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Thread: Lock Miter Bit

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Little Hocking, OH
    Posts
    676

    Lock Miter Bit

    OK, so I used my cheap lock miter bit the other day. Was not impressed with it's performance.

    Question, any suggestion on a good lock miter router bit?

    Thanks

  2. #2
    We have several lengthy threads on set up, etc. that you can look up. If the problem is tear out ,and if often is with small
    diameter tooling,you can sand off the sharp edge on the stock before using the bit or round over the corner with "round over" router bit CLIMB CUTTING .Then use the lock mitre bit ,standard forward feed; the round over step stops the "unraveling" tearout.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Little Hocking, OH
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    676
    Quote Originally Posted by Mel Fulks View Post
    We have several lengthy threads on set up, etc. that you can look up. If the problem is tear out ,and if often is with small
    diameter tooling,you can sand off the sharp edge on the stock before using the bit or round over the corner with "round over" router bit CLIMB CUTTING .Then use the lock mitre bit ,standard forward feed; the round over step stops the "unraveling" tearout.
    Yep, there was tear out, and it being not very sharp didn't help. I'll remember the technique of rounding over the edge first.

    Thanks

    Oh, and set up was easy with the Infinity Lock Miter Master, router bit jig.
    Last edited by Bill Huber; 05-07-2015 at 9:54 PM.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Redmond, OR
    Posts
    606
    I had a nice brand new Freud lock miter bit and tried to use it on my router table with my Porter Cable router. It sucked... I wont do it again. I picked up an old Walker Turner 3hp 3ph shaper for $200 with the express purpose of cutting lock miters. After tuning the Walker Turner shaper the setup has worked great. I love lock miter joints! I am just using a Grizzley lock miter cutter which was cheaper than the Freud lock miter bit and the Grizzly cutter has always given me excellent results.

    I ironic part is my shaper setup cost me considerably less than my router table setup because I already had a phase converter.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Little Hocking, OH
    Posts
    676
    OK, just ordered a Whiteside locking miter bit

  6. #6
    good tooling makes a ton of difference - I always forget that fact when I am being "stupid cheap" and thinking "well this is a low cost way to see if i really use it" ... while never realizing that cheap tooling often works so poorly that I decide "nah this is not for me" when I look at the crappy results.... i predict you will have a very different experience with the whiteside bit

  7. #7
    Mark, you've done a lot of good in verifying that the rounding over does help; it certainly does not appear in any factory
    written instructions that I've seen. The tooling quality does make a big difference, but that particular profile can be difficult
    to work on maple ,birch,etc.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Dec 2003
    Location
    SF Bay Area, CA
    Posts
    15,332
    Get this jig for sure. It makes set up a breeze which otherwise challenges even the most intelligent person.
    Wood: a fickle medium....

    Did you know SMC is user supported? Please help.

  9. #9
    Quote Originally Posted by Chris Padilla View Post
    Get this jig for sure. It makes set up a breeze which otherwise challenges even the most intelligent person.
    I think he has it and just misspoke thinking it was a Jessem.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Feb 2012
    Location
    Little Hocking, OH
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    676
    Quote Originally Posted by Bill Huber View Post
    I think he has it and just misspoke thinking it was a Jessem.
    I do, and I did. No way to edit the misspeak out now. I was looking right at Infinity and Jessem came out of my keyboard!
    Last edited by Mark W Pugh; 05-07-2015 at 9:54 PM.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Washington, NC
    Posts
    2,387
    I still hang around here, though not always every day. So, if you have questions or issues with the Lock Miter Master, I'd be happy to help if I can. Post them or send me a PM. I designed the LMM but am not an Infinity employee and don't represent the company in any way so I can't help with refunds, product defects, or returns.

    The really nice review of the LMM in a recent issue of Wood Magazine resulted in good sales (royalty) last quarter!

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2005
    Location
    Kenosha, WI
    Posts
    108
    I used mine for the first time yesterday. Bought both sizes from Infinity and a new FREUD lock miter bit that does does 1/2 - 1 inch thick stock. I experimented on 5/8 stock I want to use that for some drawers. Observations...it worked as advertised. I set it up carefully by following the directions and had a near perfect joint, first try. But, I need to rework my router fence. I need to bury the bit in the (sacrificial) fence, or at least cut out a rectangle for the bit, so there is fence ABOVE the bit. I have a fence with two sides that I can open and close. But, when doing a 3" wide piece vertical against the fence, it wanted to dip into the opening. Not a big problem, will just cut some MDF for a new sacrificial fence and all should be well.

    Also, I know that when I really try to make the finished drawers, I will cut the stock way oversized, then rip it down. For example, if the front and back need to be finished size of 20 X 4, rather than cut two pieces to 4" and mill then separately, I will mill one piece that is 9-10 wide, then rip to finished size. Since I am using Baltic Birch, that should eliminate any wood entry or exit problems.

    Quote Originally Posted by Alan Schaffter View Post
    I still hang around here, though not always every day. So, if you have questions or issues with the Lock Miter Master, I'd be happy to help if I can. Post them or send me a PM. I designed the LMM but am not an Infinity employee and don't represent the company in any way so I can't help with refunds, product defects, or returns.

    The really nice review of the LMM in a recent issue of Wood Magazine resulted in good sales (royalty) last quarter!
    Marc
    Kenosha, WI

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