Cutting 7/8 Red Oak

[charles48]

I have a parts drawn up to build a rocking horse for my Grandson who is -4 months old. I have made one before with my bandsaw. I was wondering if anyone has any suggestions for speed and depth of cut per pass. I have a 1/4" Spiral upcut bit. Also is there any addition problems I should watch for when cutting 7/8" Oak.

[jay]

Charles, I cut Oak all the time with the bot. Most router bit companies, either in their catalog or web site will give you depth of cut and cut rate for the bits they sell. Onsrud, for example, http://www.onsrud.com/Mech.asp# look on the left of the page and click on 'Feeds & Speeds' give you a chart for each of their bits. I generally use the standard rule for step down of 1/2 the bit diameter per pass. For Oak I usually run at 1.5 to 2 inches per second. You get great chips not dust.

Good Luck,

[Brady Watson]

That sounds about right Jay.

I'd like to add that you'll know what the right RPM is when you are A) Making a nice chip without bogging/stalling the router and B) your not getting chatter or burning.

If it chatters or bogs, crank it up. If it burns turn it down.

-Brady

[charles48]

Jay and Brady, Sounds good. Thanks for sharing your experience.

Charlie

[K Simmerer (Unregistered Guest)]

You could always use my method of feed rate selection:

A.)Keep increasing the feed until the bit breaks.
B.)Blame the bit.
C.)Go buy 2 more bits and reduce feed by 25%.

Works every time.

Think man, THINK!


Keith