Router Cutters

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...

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...

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)...

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...