Advice on cutting to a certain depth in thick wood

marcushoare · Post by **marcushoare** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:02 pm

I want to hollow out a section of a large slab of wood. This is loads easier if I can make a series of parallel cuts to my required depth and then use a hammer and chisel which brings it out in nice big chunks. I've used a jig saw for this until now - but the jigsaw hates it! Have just got a DeWalt 625 router and I think this will be great for the sides of the hollowed out area, but still not as quick as if I had a cutter that was thinner than most I've seen and longer (50mm would be ideal). I guess I'm wondering if a cutter that's more like a tile cutter exists for a router...? Does such a cutter exist, or do I need to use a rotocut drill type of tool? Thanks in advance for your help.
Marcus

Post by **ultimatehandyman** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:08 pm

Hi Marcus, not sure if there is a router bit for doing this, one of the pro's will know.

The rotozips are hard to control and not much use on anything apart from plasterboard.

Can you not use a circular saw?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:29 pm

heeelllooo and welcome marcushoare

are you talking hollowing out like a bowl or a side to side "trench"

if its the latter pull saws like the dw712 have a trenching facility that allow a cut to a preditermined accurate depth [fully adjustable to any depth within the blades capacity]
all you need do is move the wood slide move the wood slide ect

marcushoare · Post by **marcushoare** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:33 pm

Thanks - I really am still learning - I'll look up what a pull saw is!! It's a rectangular-shaped hollowed out area - so I guess that makes it a large side-to-side 'trench'.

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 1:39 pm

this amongst others can trench

http://www.powertoolsuk.co.uk/webcat/de ... US&ID=1379

usefull for tennons /half lap joints ect

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:26 pm

Hi Marcus

I'd cut a series of holes with a big Forstner and then use a big wide chisel! If you want to go down the router path, then make up a jig to the size of the trench plus the collet size. Manufacture a base to guide the router ove4r the jig stopping it from dropping into the trench. Then use either a straight fluted cutter or a spiral cutter in your router. Have a browse through the cutters here as they all have little drawings of the type of cuts they do:
Heres one I use to mortice locks in hardwood doors and make mortices for framing up furniture:
http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/product/S ... -cut+.html

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:32 pm

Also If you're new to using routers then I'd suggest getting a wee bit of training first. They can be a handfull and cause a lot of damage to you and your project if used wrong!

Heres one, local to me, that I'd if I where new to it all!!

http://www.trend-uk.com/en/UK/trend/con ... ses&id=556

marcushoare · Post by **marcushoare** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:47 pm

Thanks to all - really helpful. Very impressed with this site. And yes, I agree I should get some tuition - nasty things these routers, aren't they?! I do still have all fingers and thumbs...

carhartt kid · Post by **carhartt kid** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 5:53 pm

I have many large chunks missing from different fingers!! Perks of the job I'm told???? I'd say the pay and hours where my perks!!!

Best of luck. Would be nice to see or have a better description of what it is your making. Always interested to see what others are up to?

marcushoare · Post by **marcushoare** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 6:03 pm

[b]carhartt kid[/b]
Would love to hear your informed opinion! Do you have an email address?

big-all · Post by **big-all** » Mon Nov 26, 2007 10:53 pm

sorry marcushoare a question i should have asked earlier
what exactly you makeing!!!
as there may be an easier way of doing the job
using a router to cut out large areas is time consuming as you should only only router around 6mm depth at a time or 12mm if its a1/2" router

may even be quicker circular saw several cuts full depth and chisel