Anyone use Lock Miter bit . . . arg

I’ve been looking for those. I’ve seen them before, but they were sold with the bit and I already have one. In theory it should make using a rather sensitive bit a lot easier to use. But, a wise man said, “In theory there’s no difference between practice and theory, however in practice …”

I may just order a couple … a $20 experiment doesn’t seem too much if I can use the bit reliably.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

You would need to have the same exact profile as the bit. Is it the same?

-- -John "Do I have to keep typing a smiley? Just assume it's a joke." www.flickr.com/photos/gizmodyne

Well Mr. Gizmodyne, you just had to quash my excitement by stating some fact like it might not match. Now, I’m all depressed. ;-) That’s a really good point though.

-- When you give someone a chance it may well be their last.

ya giz, never thought about that

darn

-- The significant problems we face cannot be solved by the same level of thinking that created them

Your experience sounds a lot like mine the first time :)

Once you get it right you can save your test cuts and your money…..

The second time around goes much faster and for certain applications is worth it.

Cheers, Don

-- Don Kondra - Furniture Designer/Maker

Zuki – I would think that you would start low and inch it up little by little until it’s right.

Then as Don says, when it’s right cut a sample piece for setting up the next time.

-- Gary, East TX -- The longest journey begins with a single step.

They are tricky, but Don is right. After you get it right once, keep a sample for future set ups. Remember that the thickness of the board may change the setup though.

You need to be able to make small micro adjustments in your router table to make it work. These bits require extreme precision.

cut both pieces and compare them. Next split the difference by half and adjust accordingly.

-- making sawdust....

This has been on my list of tools to acquire. I hadn’t thought about trickiness of set-up.

-- Maplewood, MN

I’ve used these bits quite a lot. Stock thickness is the key. The blocks you can buy to help set up the router table are only good for the EXACT same thickness of stock. Make sure you have more than enough stock thicknessed to finish your project & I usually run some cheaper wood or scraps thru the planner at the same time. Fiddle with the bit height & fence position untll you get the fit you want usiing the scrap pieces. then run all your fine stock. Just be sure to keep some pieces of well fitting scrap & mark the thickness. The next time you need to make the joint you will have little or no set up time – - – AS LONG AS YOU USE THE SAME THICKNESS STOCK - – - I’ve got 4 diff block sets that pretty much eliminates the hours spent setting up the router table.
I know this won’t help you set up the first time, but know that others have fought the same fight & it will be easier the next time!

Tim

-- http://www.grandprairiewoodworks.com

Go to woodshopdemos.com. John Lucas has a great method of setting these and it works every time. I’ve used it a lot.

-- Thos. Angle, Owyhee Design, Oregon

I used this type of cutter on my comp entry Oak Box, and used the science of muddling through to set it up. Afterwards, I discovered this that look as as if it might work well. I like Tim’s idea.

-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business.