Good tongue and groove router bit

[dansmith]

Hello

I have had a quick look for this but could not find quite what im looking for so hopefully someone can point em in the right direction.

Im looking for a decent router bit to cut tongue and grooves in 18mm beech, just making basic shaker doors for a kitchen. I have a trend T11 + table and would like a single bit which will cut both joins by only adjusting the height.

Thanks for your help

Dan

 

[blackrodd]

Hello and welcome, How much will you have to do, as Beech will be pretty hard and inclined to burn unless you have a final "Finish" cut on edges etc to overcome any.
Working on its edge, Have you thought about using a 6mm cutter in the centre for the groove and each side for the tongue? You'll probably need a few, just a thought.
Regards Rodders

 

[Woodmonkey]

Wealden tools sell excellent router bits, and are reasonably priced. www.wealdentool.com

 

[Wuffles]

Take a look at the Whiteside bits at www.routercutter.co.uk too.

 

[dansmith]

Hello and welcome, How much will you have to do, as Beech will be pretty hard and inclined to burn unless you have a final "Finish" cut on edges etc to overcome any.
Working on its edge, Have you thought about using a 6mm cutter in the centre for the groove and each side for the tongue? You'll probably need a few, just a thought.
Regards Rodders

Hi Rodders,

its only one small kitchen, probably around 15 doors half of them quite large. I was looking at beech since it seems to be the most reasonably priced hardwood. The doors will be painted. Any advise is appreciated.

thanks Dan

 

[paulm]

Not sure I would use a hardwood if it's going to be painted. A good quality MR MDF would be a lot more stable, better value, and perfectly good for the application.

I'd second Wealden for trade quality and decent value, you can buy cheaper stuff elsewhere but quality may not be similarly good.

Cheers, Paul

 

[AJB Temple]

If it were me I would not use a single bit for T&G work as the set up changes are tedious to get right and spot on accurate. If possible I would get my panels ready and do all grooves and then switch to all tongues, using cutter set such as this one: http://www.axminster.co.uk/axcaliber-to ... set-952564

There are numerous sets like this around at a range of prices. For low volume this set will work fine in my experience - just run off 12 wardrobe door panels recently for my mother using this set on a Trend table in heavy duty Elu half inch router. My brother assembled them at her house. No probs.

 

[Wuffles]

I've just made a larger kitchen out of beech using some Whiteside bits and I didn't have any burning - they were new bits though.

I was a little scared by people (after I'd made it all of course) talking about beech being a nightmare to keep straight. Done now, wait and see what happens.

 

[custard]

Not sure I would use a hardwood if it's going to be painted. A good quality MR MDF would be a lot more stable, better value, and perfectly good for the application.

I'd second Wealden for trade quality and decent value, you can buy cheaper stuff elsewhere but quality may not be similarly good.

Cheers, Paul

+1

Or if you want solid timber and it's going to be painted use Poplar (Tulip Wood), kinder on your tools and kinder on your wallet!

Good luck.

 

[scosarg]

This is a link to the CMT Router Bit Catalogue
http://scosarg.com//leaflets/cmt/2014_Router_Bits.pdf
T&G sets are on Page 125, 135 & 187

 

[dansmith]

Thanks for the tips, maybe a two piece set is a better idea.

With regards to the wood i have a real dislike for MDF, i know its easy to work with, cheap and keeps it shape but i just can not get over the man made element, it seems to ding a bit too easily also.

I was planning on purchasing the beech from britishhardwoods it looks like they don't supply Tulip however i have found some on ebay which seems to be a reasonable price (£4.30 per 1.5m)

I was thinking of using 60mm x 19/18mm for the styles.

Thanks

Dan

 

[Wuffles]

I felt the same about MR MDF and I am using butt hinges too - someone recently suggested doing just the hinge stile out of solid timber and the rest out of MDR. Probably some mileage in that, however, if it helps, I used my local builders merchant who have an account with Robbins timber in Bristol and I was quoted for prepared timber the following prices (gives you something to aim at?):

Oak:
Stiles and rails - 70mm x 22mm £3.44pm
Face frames - 35mm x 22mm £2.10pm

Beech
70mm x 22mm £2.19
35mm x 22mm £1.42pm

Tulipwood
70mm x 22mm £1.98pm
35mm x 22mm £1.23pm

Plus VAT on all that.

But you can see why I went for beech. However, if I did it again, I'd have gone for the Tulipwood as I have spent the last few months worried about the doors warping - a couple have, but only slightly - few mm in the corner perhaps, could have been the hinge placement although I used a jig for that, so could be the face frames. I understand that Tulipwood is less prone?

Router bits were http://routercutter.co.uk/stile-rail-full-size (choose your shape) - Whiteside bits have a very good rep across the pond, but not so well known over here.

If you were local, I'd say come on over and have a look, or even use my router table and bits.

Another Dan.

 

[dansmith]

Thanks everyone, I think i will look at tulip wood and CMT bit set.

Dan

 

[Wuffles]

Thanks everyone, I think i will look at tulip wood and CMT bit set.

Dan

I have a contact for CMT bits if you would like to PM me.