How to avoid chipping when routing end grain??!!

[Wade Lippman]

I am getting bad chip out when routing the ends on cabinet door frames. I am getting really sick of it. I thought oak was bad, but now I am working in walnut, and it is even worse.

I have tried hitting the end first, but that doesn't help. Going real real real slow at the end does minimize it, but then it burns; which is better than chipping, but not much.

I have thought of ganging the pieces and putting some scrap on the end, but that seem dangerous because they don't have flat sides.

Any practical ideas? Thanks.

[J.B. Bobbitt]

Use a scrap backer-board. It should be same dimensions as workpiece.

See:

of info there.

-JBB

[Preston Andreas]

I route the endgrain first. The pass down the next side takes away the chipping. Also, you can start with a climb cut on the end grain or use a backer board. Having a quality, sharp bit also helps a lot.

[Wade Lippman]

I didn't know what a climb cut was, so I did a google search. The first two references said it is dangerous without a powerfeed. Having tried it without knowing it had a name, guessing it might help, I think I agree. I can easily picture the piece of wood flying into my face pretty fast. So, a backerboard...

[Bay Area Dave]