I have to build 10 interior 1 3/8″ white oak doors for a customer. I have a 3 1/4 HP Dewalt router in a table, but only Jesada makes a profiled rail and stile bit for entry and passage doors. Why don’t other companies make this bit? Is there a safety concern?
I’m wondering whether or not a 3HP shaper with rail and stile cutters would be a better, if not safer, choice. I’m a small, one-man shop, so I’m not sure if I can justify the expense for a shaper.
Thanks
-Southpaw
Replies
Wow! A shaper is a whole other animal. Not only are the good ones darned expensive and for a project such as you described you will need a power feeder. If you have never used one or been trained on one, proceed with GREAT CAUTION. As an alternative, why not a motise and tenon construction of the doors? If the doors are entry doors, the motise and tenon construction would probably be much more solid than the method being considered.
Southpaw,
A shaper equipped with sliding table is the right tool for the job. You can get by with the router but it will be very slow and tedious, especially getting the the profile on the ends of the rails. If your going to be making doors in the future there is no question that sooner or later you will get the machines you need. If it's just an occasional job, then sweat it out with the router.
DR
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