything except his pocket hole jig. It just doesn't compare to a Kreg jig in quality or functionality.

[jovani]

jovani router bits

Thanks so much guys for all the information. I purchased all the books that were recomended by the BT3 family and I am having a good time reading them.

I will follow up on the information you given me and any other that comes my way.

[Jeffrey Schronce]

I was at the local Rockler when the Freud truck as there, and the Freud said that any boxed Freud bit sets come with a DVD on how to use it. Can't Vouch for how good the DVD would be, but just an FYI.

John

The DVD included in the Freud set is a great little DVD. Works in your computer and does a good job. Also a poster is included to aid in construction while in the shop. I highly recommend the Freud sets for new users.

If you get good directions from another source, then I suggest the Whiteside sets. They are killers IMHO.

[Sawatzky]

A good site for online woodworking videos is www.woodworkingonline.com. They have a lot of podcasts there, and I know one of the router podcasts shows how to do rail and stile doors on a router table. I have learned a lot from those videos.

[JimD]

I was looking at router bits yesterday and noticed that MLCS offers a VHS or DVD of how to make doors for $10. They also have instructions you can download for free. I also noticed they have a cutter you can put on either the reversable or stacked cope/stick bit to make a smaller groove for the undersized 1/4 plywood. The cutter seems a little pricey at $20 but I'll probably get one.

Reversibles were $45, stacked were $50 and I think two bit sets were about $70. One of the reasons I like MLCS is shipping is free.

Jim

[jovani]

cabinet doors router bits

Jim, thanks for the valuable information. I will look into it. Jovani