Blades'n'Bits rail and stile cutters

[RickR]

Hi guys;

I recently bought the six piece cabinet maker's set from Blades'n'Bits. I have not been able to acheive a satisfactory match between the rail and the stile, which I assumed was due to a learning curve. The mortice(?) and the tenon(?) are seriously different sizes and the ogee profiles will not come together correctly.

Yseterday I carefully took both bits apart and put the ogee cutters together. It does not appear to me that the profiles are matched. There is no way that the "male" and "female" cutters will come together.

Am I missing something here? Has anyone else had a similar experience? I have their 30 piece set and have absolutely no complaints about those bits.

Thanks, Rick

[drumpriest]

I have that set from blades'n'bits. I didn't have much trouble with it, perhaps you got a bum set??

[mater]

When I used mine the first time they did not match up. I removed one of the washers on the rail bit and then they matched up perfect.

[monte]

You might have to adjust them with the shims to get the fit you need. After you adjust them make some set up blocks and it will be easier next time.

[RickR]

Thanks for the info guys, I'm going to try them again in a couple of days. I already played around with the shims a little but seems to me that won't help if the fixed ogee profiles don't match each other.

Thanks again, Rick

[looneytools]

Rick,

Check out Sommerfeld site for one of the best debugging articles on rail and stile bits.

http://www.sommerfeldtools.com/tutor...erailstile.asp

Also check out New Woodworker for an article on how to set the height of the bits. Be careful though some of the illistrations are a little misleading. But with a little thought the methods are good.

http://www.newwoodworker.com/

Bob

[andrew.r.w]

I got R&S set from B&B and had to adjust the shims for a good fit. After a few minutes of fiddling I have a good match every time now. Hopefully your issue is as simple as that.

Good Luck!

[RickR]

Thanks guys;

I fooled around with the shims yesterday and I got what looks like a perfect match. Got so excited when I saw the rail and stile pieces go together I went ahead and made a panel as well. Glued it up and it looks pretty good for my first door.

The page at Sommerfeld Tools is excellent !! Freud also has an excellent instruction page for rail and stile as well.

http://www.freud.ca/bit_tips.htm

Anyway, thanks again for the help, it worked.

Rick

[sdj]

Quality of bits?

I am a hobbyist. I have a really cheap set of yellow Harbor Freight Stile/Rail bits and am happy with the fit(got them shimmed perfect) I am getting, but even with "backer boards", the chip out and some burning from using Red OaK is unacceptable. I am running the router at about 16,000 RPM. I have not yet made a ZTC for the fence/bit.

Question: I am really leaning toward spending the $150 for the Sommerfeld rail/stile /panel raiser set of bits, but also want to buy the Sommerfeld Offset Tongue/Groove Cabinetmaking set. Can I get buy with a "cheaper set" of rail/stile bits (for example: MLCS, Blades n Bits). I really want to buy Sommerfeld's Pocket Pro Jig and his Offset Tongue and Groove system.

[JimD]

sdj,

I use MLCS rail/stile bits. I like the stacked bits best. All you have to do to change from the stile to the rail cut is change the height. I also have an old Grizzley reversable bit I occasionally still use. I have not worn out a rail/stile bit despite making dozens of raised and flat panel doors.

If you have not made a sled, I would do that next. My backer piece is part of the sled. I cope the ends of the rails first so that minor tear-out is removed when I mould the edges. Burning is normally from going too slow. Excessive chip out can be the wood (oak is somewhat prone to chipout) but it can also mean the bit is dull.

Jim

[sdj]

Are the MLCS stacked bits "shimmable"?

I am thinking of getting one of these sets.
http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shops.../bt_stack.html
Can you insert small copper shims by the bearings to get a better fit if needed?