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Ok someone explain this... router fence question

2K views 16 replies 13 participants last post by  Jofa 
#1 · (Edited by Moderator)
Hey guys.

I think I have a mental block here or something. So I have a router table and a fence. I basically want to use a 1/4" straight bit so that I can use it as a kind of a joiner. (hoping I get the technical terms correct here).

What I don't understand is when the stock goes through the blade, it's then thinner than the original piece (duh). What happens is that this doesn't create a true flat cut.

I'm probably not 'splaining it correctly so please see the image…

Rectangle Font Parallel Circle Brand


Someone teach me something here. Thanks.
 

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#2 ·
The outfeed side of the fence has to stick out the distance that you are taking off. This is usually accomplished with a moveable outfeed fence but from the drawing it looks like yours is solid one piece. So maybe double sided tape a really thin piece to the outfeed side for the stock to ride on and adjust until you get it right.
 
#3 ·
Some of the commercial tables have an extendable portion of the fence after the bit to make up the difference, or the fence after the bit is separate from the fence before it. I suppose you could attach some type of very thin material (equal to what you are taking off) if your fence does not have that built-in.
 
#5 ·
Jofa,

Nice illustration and good question.

The secret is to build up or offset the outfeed side of the fence to make it even with the cutting edge of the router bit. You can do it either by adding a thin shim layer to a one piece fence or by adjusting the outfeed fence if you have a split fence.

You can do something very similar with a table saw.

Good Luck!

Be Careful!

Herb
 
#6 ·
You only want to expose about 1/16" of your router bit in front of the fence. Then shim the outfeed side (where you pictured the gap) with strips of Formica or? (these need to be as thick as the portion of router bit in front of the fence): 1/16" in my example. Hope I haven't confused you more!
 
#7 · (Edited by Moderator)
I use formica on the outfeed side of my router jointer fence, which is just a piece of MDF laid flat on the router table. I really only use it for stuff I wouldn't want to run over my HSS jointer blades, like MDF or melamine.
 
#8 ·
I've used those plastic gift cards that stores hand out, they were just the right thickness for my 'jointing' and they are fairly robust so don't tear or wear out too easily.
 
#11 · (Edited by Moderator)
you should be able a get straight sides on your tablesaw, making a fence extesion and turn the bow side out from the blade the extension will let the 2 points of the board contact the fence at all times while the saw cuts out the bow then turn the board over to the sawed straight side cut the other side off and you have a stright board, if this is what your trying to do, take a pc of mdf and clamp to your fence this should work, or shim out your fence on the router table, but the tablesaw is great for edge jointing a bowed board
 
#14 ·
Barney,
I have this setup available on my router table, but I don't use it. It is limited to mostly edge jointing because the maximum router bit length is about 2".
I prefer the jointer where I can face joint, and edge joint with longer reference surfaces. My jointer is about 76" long, whereas my router table is only 30".
 
#17 ·
Wow guys, thank you so much! These explanations really helped a lot.

As for edge joining, I've been successful on the table saw but I'm still very much in the learning phase of things and I've seen some do it on a router table so I was curious.

@bowedcurly: I've had a good number of bowed boards and came up with a carriage system that works well. I basically built a sled that the board runs on and the entire sled moves, leaving a very straight cut. Then I can do the other edges with the fence and miter. I've actually done this with firewood logs, similar to what Izzy Swan did on one of his videos (but not as nice).

As for the router table and fence system, I think I just need to build an insert in my bench and then build a fence. The little Skil table and fence I have is pretty awkward and it's really small. I've injured myself on it once and I really don't want to push my luck.

Thanks again guys. I'll be posting another thread about a router decision shortly so please chime in there as well. As always, grateful for the knowledge and camaraderie here.
 
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