I am looking for a good router bit to cut tongues and grooves in walnut, Brazilian cherry and hard maple to make a detail strip border for hardwood floors.
I have found a Freud set, 99-036, that should work nicely if the groove cutter is 1/4″ to match the red oak flooring. I can not find any detailed specs on the bit, and I can not find Freud on the internet.
Can any one help me?
John
Replies
http://www.freudtools.com/
Al
Lee Valley has a couple of great sets that can be configured to do T&G for 1/2 inch to 1 inch using spacers and different size cutter heads. I would recommend them because you can adapt the cutters to optimum layout for whatever size of stock you are working with. Be sure to document the layout - or keep a small sample - so if you need to add on or repair later you can do it without ripping a board up !
Absolutely equivalent to Freud. Usually 2-3 day delivery.
http://www.leevalley.com
Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow"
Thanks Al I had tried every combination of "Freud.com" that I could think of and ended up at a couple of bogus sites that sell Freud tools.
I was not able to get the dimension that I needed from the Freud site, but I did get an e-mail address for customer service. I am waiting to hear from them.
Gavion, I looked on the Lee Valley site and could not find the router bit you described. The only tongue and groove bit that comes up is a vee joint bit that only goes to 3/4". Do you know the item number for it?
As you do this, you need to be looking for flooring cutters which are differnt configuration than cabinet type T&G is. The back edge is relieved a couple of degrees so the top fits tighter without gapping on you..
Excellence is its own reward!
Thanks piffin. I've been looking for a flooring router bit for quite a while now. If any one knows where I can get one, I'd appreciate the info.
I can find flooring cutters for a shaper, but not for a router. I have already spent too much for toys ... I mean tools to build this one house. I am close to finished and don't feel I can justify a shaper at this time. I am probably about $50K over original budget ... including about $10K for tools.
try woodline arizona router bits. I use them almost exclusively, there cheap but there good. They got a great guaranty too. I think the site is http://www.woodlinearizona.com
give them a look and a try im sure you'll be happy with them
Darkworks: No Guns No Butter squilla and the bling bling.
I figured that. Ours are for shaper. Stackable and adjustable..
Excellence is its own reward!
John,
Try this one:
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?SID=&ccurrency=2&page=30222&category=1,46168,46176
I purchased this and then a couple of spare cutter heads to allow additional different configurations. Using different cutters and spacers you can mount (and cut with) up to 4 blades at a time, combining 2 or more to get the size you are looking for. I was actually able to go into a store and took the 1/2 inch cherry I'm using for a floor and was able to try different configurations on some test stock. It worked fine on 1/2 inch and I was showed how to adapt it for a full inch as well.
The other thing I like about this bit is the ability to control the depth of cut when not on a table by using - or not using - the ball bearing guide.
Also - these cutters make great - very fast - biscuit joiners for cabinet work - and on a table are a lot more accurate.
To Piffin's point earlier, you can configure the cutters to make the fit as tight or as loose as you want.
If you like the "v" groove reveals (I don't) they may have another head for that. I find an email question usually gets an expert answer within a few hours at most. (If you have a router question that is particularly tough - or you aren't sure about the customer service answer, ask for help by Tom Trowbridge (or call him at the Toronto East store). He's done more stuff with routers than anyone I have ever met, has a solution for every problem (at least any that I have come up with) and also teaches various of their router courses.)
Good luck.Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow"
Gavin, I had looked at that Lee Valley bit. According to the diagram it has a max cut of 23/32" ... that is 1/32" shy of 3/4".
I ordered the WL-1338 tongue and groove set from Woodline Arizona as recommended by Ron T. I was surprized to find them open on the 4th of July
John
John,
You didn't understand it - that is not the thickness of the wood - that is the size of the cut ! The instructions clearly state wood size of 9/16 to 7/8. As I said, purchase of an additional head or 2 can extend that range from 1/2 to a full inch. If you use all 4 cutters at once, lined up, the maximum GROOVE thickness is the size you stated.
The combination of 4/32 + 5/32 + 6/32 + 8/32 adds up to 23/32. You can produce every combination of groove from 4/32 through to 23/32 missing only 7/32. Other combinations, if not available exactly can be made by slightly overlapping the cutters using smaller size spacers.
The actual Lee Valley text follows:
"A 1/2" shank bit with 4 sizes of slotting cutters for grooving, dadoing, and tongue and groove joinery. Individual double-tipped cutters will produce 1/8", 5/32", 3/16" and 1/4" grooves and, when combined, will cut grooves from 1/4" to 23/32" wide.
In the tongue and groove configuration, the bit is suitable for wood between 9/16" and 7/8" thick. When used with the ball-bearing guide, the depth of cut is 1/2"; otherwise, when used with a fence, the bit will cut up to 5/8" deep.
Complete with spacers, shims, and instructions." ($53.75 USD)
Good luck with your project
Gavin Pitchford
"Sail fast - live slow"