First try with miter lock bit

Can this bit be used on end grain? At the Detroit Woodworking show last
Friday, I was viewing a demo of this bit, but the rep said the bit can
only be used along the length of the board. If used across the end
grain it will splinter and make a mess out the the end of the board. So
I didn't buy one as I wanted to use it to join the corners of small
boxes - like jewelry boxes.

Rich Durkee

Darn You!
Now I have to go and spend an hour or two one night this week, making my own
lock miter box.
Actually, I have a christmas present I am making which requires me to get
the bit set up anyway, so doing this sounds like a fun distraction along the
way!


Joe in Denver
my woodworking website:
http://www.the-wildings.com/shop/



"charlie b" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>> With a little practice getting it perfect is easy. The hard part is not
>> destroying it while putting clamps on; they are pretty brittle until the
>> glue sets up.
>
>
> If you do it right glue isn't even needed.
>
> http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/LockMiter/LockMiterBox1.html
>
> Stock has to be flat and all the corners of the parts cut
> square. Sides must be exaclty the same dimensions and
> the top and bottom must fit exactly.
>
> Bit must be set so that when you make the cuts
> where the part is held vertically you don't remove the
> outside edge (the one down on the table)
>
> Any bit slip or fence movement will blow the fit.
>
> charlie b

> With a little practice getting it perfect is easy. The hard part is not
> destroying it while putting clamps on; they are pretty brittle until the
> glue sets up.


If you do it right glue isn't even needed.

http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/LockMiter/LockMiterBox1.html

Stock has to be flat and all the corners of the parts cut
square. Sides must be exaclty the same dimensions and
the top and bottom must fit exactly.

Bit must be set so that when you make the cuts
where the part is held vertically you don't remove the
outside edge (the one down on the table)

Any bit slip or fence movement will blow the fit.

charlie b

RJDurkee wrote:
>
> Can this bit be used on end grain? At the Detroit Woodworking show last
> Friday, I was viewing a demo of this bit, but the rep said the bit can
> only be used along the length of the board. If used across the end
> grain it will splinter and make a mess out the the end of the board. So
> I didn't buy one as I wanted to use it to join the corners of small
> boxes - like jewelry boxes.
>
> Rich Durkee

Forgot to include the url to the two shop made jigs which
help control the stock and minimizes tear out at the end
of the cut. (all one line so watch the line wrap)

http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/SharpeningCenter/SharpeningCenter5.html

And as noted already, do the end grain first.

BTW - a zero clearance fence insert also helps.
These are fair sized bits and they WILL pull
stock into them at the beginning of a pass IF
you don't go with a zero clearance bit opening.

charlie b

One other thing I found with this bit. I used a router speed control
from HF as I've read that it must run under 10K rpm. Well,
experimenting, I found that full speed it will burn the oak a bit, but
just a little less speed was perfect.

As for end grain, it is hard to do, but you do the end grain first, then
along the grain. You can also follow it with a backer block like using a
regular router bit on end grain, and also cut a 45 degree angle (but but
not to the finish size) to make it easier to cut.
It does chip a good bit in end grain, but, it may not be visible in a
finished joint.

John

On Sun, 05 Dec 2004 21:14:59 -0800, charlie b <[email protected]>
wrote:

>
>If you do it right glue isn't even needed.
>
>http://home.comcast.net/~charliebcz/LockMiter/LockMiterBox1.html
>
Very cool and well documented!

Thanks,
TWS

"RJDurkee" <[email protected]> wrote:

> Can this bit be used on end grain? At the Detroit Woodworking show last
> Friday, I was viewing a demo of this bit, but the rep said the bit can
> only be used along the length of the board. If used across the end
> grain it will splinter and make a mess out the the end of the board. So
> I didn't buy one as I wanted to use it to join the corners of small
> boxes - like jewelry boxes.
>
> Rich Durkee
>
>

Use sacrificial wood ahead of and behind the stock. This is the only way
I've managed to get a decent cut on end grain.

"John T" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:%[email protected]...
>I bought this Miter Lock bit last winter but today was the first time I
>actualy used it. I had to make a bigger hole in the router table insert,
>but no problem there! :)
>
> Anyways, I got it set up according to a handout I got at a Woodcraft demo,
> using 1/2" oak. the last pieces were perfect, so they'll be my future
> setup pieces for 1/2".
>
> I then proceeded to make a 4" square box with some more oak. I did get a
> couple of panels wrong and made a couple of new ones. When I finally
> assembled the box, the corners weren't as good and tight as the samples.
> Something must have crept a litle between the first and last pieces.
>
> This could actually be for some nice easy Xmas gifts, if I can "perfect"
> that joint. Wooden banks fo the kids, etc.
>
With a little practice getting it perfect is easy. The hard part is not
destroying it while putting clamps on; they are pretty brittle until the
glue sets up.

John T <[email protected]> wrote in
news:%[email protected]:

> I bought this Miter Lock bit last winter but today was the first time I
> actualy used it. I had to make a bigger hole in the router table insert,
> but no problem there! :)
>
> Anyways, I got it set up according to a handout I got at a Woodcraft
> demo, using 1/2" oak. the last pieces were perfect, so they'll be my
> future setup pieces for 1/2".
>
> I then proceeded to make a 4" square box with some more oak. I did get a
> couple of panels wrong and made a couple of new ones. When I finally
> assembled the box, the corners weren't as good and tight as the samples.
> Something must have crept a litle between the first and last pieces.
>
> This could actually be for some nice easy Xmas gifts, if I can "perfect"
> that joint. Wooden banks fo the kids, etc.
>
> John
>

Simple miters with keys turned out to be much less fussy for my box making.
After I used some of JOAT's research on setting up the bit, I sent it back
to its owner, and decided on other joinery.

If I can't get something right, that's supposed to make my life easier,
after an hour or so, I reexamine my approach, and my motivation.

On the other hand, these handcut dovetails.....

Patriarch