Custom scotia: router or tablesaw?

Sep 01, 2006 2 Replies

I need to make a piece of custom scotia molding for under the treads of our staircase.



I need to match existing trim that is 100+ years old and I have not been able to find the size in the store.



The dimensions are: 3/4 x 1/2" The lip dimensions are 1/3" on the 1/2" side and 1/8" on the 3/4" side (these dimensions are different from what I have seen on modern Scotias)


- What is the best way to fabricate and replicate the molding myself?


- If I use a router, what type of bit should I use? cove?? If so, what size.


- Other people have suggested using a tablesaw with the wood at angle to the blade. If so, how do you decide what angle to use?



Finally what are the advantages and disadvantages of each approach?


Forget the tablesaw. That can be used for certain cove moldings, but you have limited radius to work with.

Router in a table or a shaper is the way to go. I would not try a hand held for a molding I don't know exactly what your piece looks like so I can only suggest looking at different profiles, maybe even using two if it is not a constant radius. Go to

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for starters. or here
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This is not the answer but you may find it of some value.

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Valley has a nice selection of core box bits:

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S.

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