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Lock Mitre Router Bit Setup Guide

I’m using the CMT baby lock mitre router bit, which can
handle a maximum 19mm and minimum 9.5mm thickness timber.

It’s for use in a router table and it produces strong mitre joints. It can be a pain to set up so
I’ve made a step-by-step guide.

As one of the
pieces to be joined has to be run through the router table vertical against the fence, I decided to add a new fence front. My normal one is too small to support
big pieces. I added a length of plywood about 200mm high..

As I said before, it can be tricky to set up. In the Axminster catalogue (CMT section) it says
to set the bit to the center of the timber. The first time I set the router bit up by following these instructions and ran a sample, the joint didn’t fit.

You have to be lucky or have a very good eye to set this bit up correctly the first time. So to set the bit up it’s a trial and error process. However, if you
follow the these steps you’ll be able to produce perfect joints and it only takes about 5 minutes to set...

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Articles How-To’s Router Cutters

Raised Panel Setup Guide

In this guide I’m using the CMT Raised Panel Set!

I’m making a single panel door 635mm x 485mm using 45mm x 20mm pine.

I want to cut the cope cuts on both ends of the rails first, so I installed the cope cutter (the one with the bearing in the middle).

You want to set the height of the bit so the top cutter is about 2mm above the wood.

You must make sure you turn your router speed to a low speed, CMT recommend 16,000 rpm for this bit.

With the height of the bit set, move the fence so it’s level with the bearing.

Although these bits are easy to set up, its still best to run a sample piece first.

Note that I have a scrap piece of wood behind the real piece, which helps prevent tearout.

Perfect… You can now run the real rail pieces through, face down.

Remove the cope cutter and insert the stile bit. This is the bit which cuts the groove and the ogee pattern on the inside of the rail and stiles.

This is where you have to be careful, when setting the height of this bit...

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Articles How-To’s Router Cutters

Reverse Glue Joint Setup Guide

To set this bit up I’ve taken two pieces of 20mm Pine and marked one ‘A’ and the other ‘B’

Next, on one of the pieces, I marked a centre line (right->).

You are trying to set the centre of the bit with the centre line on your board. This is hard to do, so just get as close as you can.

I’m setting the fence so that the bottom cutter is level with it.

You must make sure you turn your router speed to a low speed, CMT recommend 18,000 rpm for this bit.

Run ‘A’ through first (faceup).

And then run ‘B’ through (face down).

Here’s the first result. Its hard to see but ‘A’ is slightly higher than ‘B’. To get it right I have to higher the bit ever so slightly (This is where the fine height adjustment comes in handy on the router).

If ‘A’ was lower then ‘B’ you would lower the bit. It works out you higher or lower the bit about half the distance of the error.

Here’s the first result. Its hard to see but ‘A’ is slightly higher than ‘B’. To get it right I have to higher the bit...

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Articles How-To’s Router Cutters

Drawer Lock Bit Setup Guide

The drawer lock bit from CMT, is really easy to set up.

Start by taking two bits of scrap wood – the same thickness as the wood you are using for the drawers – and mark one A and the other B.

In this example I’m using 20mm thick pine. On one of the pieces of wood I’ve marked two lines – one 6mm up and the other 12mm up.

Install the router cutter into your router table, using the marks as a guide. I’m setting the top of the cutter to the top mark (12mm) and to make sure I’ve got it in the right place, the bottom mark should be lined up with the mid point of the cutter.

I had no idea on what depth to set the fence at, so I just guessed….

You must make sure you turn your router speed to a low speed, CMT recommend 18,000 rpm for this bit.

With the speed on my router turned down to 18,00rpm I’m running ‘A’ through first face-up.

Next, I’m running ‘B’ through face against the fence using two push blocks to aid me.

Well here you can see the result, it’s pretty much perfect...

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