Locking Miter Bit not locking & running out of scrap

**Postman** · 05-01-2006, 10:43 AM

Has anyone tried these router bits? I bought the one from Amana for 1/2" to 7/8" material. I have been trying to setup for mitering 3/4 material using 3/4" scrap. I'm running out of scap trying to set this thing up. I've probably used $20 worth of scap so far.
What I have been doing is lining up the centerline of the bit with the horizontal center of the board as per the instructions. After that the instructions say to move the fence back from the leading edge of the bit to a distance equal to the thickness of the board so I did that. I'm not getting anywhere close. Anybody have an ideas on setting up this bit??? Anyone want to buy this bit (just kidding):-)

Sonny Edmonds · 05-01-2006, 05:50 PM

I use 3/4" MDF for set up testing.
I also have a test piece I made for setting mine to speed the process up by leaps and bounds.
What you want is the outter edge of your stock to come off almost with a sharp edge.
Then you run your verticle, and horizontal to make your corner.
Once you get it, it's easy and makes one heck of a nice corner. (Except plywood, plywood is a booger in most ways.)

[link:www.routerbits.com/cgi-routerbits/sr.cgi?1146527046_28418+74|HERE] is the whole enchalada on how to set it up from Routerbits.com (Which insidentally is where I got mine from). ;)

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"Lurkimus turdius orifus"

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**scottspencer** · 05-01-2006, 07:11 PM

Sonny, thanks for the link...I printed RBW's instructions. MLCS has instructions too.

I played with my miter locking bit for the first time today. Two attempts so far. The first one wasn't even close. The second one wasn't too bad.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y20...d/000_0059.jpg

Scott

**arcticfox46** · 05-01-2006, 07:31 PM

Yeah - it's a really nice bit. Yeah it's a bit tricky to set up. Yeah - it's an awesome joint. Yeah - you think you wasted some serious money on the bit at first - but then you "get it", and find out it's a nice thing.

Go to this link and print out the instructions.
http://www.woodshopdemos.com/cmt-lm5.htm

Mostly up and down for the fine adjustments. Remember, the adjust you make is half of the error.

Sonny Edmonds · 05-02-2006, 12:00 AM

Yup!
And I can tell you that the right one is a practice, while the left is dialed in.
You got it, Scott.
Enjoy!

One other thing....
Make sure your material is square. By that I mean you must have the opposing sides the same size diamentionally.
If anything is off even a little bit, it will show as an out-of-square when the sides come together.

But all in all, it makes one hell of a nice corner joint! ;)

:D

[link:home.att.net/~paul.edmonds/|Sonny Edmonds ]
"Precision Firewood Specialist"
God Bless America !
One Nation Under God!
"Lurkimus turdius orifus"

[h1]Welcome to the Forum![/h1]

**Glen** · 05-02-2006, 02:42 AM

Be sure to use the verticaly routed pieces for the face(s) when making drawers.

glen

**Postman** · 05-02-2006, 05:56 AM

Thanks a lot guys. I was beginning to feel the same way Leo did; did I waste my money on this bit.

**Postman** · 05-02-2006, 06:22 AM

I adjusted my fence so that the fence is 3/4" (I'm using 3/4" material) back from the leading edge of the bit. Last night I was trying again and got pretty darn close by adjusting the bit up and down in very small increments but still couldn't quite get it. I'm beginning to think that I need more fence adjustment. Don't know.

You guys have have given me some good tips.

By the way Sonny, I was reading some of your messages in the "Just Talking" section yesterday about colonoscopies. People were wondering why I was laughing so hard at my desk. This Forum is great in a lot of ways. :)