Router Use Question

[Rapp]

I was wondering if anyone uses a router with a flush cut bit ,like to trim off excess plywood at sheer clamp or chine log.

[David G]

I was wondering if anyone uses a router with a flush cut bit ,like to trim off excess plywood at sheer clamp or chine log.

Yes... but you have to be careful. They are designed for 90 degree corners. A more acute angle will leave a little extra still hanging. A more obtuse angle can take off more than you want.

[Soundman67]

there are some trim routers that have a tiltable base. Its still hard to keep it from cutting wrong because if you rotate the router slightly it will change the angle of the cut. But it is possible to flush trim with a router when the angle isnt a perfect 90 deg.

[Rapp]

I like the idea of a tiltable base,I may have to get one

[David G]

Yes, it's true enough that there are tilt-base trim routers. Keep in mind, though, that the angle will change as you progress along the cut. You'd have to keep changing the angle, or cut the most acute angle first, then change the angle and cut other areas, etc. Tedious. By the time you mess around with that, and misjudge once or twice the wrong way... you'll find that it will have been quicker to cut to leave a bit of overhang, then bring it down to fit with a sharp plane (or a belt sander, if you're handy with one).

[Dusty Yevsky]

Yes, it's true enough that there are tilt-base trim routers. Keep in mind, though, that the angle will change as you progress along the cut. You'd have to keep changing the angle, or cut the most acute angle first, then change the angle and cut other areas, etc. Tedious. By the time you mess around with that, and misjudge once or twice the wrong way... you'll find that it will have been quicker to cut to leave a bit of overhand, then bring it down to fit with a sharp plane (or a belt sander, if you're handy with one).

+1 Don't even waste a minute trying to trim this joint by machine. In this case your eye will exceed the accuracy of any machine. Cut close with a saw, trim with a plane and sand or rasp to final dimension. This is what boatbuilding is all about.

[orbb]

+1 Don't even waste a minute trying to trim this joint by machine. In this case your eye will exceed the accuracy of any machine. Cut close with a saw, trim with a plane and sand or rasp to final dimension. This is what boatbuilding is all about.

Of all power tools, routers seem to allow you to make mistakes the fastest. One second you've got a plan, the next second you've got a mistake.

[Mrleft8]

Yes, but why? Faster, cheaper, quieter, less messy to do it by hand with a plane. You're going to cut to near the line with a saw anyway, right? Or were you thinking of a 3hp router with a 1"Dia. flush cutting bit, that you could use to just hog through everything and gnaw it all down to the line, like throwing a tree into one of those massive chippers that they use these days to clear building lots?

[mcdenny]

I hate routers anyway but this seems like the worst possible way to trim the sheer plank.

Denny Wolfe

[SchoonerRat]

For up to 1/4" ply, I found this was a good time to have some fun with my drawknife. A few good swipes to get it down close, then finish with a block plane and sandpaper.

[Desert Sailor]

Drawknife, block plane, smoothing plane (Nos. 4, 4-1/2, etc.) will all work well. Make sure the iron is truly sharp, and you will save time if you pause to hone the iron frequently. No need for the fire-breathing router.

Power tools earn their keep in certain applications, but I'm learning that hand tools, when wielded with even modest skill, are often faster, more accurate, safer, and far less noisy/dusty. The dust issue with routers really annoys me.

I'm very close to selling off a lot of my power tools. I'll keep the bandsaw. The drill press is a convenience, especially for occasional metal work. I'll keep a few power hand tools--hypoid saw, jig saw. The rest can go--routers, table saws, jointers, planers, radial arm, etc. I'm not a production shop. For one-off stuff, boats or otherwise, hand tools are often better, faster, and safer.

[Peter Malcolm Jardine]

Of all power tools, routers seem to allow you to make mistakes the fastest. One second you've got a plan, the next second you've got a mistake.

Yep. Then you realize it would have been just as fast and less costly to use hand tools. I use a router a fair bit, but only for repetitive work mostly in straight lines and constant angles. I also have a zip saw that has a router base for it... I find it handy for doing small delicate recess work, but that's rare.

[kc8pql]

I was wondering if anyone uses a router with a flush cut bit, like to trim off excess plywood at sheer clamp or chine log.

I made a simple router fixture when I was building Alaya that does this quite well and easily. She had about 600' of overhang that needed trimming. Using a router made short work of what would have been a
tedious and time consuming job. It's not worth the effort for a single layer of ply on a 10' dinghy, but if you're doing a 38' boat cold molded out of 3 layers of ply it's another matter.
If anyone is interested or has the need, I'll take some photos and post a description of the jig.

[willin woodworks]

Routers have a great way of turning simple trim jobs into massive expensive repair jobs in the wink of an eye.
I find that the older I get the more I lean towards grabbing a hand tool than a hand held power tool. The big stationary tools are great for production work and I couldnt live without them; ripping a sheet of 3/4" ply with a hand saw would get tiresome quickly....
The key is to spend good money on good tools and having the patience and taking the time to keep them sharp. I see a lot of guys struggle with cheap, dul hand tools and grab a power tool out of frustration and impatience.
Well tuned and sharp saws, planes, spokeshaves, what have you are a pleasure to use and are genrally what separate craftsmen from mechanics.

Please note that I am NOT disparaging "Mechanics"; fitters, engine and boilermen......

[switters]

Of all power tools, routers seem to allow you to make mistakes the fastest. One second you've got a plan, the next second you've got a mistake.

I know this from experience, other than interior trim a router has no place in a boat building shop. There are exceptions to the rule but anything that goes throught he router goes through before it becomes part of the boat, never after.