Replies

1. 
   Curtis | Jun 20, 2004 04:24am | #1

   Hello

   after useing my router bits I always hone the flats. this keeps the edges sharp and keeps the pitch form building up.

   other than that I make sure the bearing is rolling smothly.just do a visual check before and after use, and you should have no problems for years to come.

   C.A.G.

   C.A.G.
2. 
   KeithNewton | Jun 20, 2004 05:37am | #2

   dlb. It is always helpful when asking for advice to give all pertinent information.

   I will assume that you are asking about carbide router bits.

   The carbide is actually like a ceramic, It is not prone to rust, and because of its hardness it is brittle, and very easy to chip the edge, so don't allow any sharp impact with other hard surfaces. It is just as hard when it is red hot as it is when it is cold. So I was told by a machinist friend. It is like the proverbial hot knife through butter when working steel.

   However when working wood, heat had a detrimental effect worse than steel.

   I think I read this a long time ago. There can be a chemical erosive effect by the out-gassing of chemicals from the heat generated by cutting too slow.

   Whenever you are using your router try to cut at a feed rate that you are not over-loading the motor, but the chip that are flying away are thick and large enough to hold together.

   The ideal feed-rate has a large enough chip that the chip takes the heat away. This is hard to do with a under-powered motor. Also most small routers only have 1/4" capacity. There is so much flex, or bit deflection at that size with the normal under- powered motor, that it is hard for the beginner to find the right feed rate, and depth of cut.

   For this reason whenever friends ask, I always recommend that you buy a 3 hp router with a 1/2" chuck. I find them easier to control, and there is so much more that you can do with them.

   I have 7 in my shop now 4 @ 3hp and 3 trimmers, and have been through many more over the last 30 years. I know this sounds like I am bragging, but I only want you to know that I have some depth of experience. I also do all of my own sharpening.

   The oil is a good idea for the shank when you take the bit out if your hands are sweaty. Otherwise keep the pitch buildup off. I use solvent and steel-wool, and keep your tools sharp.

   As for your last statement, I would like to respond.

   An over disciplined life wouldn't know a creative thought even on close examination. I feel that creativity comes most freely at the expence of discipline. IMHO

   Cheers K

   I

1. 
   dlb | Jun 24, 2004 08:26pm | #7

   I think that you would have a very difficult time convinceing Madame Curie, Johann Sebastian Bach, Werner VanBram, Edward Tiller, Harry Jaffa, ... that being disciplined reduced their creativity. I feel that it does just the opposite - it allows one to have more time to dedicate themselves to achieving more.

   The undisciplined life is not worth examining.

1. 
   KeithNewton | Jun 25, 2004 06:26am | #8

   dlb,

   Well I guess you have me. I would like to ask them if they thought their creativity came from their great discipline or from where?

   If you have a specific quote from one of them I would love to hear it.

   I'll have to adlib, but I think Thomas Edison said something like "There is a certain amount of discovery that comes from sloppiness."

   I am not saying there is no place for discipline. I am sure that all of the greats possessed huge amounts of discipline in learning their skills, but I'll bet you that if you ask when their greatest moments in life were, they would say something like, " There I was doing my thing, but it was like it was coming from some other place out of my control. "

   Have you never experienced anything like that? this is something that I experience on a regular basis. I am not saying that I don't have any discipline, but I think my greatest creative moments don't have anything to do with discipline, and in fact I think that too much discipline may actually interfere with creativity. Cheers, K

3. 
   nikkiwood | Jun 20, 2004 05:59am | #3

   I wouldn't worry much about maintenance just now.

   A much used bit will start to show pitch build-up, which I just clean off with a rag and lacquer thinner. It doesn't hurt to spray the bits with a solvent such as Dri-Cote (which is supposed to inhibit pitch-build-up).

   Curtis is right about the hard, brittle character of carbide, but I would not mess around with honing them (on the flat side only) until the bit shows a deterioration in the cut. He's talking about diamond hones, which you can buy in the form of a small paddle shape.

   rootburl???? I am not sure what he's trying to say.

   CMT makes some of the best bits available, and unless you are using them extensively, it is unlikely they will need any maintenance for a very long time. Just be careful how you store them -- so they carbide edges aren't banging against each other.

   have fun......

4. 
   SawdustSteve | Jun 20, 2004 06:48pm | #4

   Hi dlb... welcome to the wonderful (and frustrating) world of woodworking. Ask your questions. It's the only way to avoid making all the mistakes that can be made.

   Everyone has their own 'special' magic chemical that will clean the pitch and gum off table saw blades and router bits. My favorite is 'Simple Green' cleaner. It is water-soluble and more important, non-toxic. Spray it on, wait a few minutes and scrub with an old toothbrush or BRASS wire brush. It works real well. I like to put a drop of bearing oil on the router bit bearings when I put them into the router and then just before I store them away. If I'm doing a LOT of cutting, an added drop of oil is a good idea too. Several companies sell this oil in a small dispenser. It's cheep insurance, so use it to keep the bearings happy.

   You may also want to look around for a woodworking club in your area. There are lots of guys and gals who are always willing to help a newcommer get started in the right direction.

   SawdustSteve Long Island, NY

5. 
   Midnight | Jun 23, 2004 02:13am | #5

   Hi dlb... it was a router (given as a b/day pressy) that got me into this woodworking lark a couple of years ago..welcome aboard...

   The others have pretty much covered the things to watch for, but I have a couple of points. If you're using solvents to clean your bit, and the bit is bearing guided, it may be best to remove the bearing prior to cleaning. Even a sealed bearing will soffer sone solvent ingress over time, the solvent will eventually trash any grease packed into it; removal prior to cleaning not only makes cleaning and honing easier, it'll extend the life of your bearing too. Just mind that you reassemble it exactly the same way that it came off, and don't over torque the screw.

   Learn to read the feedback you get from the bit as you use it; too high / low a feed rate are detramental to both the bit and the workpiece, one or the other ends up burning which isn't good either way.

   Keep an eye on the cut quality as the bit ages; fresh outa the box, your profiles should be nice and crisp, clean sharp corners etc; as the bit gradually looses its sharpness, the upper / lower limits of the cut get gradually more "feathery" needing more sanding time to get them looking right. CMT bits should hold up longer than the average bit, but they'll all grow dull eventually; a gentle tickle with a diamond stone now and again is far better than a heavy sharpening session done less frequently as a sharp bit will impart less resistance to your feed rate.

   golden rule is don't be scared to ask.. everyone here was a rookie at some point....

   Mike Wallace

   Stay safe....Have fun

1. 
   dlb | Jun 24, 2004 08:23pm | #6

   I am impressed by the replys that I have received. All were thoughtful and informative. I printed all of them and stored them in my router bag for future reference.

   Thanks everyone!

   dlb

   .

   The undisciplined life is not worth examining.