|
These spiral bits are great for mortising or general plunge or dado/rebate cutting. Produce a cleaner edge than regular staright flute bits and with better debris removal. Usual high quality freud bit.
Anyhow on to the bit. I used a dial caliper, and measured the difference between the template guide collar, and the edge of the bit. This will give you a perfectly straight even tenon. After a lot of careful cutting, I made a snug fit template, which resulted in a snug fit mortise.
The 1/8" is small, and usually used for inlays and such. I have since learned to use, one or a pair of Tru-Grip guides, with a stop. A lot less set up time, and the same results. My first introduction into mortise and tenon joinery was with a flute up spiral bit, and a self built template, made from 1/4" plywood. Good to know when making deep mortises. I guess perfect walls on a tenon that won't be seen when they are glued together, is not that important, but a perfect fit is.
No chisel made pockets for the glue to fill. I love old world techniques, but a flute up spiral bit, is your best bet.
Freud makes a very nice bit, and this one is very sharp, and will last a long time. Then I added that to the size of the opening-mortise, I wanted to make.
The shaft is 1/4" and the tip is 1/8", so you can not plunge the bit as deep as the shaft will allow. The beautiful thing about flute up spiral bits, is that they cut the sides of your tenon, and the bottom of the tenon perfectly smooth.
Even if you are making multiple passes, you don't see a seam line. On a 1/4" bit with a 1/4" shaft, or a 1/2" bit with a 1/2" shaft, you can plunge an even cut as deep as the shaft.
Highly recommended.
|
