Replies

1. 
   WhatKnot | Oct 23, 2005 08:29am | #1

   You might check out the Delta Versa Feeder part nr 36-865. Its a little guy with a brush motor and variable speed.

   Retail is about $280.00

   Steve

   "You can either be smart or pleasant, I was once smart but now I'm pleasant. I like being pleasant better." Jimmy Stewart - Harvey

1. 
   willha | Oct 25, 2005 07:24am | #4

   thanks Steve,I'll look into it!

2. 
   hammer1 | Oct 23, 2005 06:13pm | #2

   Climb cutting with a feeder sounds like nothing but trouble. In the very few circumstances I need to climb cut, I start at the far end and just nibble backwards so there isn't any solid stock behind the cutter. The solid stock behind the cutter will grab and kick. The combination of the feeder and the cutters rotation will likely grab and jamb the stock, shooting it out of the router table. Is there another way to approach your milling problem a little more safely? What are you trying to do?

   Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

1. 
   willha | Oct 25, 2005 07:21am | #3

   climb cutting is done all the time and is safe with proper setup, but only with a feeder.the application is:producing a 1/16"kerf x1/8" deep slot into 1/8" thick bamboo using a 3-wing cutter without tearout.the climb cut w/feeder is the only method that i know of that would produce the results that i'm after.any other ideas on approach?

1. 
   hammer1 | Oct 27, 2005 04:14pm | #5

   I've never done any climb cutting with a feeder, or seen it done. I do own a Versa feeder that I use all the time. It can get very close to a fence, about 1/4" to the edge of the wheels. It has three drive wheels and you can straddle the cutter with them. I have used it for some very small parts. There are a few times when I wish I had a model makers saw or a Dremel router. Since I don't, I usually make zero clearance inserts or fences. I've also used blades made for the small battery circular saws, they are about 1/16" thick in the thin kerf models.I had to make some climb cuts yesterday on some arched rails. I made a zero clearance fence for the router table and nibbled from the end forward to accommodate the reversing grain. If I worked from the center of the arch, the material behind the cut would have made controlling the piece dangerous, both for me and the quality of the cut. I don't have much experience working with Bamboo but I can imagine that it is stringy. I think I would try running it normally but with a very light skimming cut on the first pass. I'd probably allow the slotting cutter to project through the fence 1/64" - 1/32". Using a feeder would eliminate any inconsistency you might have with hand feeding.I took a few pictures of my set up. I was using a beading cutter from a stile and rail set. I clamped a backer to the fence while I fed the fence into the bit, to get a clean edge on the fence. I made incremental cuts until I could use the full depth of the bit. Although this doesn't give perfect results, it's a better option than having chunks blown out while running against the grain. Let us know how you solved your problem.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match

   
1. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 28, 2005 10:25pm | #9

   I looked.. I saw! The PIC... I think the bit is to stuck out to far for the wood.. Many passes takes a bit of time but makes better finish! NO I do not work production,,,

2. 
   charlesm | Oct 27, 2005 04:46pm | #6

   Do you require exactly 1/16" kerf? Another option is to use a saw blade and kerf it on a table saw. The D0724A (7-7 1/4" X 24T) has 0.059" kerf and should produce excellent results. At ~$10 it would also be a more cost effective solution.
   Charles M

   Freud America, Inc.

3. 
   WillGeorge | Oct 28, 2005 06:12am | #7

   Agree.. Some woods such as Purpleheart and other woods that want to splinter it's the ONLY way.. I agree, not the safest way.. BUT.. limit the depth of cut and you just 'KNOW' it wants to take off so ya extra careful!I just LOVE my Routers!

4. 
   forestgirl | Oct 28, 2005 09:08am | #8

   Wow, that's a challenge.  A laser?  Dreaming.  Anyway, please keep us posted how it goes.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)Another proud member of the  "I Rocked With ToolDoc Club" .... :>)