I need a laminate trim bit for my router (PC-890), and on a retailer's website I saw Whiteside "Euro-Square" laminate trim bits.
Can anyone compare the performance of these to the standard round bearing guided straight bits?
/rick.
I am guessing here but I do know that there are 2 styles of laminate trim bits. Those that will trim the laminate at a 90 degree angle and there are those that the bit cuts at a slight angle angle. The resulting corner edge of the laminate is beveled a bit and therefore not as sharp edged. This beveled bit is best used in the top edge only and not on the side edges that butt up to the bottom side of the top piece of laminate. The finished edge is more comfortable to rest against.
Thanks Leon.
My question really concerned the Whiteside "Euro-Square" laminate bits having a square bearing guide, rather than round. The square guide stops turning as it contacts the surface. This is supposed to improve the trim quality, but since I'm not convinced, I thought I might see if anyone here has some experience with them.
/rick.
I'm curious too. Can you go ahead and buy and try and report back? SH
maybe because it won't burn. if the round one gets a little bit stuck or doesn't rotate at the same speed, then it might burn the laminate?
Rick,
Can you post the link. I'd like to see these router bits.
Thanks.
"Kevin Singleton" asked...
At Whiteside's site (a PDF file)....
Or at Woodcraft
I did not post the complete Woodcraft URL because it is 4 miles long.
/rick.
I could be wrong, but i'd guess that a square bit would prevent the contact cement from building up on a regular round bearing flush trimmer bit while cutting. I'd suggest getting a laminate file -$10 or so - to ease the edges of the corners after trimming. --dave
I tried one for a re-lam in place job, using Wilsonart solvent contact cement and Wilsonart laminate. I was underwhelmed:( It still spun dried cement around the bearing - which has an easy-to-lose circlip and shield. The square plastic bearing collar then rapped on the lam. I'll probably stick with the solid carbides for most of my HPL.
Rick:
The square bearing bits you describe are a product of Euro Limited, although I wouldn't be surprised if Whiteside made them for Euro. I do know that the Euro Limited bits we carry are made in New Zealand.
The bits work quite well to reduce the contact cement fouling of the pilot bearing that is common with standard bits. The "square bearing" is really just a bushing pressed onto the standard pilot bearing and is made of teflon according to Euro.
Here is a link to ours:
Jim Ray, President McFeely's Square Drive Screws
I typically run 2 runs of masking tape over the area where the bearing runs. Seems to be just enough to keep from burning through. Then the laminate file. Another 2 cents. SH
But which is better a burn or if the square one gets a little bit stick or does not allow the bit to rotate inside the square guide bearing it may dent and bang up the laminate. Actually my round bearing stays clogged up with glue and does not always spin. No burning. I suspect because it does not stay in one spot long and has a slick surface.
Seeing the bit and thinking farther this bit will not be able to do inside curves as well as the round bearing bits. With inside curves, especially tight ones, the laminate will not be trimmed flush.
But if they were square, the bearings would probably still turn freely. Sticky bearings is a gradual process, if they were forced to keep rotating they'd probably never get that way.
Well mine don't spin well because the bearings are giving up and or clogged up with old glue.
The bearing isn't supposed to rotate at the same speed as the bit. It's there to ride on the surface as a guide and it's a bearing so that it is not spinning as one with the bit.
"Jim" wrote in news: snipped-for-privacy@enews3.newsguy.com:
Thanks for stopping by and offering an informed answer.
Patriarch, wishing he'd had more time to do the projects for which he ordered all those fastners...
Thanks everyone for your input. It sounds like these square bearing thingys are a rather recent innovation (if it is in fact that).
I ended up buying a Whiteside 1/2" shank 1" CL flush trimmer with the normal round bearing guide (works great, BTW). The local Woodcraft did not even have a square one to look at (sorry, Slowhand). Someone else is going to have to experiment.
And Leon, good catch on the inside curves issue. I had not even thought of that.
/rick.
the outside doesn't rotate at the same speed as the bit, but isn't the inside supposed to?
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