Replies

1. 
   gulfstar | Jul 29, 2021 02:54pm | #1

   It is safe but personally I prefer cutting against the rotation of the cutter head. I wonder why they do not place the dovetail bit partly in the fence and do away with the jig .

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 29, 2021 04:07pm | #2

   Thank you, I wondered that myself. I'm going to be cutting on scrap as always but I have always thought this is the incorrect side of the bit to be cutting on.

2. 
   daverichards | Jul 29, 2021 04:18pm | #3

   Cutting with the work trapped between fence and cutter isn't as safe as feeding in the conventional direction but the climb cut will generally create a cleaner cut. With the sled behind the work there's not too much risk of any problem.

   This is the sort of thing I prefer using the Router Boss for instead of my router table.

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 30, 2021 08:35am | #8

   Thank you Dave. Never heard of the Router Boss though.

3. 
   pintodeluxe | Jul 29, 2021 05:02pm | #4

   It's not generally safe to rout a workpiece between the bit and fence. You'd have to pull the workpiece toward you to avoid a climb cut
   It's much better to just partially bury the dovetail bit in the workpiece, as you hold it against the fence.

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 30, 2021 08:35am | #9

   Thank you sir, this is what I'm going to do.

4. 
   elmaduro | Jul 29, 2021 06:25pm | #5

   I’d take scrap and try both: as shown and with bit buried in the fence. I’d personally use the bit buried in the fence and make a shallow pass first.

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 30, 2021 08:36am | #10

   Thanks. I'm going to make a tall fence out of MDF and bury it.

5. 
   john_c2 | Jul 29, 2021 07:25pm | #6

   Do it with the bit buried in the fence. No reason not to.

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 30, 2021 08:36am | #11

   Many thanks!

6. 
   mikaol | Jul 29, 2021 08:30pm | #7

   If you rout between the bit & the fence, the bit will cause the board to shoot out the left side. More trouble than it's worth.

1. 
   Jack759 | Jul 30, 2021 08:37am | #12

   Thanks, that's what I was afraid of and it just didn't look right.

7. 
   starkw1 | Jul 30, 2021 04:35pm | #13

   Using the router set-up and pushblock as shown in the photo would work fine IF you move the workpiece from left to right. I think the photo shows the workpiece movin R to L, which would be dangerous.