Furniture Making

You are not logged in. [ Login ] Why log in
(NOTE: Login is not required to post)

Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bit

10/2/22       
Michael Member

Just wondering if anyone has good experience and can recommend a faster 1/4'' bit other than the birds mouth for instance? Please see the link below of what I've been using.
I read some articles on what to stay away from but not really good recommendations for what to purchase so, therefore looking for someone's good experience here.

I have been doing a lot of maple mortising for mission-style cabinetry doors and hopefully, there is a faster bit that will remain true in straight.

https://www.icscuttingtools.com/catalog/page_177A.pdf
My exact that using now: MBBDRS016X116.

Thank you!

10/3/22       #2: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Thomas Gardiner

I am using XL bottoming two flute milling bits meant for steel. They are not ideal but they were all I could source for deep mortising at the time.
I would think that the geometry for the Festool Domino bits would be ideal.
Two flute, low helix anglen split point and a 1mm radius on the corners. I am thinking of getting my sharpening service rework my bits to mimic the Festo.

10/3/22       #3: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Michael Member

Thanks for your reply Thomas! I have been doing a vast search for the right bit and I just recently came up with this one (Amana Tool 46577) but not quite sure if I'm going to make the purchase or at least not yet. Just yesterday I started looking at the Domino bit but now that you brought it up I'm going to relook at it again tomorrow when I have some time. Thanks again for your input.

10/4/22       #4: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Thomas Gardiner

That Amana bit appears to have a .1° taper. As you plunge the flutes will continue to engage all the way up the cutting depth. Maybe that will reduce chatter but it is not what you want in a mortise geometry.
I know it is heresy but have a look at metalworking end mills. There are long bits available in multiple arrangements. Stick with two flutes although I have used a four flute for mortising with success.
Price tends to be better than specialty wood bits

10/4/22       #5: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Michael Member

Thanks for the Tom. I have seen that and what I really want is a down cut bit. I'm going to have to call somebody at an endmill company and if I can get a good recommendation. I was looking at the Domion bit this morning and it looks pretty interesting. I'll let you know what I come up with. Thank you so very much Tom!!!

10/4/22       #6: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
RichC

A down spiral is a horrible idea for deep mortising. It's going to pack the dust into the mortise and it could even build enough heat to start an ember burning. Certainly going to be some burning on the end grain of the mortise and that resists the glue.

10/5/22       #7: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Michael Member

RichC, It sounds like you have some experience in that direction so I will take your word. Do you have any suggestions of what cutter I should be looking at besides the Bi-Directional? Thanks for your input!

10/5/22       #8: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Tom Gardiner

Rich is correct, you want to get the chips out and you will start a fire with a down spiral. Especially with a small diameter of 1/4" the ratio of diameter to depth of mortise it's going to be difficult to clear the chips without an air nozzle blowing on it.

10/6/22       #9: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
RichC

Why are you worrying about the surface finish around a mortise? Bi-directional is not a good idea either. You will still pack sawdust into the bottom of the mortise. Just use a standard upcut. If you go to the suggested metal cutting end mills, look for ones designed to cut aluminum. They have a more aggressive spiral to get the chips out.

10/9/22       #10: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Thomas M Diel

Website: http://www.thomasdiel.com/

What equipment are you using to cut your mortises? Slot mortiser; if so what make, handheld router / manual plunge 1/8"plunge/pass, or CNC router? If CNC are you ramping in? Also what max depth do you need?
Like mentioned above down spiral bad idea; for heat & packing swarth back into cutting area.
The birdsmouth bits are great for slot mortisers and the high speed steel bits will stay pretty sharp for a good while if not pushing the plunge to hard - but still you want to make chips to take the heat and not make powdered dust i.e. heat & friction.
I do like the Festool Domino bit idea if it's deep enough? 1/4"dia 2 edge solid carbide low helix would be best; but you over 3/4"deep depth of cut is pushing rigidity issues?

10/10/22       #11: Faster Deep Mortise Slot Cutting Bi ...
Kevin Jenness

The birdsmouth bit you are using has a rather long cut length for its diameter, which can lead to bit whip and irregular mortises if pushed too hard. Birdsmouth bits are easy to sharpen without any diameter change.

End mills won't cut any faster but will clear chips better, There's a far greater variety in metal cutting end mills.

It's best to keep the bit length as short as possible for the desired mortised depth and use a moderate feed rate - an oscillating mortiser like the Bacci or Pade will give the most consistent results.

If you need a deep, narrow mortise you're better off with a hollow chisel or swing chisel mortiser and integral tenons.


Post a Response
  • Notify me of responses to this thread
  • Subscribe to email updates on this Forum
  • To receive email notification of additions to this forum thread,
    enter your name and email address, and then click the
    "Keep Me Posted" button below.

    Please Note: If you have posted a message or response,
    do not submit this request ... you are already signed up
    to receive notification!

    Your Name:
    E-Mail Address:
    Enter the correct numbers into the field below:
     

    Date of your Birth:



    Return to top of page

    Buy & Sell Exchanges | Forums | Galleries | Site Map

    FORUM GUIDELINES: Please review the guidelines below before posting at WOODWEB's Interactive Message Boards (return to top)

  • WOODWEB is a professional industrial woodworking site. Hobbyist and homeowner woodworking questions are inappropriate.
  • Messages should be kept reasonably short and on topic, relating to the focus of the forum. Responses should relate to the original question.
  • A valid email return address must be included with each message.
  • Advertising is inappropriate. The only exceptions are the Classified Ads Exchange, Machinery Exchange, Lumber Exchange, and Job Opportunities and Services Exchange. When posting listings in these areas, review the posting instructions carefully.
  • Subject lines may be edited for length and clarity.
  • "Cross posting" is not permitted. Choose the best forum for your question, and post your question at one forum only.
  • Messages requesting private responses will be removed - Forums are designed to provide information and assistance for all of our visitors. Private response requests are appropriate at WOODWEB's Exchanges and Job Opportunities and Services.
  • Messages that accuse businesses or individuals of alleged negative actions or behavior are inappropriate since WOODWEB is unable to verify or substantiate the claims.
  • Posts with the intent of soliciting answers to surveys are not appropriate. Contact WOODWEB for more information on initiating a survey.
  • Excessive forum participation by an individual upsets the balance of a healthy forum atmosphere. Individuals who excessively post responses containing marginal content will be considered repeat forum abusers.
  • Responses that initiate or support inappropriate and off-topic discussion of general politics detract from the professional woodworking focus of WOODWEB, and will be removed.
  • Participants are encouraged to use their real name when posting. Intentionally using another persons name is prohibited, and posts of this nature will be removed at WOODWEB's discretion.
  • Comments, questions, or criticisms regarding Forum policies should be directed to WOODWEB's Systems Administrator
    (return to top).

    Carefully review your message before clicking on the "Send Message" button - you will not be able to revise the message once it has been sent.

    You will be notified of responses to the message(s) you posted via email. Be sure to enter your email address correctly.

    WOODWEB's forums are a highly regarded resource for professional woodworkers. Messages and responses that are crafted in a professional and civil manner strengthen this resource. Messages that do not reflect a professional tone reduce the value of our forums.

    Messages are inappropriate when their content: is deemed libelous in nature or is based on rumor, fails to meet basic standards of decorum, contains blatant advertising or inappropriate emphasis on self promotion (return to top).

    Libel:   Posts which defame an individual or organization, or employ a tone which can be viewed as malicious in nature. Words, pictures, or cartoons which expose a person or organization to public hatred, shame, disgrace, or ridicule, or induce an ill opinion of a person or organization, are libelous.

    Improper Decorum:   Posts which are profane, inciting, disrespectful or uncivil in tone, or maliciously worded. This also includes the venting of unsubstantiated opinions. Such messages do little to illuminate a given topic, and often have the opposite effect. Constructive criticism is acceptable (return to top).

    Advertising:   The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not an advertising venue. Companies participating in a Forum discussion should provide specific answers to posted questions. WOODWEB suggests that businesses include an appropriately crafted signature in order to identify their company. A well meaning post that seems to be on-topic but contains a product reference may do your business more harm than good in the Forum environment. Forum users may perceive your references to specific products as unsolicited advertising (spam) and consciously avoid your web site or services. A well-crafted signature is an appropriate way to advertise your services that will not offend potential customers. Signatures should be limited to 4-6 lines, and may contain information that identifies the type of business you're in, your URL and email address (return to top).

    Repeated Forum Abuse: Forum participants who repeatedly fail to follow WOODWEB's Forum Guidelines may encounter difficulty when attempting to post messages.

    There are often situations when the original message asks for opinions: "What is the best widget for my type of shop?". To a certain extent, the person posting the message is responsible for including specific questions within the message. An open ended question (like the one above) invites responses that may read as sales pitches. WOODWEB suggests that companies responding to such a question provide detailed and substantive replies rather than responses that read as a one-sided product promotion. It has been WOODWEB's experience that substantive responses are held in higher regard by our readers (return to top).

    The staff of WOODWEB assume no responsibility for the accuracy, content, or outcome of any posting transmitted at WOODWEB's Message Boards. Participants should undertake the use of machinery, materials and methods discussed at WOODWEB's Message Boards after considerate evaluation, and at their own risk. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages it deems inappropriate. (return to top)


  • Forum Posting Help
    Your Name The name you enter in this field will be the name that appears with your post or response (return to form).
    Your Website Personal or business website links must point to the author's website. Inappropriate links will be removed without notice, and at WOODWEB's sole discretion. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    E-Mail Address Your e-mail address will not be publicly viewable. Forum participants will be able to contact you using a contact link (included with your post) that is substituted for your actual address. You must include a valid email address in this field. (return to form)
    Subject Subject may be edited for length and clarity. Subject lines should provide an indication of the content of your post. (return to form)
    Thread Related Link and Image Guidelines Thread Related Links posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should point to locations that provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related Link that directs visitors to an area with inappropriate content will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Thread Related File Uploads Thread Related Files posted at WOODWEB's Forums and Exchanges should provide supporting information for the topic being discussed in the current message thread. Video Files: acceptable video formats are: .MOV .AVI .WMV .MPEG .MPG .MP4 (Image Upload Tips)   If you encounter any difficulty when uploading video files, E-mail WOODWEB for assistance. The purpose of WOODWEB Forums is to provide answers, not to serve as an advertising venue. A Thread Related File that contains inappropriate content will be removed, and uploaded files that are not directly related to the message thread will be removed. WOODWEB reserves the right to delete any messages with links, files, or images it deems inappropriate. (return to form)
    Sponsors
    • Veneer Systems Inc.
      Specializing in Veneer Equipment and Veneer Supplies
    • Rangate
      Woodworking Machinery, Supplies and Knowledge
    • Shop Gear Inc.
      Distributor of Co-matic Power Feeders, Le-matic Portable Edgebanders, and Supplier of Woodworking Machinery, Tooling and Accessories in North America
    • CP Adhesives
      Supplying Quality Adhesives to the Woodworking Industry
    • Anver Corporation
      Vacuum System Components - Suction Cups, Vacuum Pumps, Vacuum Lifters & Lifting Systems, and More
    • Vexor Custom Woodworking Tools, Inc.
      Custom and Standard Router Bits, Shaper Cutters, Profile Knives, Multi Profile Insert Tooling and More

    Become a Sponsor today!