Best bit to mortise for panels--Pat Warner??

[Stoutman]

What is the best bit to mortise stiles-rails that receive panels? I recently used an up-cut solid carbide and noticed 'minor' chip-out at the top of the mortise.

Ordinary straight bit? Down-cut spiral?

[Morris Dovey]

Stoutman wrote: | What is the best bit to mortise stiles-rails that receive panels? I | recently used an up-cut solid carbide and noticed 'minor' chip-out | at the top of the mortise. | | Ordinary straight bit? Down-cut spiral?

A down spiral will have the least tendency to raise wood fibers at the top of a mortise, but will also tend to pack the chips into the bottom of the mortise.

Chip-out in a mortise may be a sign of a not-so-sharp (even if brand-new!) bit. A good, sharp bit should shear wood fibers rather than breaking them.

If chip removal isn't a problem, then an ordinary (plunge cutting) straight bit should produce the most consistantly good results.

-- Morris Dovey DeSoto Solar DeSoto, Iowa USA

[Leon]

I am not Pat but I use the TS for the slots and a Mortising router bit for the tennons. Using a TS is 10 times faster and easier on the equipment for making panel slots.

[Lew Hodgett]

Just run them thru end for end to center groove, just like Norm does it.

Lew

[Leon]

Yup.. ;~)

[Stoutman]

I should have added that these are stopped dadoes.

[Leon]

LOL... That would totally discount my suggestion.