Routing End Grain

Randy L. · 02-26-2001, 11:23 AM

Hi All

Just a quick question about routing end grain. Did some practicing on scrap and its not pretty. Along the grain is fine. Is routing end grain a skill, or an impossibility?

Thanks
Randy.

**MadMark** · 02-26-2001, 11:56 AM

You need a sacrificial backer to prevent the end from tearing out. Take small passes and it should be fine.

M

Randy L · 02-26-2001, 01:09 PM

I had burning, and tearout. What can I do to prevent the burning? BTW, I have an old craftsman electronic router. It has a speed adjustment.

Randy.

**MadMark** · 02-26-2001, 01:42 PM

Burning is generally a sign of too slow a feed rate and/or a dull cutter. HSS cutters dull rapidly and you should use carbide whenever possible.

Tearout is prevented by using the sacrificial backer board. Tearout is generally more of a problem on softwoods than hard.

M

Roger S. Dillman · 02-26-2001, 02:10 PM

If you rout the end grain first,routing the sides will clean it up.

**WoodMangler** · 02-26-2001, 08:11 PM

MM is right on...the best advice I ever got on routing end grain was "ya gotta haul ass"....if it's a narrow board, use a miter gauge and Haul buns! (just try faster and faster fed rates till you get a nice clean cut...then you'll see)
Marc