What is Safest Way? --- 1/2in Roundover Bits on Totes

In the past when I had to rout small items and I felt my fingers were too close to the bit I’d make a jig to hold the piece. Gives you a lot more control too. From your picture I’d say that was too close for my comfort.

Thanks Jeff. That is exactly why I ask the question above about safety. I am looking to see what kinds of jigs others may have made for this particular task in making HP totes safer to round over.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

Mike, I use a 12” wooden hand screw clamp. I have to loosen it/tighten it 4 times on each one, but it keeps my fingers the hell away from that spinning finger eater….

-- Lucas, "Someday woodworks will be my real job, until then, there's this http://www.melbrownfarmsupply.com"

Use a clamp. The best are wooden clamps, as they’ve got some mass and sit square to the bit.

-- ian | "You can't stop what's coming. It ain't all waiting on you. That's vanity."

you can do what Jeff said of just use a wooden screw clamps to hold the tote or buy a small adjustable small part clamp.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Interesting, I cut out a tote the other day, but haven’t rounded it yet. I considered doing it by hand, but the router method seems quicker and more accurate. I think I might try with just a push paddle.

Bam! There goes my first ”Gee, I coulda’ had a V8” moment! Great idea, and simple too! Thanks.

BRAINSTORMING: Anyone using a bolted rod through the tote, in any way? Maybe to hold a wedge to square up the top of the tote for the clamp?

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

Mike, I could have sworn I had a picture like a1Jim shows on my blog, but its not there. But to be honest though, I free hand it like you show, and sneak up on the cut.

-- There is nothing like the sound of a well tuned hand plane. - http://timetestedtools.wordpress.com (timetestedtools at hotmail dot c0m)

Kinda slow typing on my first response. You could also just attach a couple sticks with hot glue ,route then remove the sticks, not sure about using a bolt through the tote.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Scott, I am thinking that the ‘push stick’ would not be enough. I did a couple totes as posted in the OP and it scared the dickens out of me, and chipped the tote’s toe on the right every time. It sent the tote flying and I was left with my fingers way too close for comfort. This clamp thing is sounding better all the time! That FIRM grip on the tote is the only thing keeping it from flying when it contacts that cutter.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

double stick tape it down and use a trim router by hand. might have to make the hole in the router base a little bigger for the 1/2 roundover bit. you can make several passes if you need to.

Jim,
Hot-gluing the cut-offs back on also sounds like a great idea, as that should help me keep from cutting my right toe off (see above). 8-)

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

James101, that also sounds doable, but I don’t currently have a trim router to play with. Maybe this would be motivation to save for one. Hmm…

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

That sound like a winner Mike
I have also used my old PC router and a router mat to do it by hand ,these mats are nothing more than a piece of carpet pad. It has always seemed weird that they hold pieces why you hand route but they work and for the most part they do.
If you can find one of these old routers grab it it’s perfect for round over operations ,the two or three I own cost me less than $20 each.

-- W James Brokenbourgh Custom furniture maker http://artisticwoodstudio.com/

Well, I just ran out to the shop and tried the wooden clamp idea on the Zebrawood tote as seen above. I had to finagle with a couple of the cutoff pieces to wedge it properly and even used the end of the tote rod sticking out, to keep it in place while clamping. Cool! Think I may have had the router turned up a bit high as things wanted to burn rather easily, but other than that I feel A LOT SAFER routing these totes with a clamp.

Jim,
I have rubber mats in my metal-working tool drawers that will probably grab as you indicate. My thoughts are that I probably need to build an equal thickness frame a couple of inches larger than the tote, and that would help me keep the router operating as flat as possible. I think I will practice with some left over Ash, as that Zebrawood and Rosewood is expensive.

I sure appreciate the ideas folks! They helped clear my mind and shake out the cobwebs… ;-) Sometimes the best ideas are the simplest, but you just have to know they exist in order to take advantage of them. Thanks!

Here is how my clamping turned out this morning:

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."