How to cut a straight line with a router bit

most of us have seen and used flush trim router bits before they're commonly used to trim an overhang such as laminate on a countertop or even to route curved shapes using a template but did you know you can use a flush trim bit to cut a straight edge on a workpiece recently we built a router bit cabinet that had sloping sides this would have been difficult to cut on the table saw with the taper jig because the edges change direction at the top and the bottom a band saw is a better option but it's difficult to get consistent smooth cuts along long straight edges with many band saws plus we had two sides to make and we wanted them exactly the same so we sandwiched them together with double sided tape then we attached scraps of mdf along the straight cut lines now a band saw was used to cut away most of the waste but we stayed about an eighth of an inch back from the mdf the work pieces were then clamped to a bench with the mdf on the underside and a flush trim bit was installed in the router the bearing of the bit ran along the straight edge of the mdf cutting perfectly straight lines on the work pieces this process was ideal in this situation because the work pieces were oddly shaped and because we wanted to make two identical pieces at once but you may also use a flush trim bit to cut straight edges on straight panels for example let's say you have to cut a large panel and you can't fit it on your table saw you can rough cut it with a circular saw staying just a little bit away from your line then clamp a straight piece of wood along the final cut line and use a flush turn bit to clean up the cut this is especially useful if you want to be absolutely sure you get zero chip out along the cut line even a table saw with a good blade can create tiny chips in some species of hardwoods so you may use your table saw to cut close to the line but a router with a flush trim bit to clean up the edge so it's nice and crisp you can do all this with a regular straight flush trim bit but i highly recommend a spiral down cut bit because the flutes angle toward the bearing end which push the fibers against the straight edge will be supported and you'll have no chip out whatsoever there are many uses for flush trim bits and they may just help you overcome your next challenging woodworking project i'll link to the ones i use below see you next time the whiteside family has been making router bits in north carolina for half a century their quality is exceptional their service is fantastic and i like supporting small family businesses that's why my cabinet is full of white side bits and i think yours should be too check them out at the link below this video wait don't go yet if you're new here please subscribe and remember to ring the bell i would really appreciate that give us a thumbs up or better yet leave us a comment i always read them and be sure to check out the latest issue of stumpy nubs woodworking journal it's always packed with tips tricks and tutorials designed to make you a better woodworker

Channel: Stumpy Nubs

Views: 149,411

Keywords: woodworking, stumpy nubs, tips, workbench, table saw, scroll saw, drill press, quick tip, band saw, bandsaw, lumber, hack, hand plane, sharpening, tormek, worksharp, diamond stone, water stone, wood turning, bowls, lathe

Id: vByk6usBU_8

Length: 2min 53sec (173 seconds)

Published: Mon Oct 12 2020