Router Height

[zx24]

Am using a Hightower deluxe with a 6 flute
winged cutter with the router in the verticle
position to do shaft and butt tapers.
What is the optimum elevation of the cutter
in relation to the centerline of the butt?
Center to center?
Above center?
Below center?
Also is there a better choice than the 6 winged
cutter for tapering?
ZX

 

[Mc2]

Am using a Hightower deluxe with a 6 flute
winged cutter with the router in the verticle
position to do shaft and butt tapers.
What is the optimum elevation of the cutter
in relation to the centerline of the butt?
Center to center?
Above center?
Below center?
Also is there a better choice than the 6 winged
cutter for tapering?
ZX

I am going with center to center. I would think that above or below would start pushing the wood in two direction (out and up or down) if there is any pushout at all. Speed will be the most critical aspect for both feed and speed the wood is rotating. The 6 winged cutter should work fine. If I am wrong, some please let me know and reasons why.

Jim.

 

[RocketQ]

Before my saw machine I used to put the centerline of the cutter above or below the center of the wood depending on which direction I was spinning the wood. Also made a difference on which direction clean or crawl cut. If the work was turning toward you the center would be slightly higher but not having the center of the wood lower than the edge of the cutter. and vice versa when I was turning wood away from me. I am talking about finish passes not rough cuts. Rough cuts really don't matter much. Last two cuts are clean cuts also. As for reasons why. Clean cuts produce a better cut and with the center higher I started that way and liked the results. Hope this helps twist your mind.


John

 

[Russell Cues]

I always line up my cutter with the center of my tail stock, such as my live center. I get next to no chatter especially with shafts. I use the six blade cutter, small and large versions, that Barrenger sells, it cuts very clean and does a great job for me.

 

[cueman]

I prefer Center on Center. If you put the top of the blade on center and run the lathe forward sometimes the thinner shafts will try to walk up on top of the blade and gouge the shaft.

 

[blud]

kerf

I prefer Center on Center. If you put the top of the blade on center and run the lathe forward sometimes the thinner shafts will try to walk up on top of the blade and gouge the shaft.

Sherm, it also depends on the kerf, [how wide the carbide tooth is], Too wide and it creats tool push-off, meaning it creats wind on the surface of what your cutting. I use C to C, works for me. With a wide kerf, you can move the tool up and down, useing a new unused spot on the blade.
blud

 

[qbilder]

Center to center is what I do. I don't use those 6-wing cutters as they are not sharp enough for me. I use Freud 4-wing cutters, 1/8". They are pretty expensive but cut much cleaner than anything else I have tried and last a long time. All the teeth are concentric & evenly spaced from the center hole. That makes the biggest difference, in my mind, anyway.