Replies

1. 
   Joe_Hennessey | Mar 01, 2002 05:31am | #1

   *
   Doug, I have a one piece cutter. Looks like a router bit kinda thing with the cutting edge on the bottom.

   I never tried it in a router, I don't know if it's rated for those kind of rpms. I have used it in the drill press. Bought it for the same reason, job needed a bunch of them & I figured buy the tool and have it.

   It works, I think maybe with more practice I could get better results, but it did what I wanted. I cut them out of poplar for paint grade, don't know how it would do with oak. It tends to fuzz up some of the time, to the point of the block is trash unless you want to sand little round grooves smooth.

   I got it from one of the mail order houses, don't know who. It is made in Taiwan, Carb-Tech is the brand on the bag, but it had a sticker with the company name. I think I have seen them at Post Tool.

   All in all, it was one of those "more work than I figured" for the results, but still cheaper than buying the blocks, and I was able to make them in the sizes I wanted. Joe H

1. 
   dspete | Mar 01, 2002 06:25am | #2

   *Thanks Joe, pricing the blocks at just under $5 each, I was hoping I might have and excuse to buy a new cutter. Poplar seems like it would be a lot easier to use than oak. I understand that those cutters are not to used in a router, but in a drill press. Doug

1. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Mar 02, 2002 03:38am | #3

   *dspete, I got one with replaceable blades from Woodworkers Supply. It's probably from Taiwan. I had to make rosettes out of yellow pine, so I got some crossgrain tearout. Had to make twice as many as I needed to get enough acceptable ones...it was still worth it...I think the cutter was $30

1. 
   Don_Papenburg | Mar 02, 2002 04:43am | #4

   *Why not chuck them up in the lath and cut em like in the old days?

1. 
   gpwestmoreland | Mar 02, 2002 08:52am | #5

   *dspete, I have used both kinds, a small dia. one piece type and a larger (2 1/2") with a removeable knife. If you buy the kind with a removeable knife, you can buy the cutterhead and several cutters to cut different sizes/designs. They need to be kept sharp; it's easy, just hone the flat sides on a stone. With a wood like red oak, the difference in the grain density still causes quite a bit of tearout, so as Billy said, plan on trashing some. They're meant for use in a drill press , don't think they're designed for router speed. Slow to medium drill speed and super slow feed speed seeems to work best for me. GP

2. 
   Mark_"if_I_were_a_carpenter | Mar 03, 2002 03:15am | #6

   *Lathe? Why I haven't seen one of them things since jr. High school shop class! Been meaning to buy one of 'em for the past 25-odd years, keep finding other stuff to spend my money on though. Still I keep thinking of stuff that I might some day be able to do if I had one.

3. 
   dspete | Mar 06, 2002 06:51pm | #7

   *I made about 20 of these small rosettes yesterday without destroying any in the process. What I did was to build a small cradle to hold a small trim router in a metal lathe. I could then feed it at a slow steady rate. I'll have to experiment around with different cutters for different effects. One thing's for certain though, sawdust and oil don't mix well. Thanks again for all the advice. Doug

4. 
   Bucksnort_Billy | Mar 08, 2002 01:50am | #8

   *dspete, that's pretty slick. We've used a similar setup to turn these columns, had the router running up and down the rails instead of face turning. Those metal lathes are like a high speed Etch- a- Sketch. So, you didn't try to drink that oil 'n sawdust did ya?

5. 
   luvmuskoka | Mar 26, 2002 03:40pm | #9

   Try spraying a little 'dri coat' on the cutter every 5 or 6 blocks, it will really help eliminate tear out.