Replies

1. 
   cuttoff | Jun 11, 2002 05:10pm | #1

   Mark, I think it could be any one or a combination of the things you mention. Power might be less of a problem than the others since I seem to be able to overcome power problems by adjusting feed rate and making sure my bits are sharp. There are times when I just cant seem to get the combo right and it results in burning. Thats when I blame it on the wood, get a cool glass of lemonade and go watch a ball game.

   John

2. 
   PlaneWood | Jun 11, 2002 06:09pm | #2

   Dull bits are the primary cause of burning.  Some woods burn easier than other also.  Cherry is bad for burning.

   Cheap bits will dull fast.  Cheap bits will be made with inferior grades of carbide.  I use Amana bits and get them sharpened at the first sign of burning.  They are better then new after sharpening by the place I use here in Houston.

   PlaneWood by Mike_in_Katy
   PlaneWood

3. 
   cuttoff | Jun 12, 2002 01:17am | #3

   See Mark, we all do it.... Thats the wonderful thing about wood, its never the same and you have to work at working it. So sharpen your bits up and get to practicing!  Oh and by the way, you'll only get good at guessing by learning to feel the wood and a nurturing a nearly intimate relationship with your router and bits. Don't  be dissapointed if it takes some time to get it right.  I just cut a coved tennon on the wrong side of a valuable piece of wood. Hey, stuff happens. 

   John

4. 
   camel | Jun 12, 2002 09:31pm | #4

   The only way to rout stopped flutes in any wood is to use an plunge router and an edge guide.  Well it's not the only way, but I think it's the best and easiest.  Bit sharpness is important, but it's usually not the reason you get burn in flutes.  The key is to plunge and go right now.  You can't start to slow down when you get towards the end of the flute.  You should have start and stop blocks set.  Also if you go too fast you'll get chatter.  There's a happy medium and you have to find it for yourself.  I don't know if this helped or not.  Have fun, I'm out of her for a week tomorrow morning.....John E. Nanasy

5. 
   PaulParadis | Jun 13, 2002 06:36am | #5

   Use a plunge router, make two or three passes, the last pass only a tiny bit deeper than the last.  Don't let the router stay in one place.