stick and cope router bits and joints

[JoeL]

I recently purchased a rail and stile (stick and cope) router bit set (2 piece Amana set that can be shimmmed). When making cope cuts, it machines the whole end. Are these supposed to be used with an offsetable 2 piece router fence? Has anybody else used these bit sets? Any tips?

[Lou_williams]

I have not used router sets but I have done this with a Shapper set that does the same job. You can't feed the work just based on a fence. It will not give you the results you are looking for. The main way that these are used is to use a miter gage and just use the fence to set the depth of the cut. Move the peice against the fence and push it through with the miter gauge. The cut will allow the work to clear the fence on the outfeed side with out interference.

Good luck

[JoeL]

Lou: This is a fantastic suggestion that none of the books or articles talk about. I assume that part of your suggestion is to clamp the board to the miter gage so is cannot slip during the cut. Thanks for the reply!

[MadMark]

You also want to use a small sacrifical backing board between the workpiece and the miter gauge to prevent tearout.

M

[Lou_williams]

Thanks Mark, I forgot to mention that part. I always do it but it comes as a natural practice and its hard to remember to write it up.

[MadMark]

Understand. Happens when you're too familiar with a process. Actually backing boards should be SOP (Standard Operating Procedure) anytime you're making an end grain cut on a router.

M