Technique PHOTOGRAPHS BY GMC/ANTHONY BAILEY

Moulding cutters If you need to shape up, then moulding cutters are the way to go. We look at a selection of the many types available

outer cutters fall into three cutter with interchangeable bearings. up the learning curve, it makes sense main categories – joint-making, If the chosen bearing is the same as to pick an individual good quality Rslotting and rebating using the cutter radius then it can be either cutter to match the sort of work you straight cutters or groovers, moulding modern or traditional, but fitted with do. Prepared components have cutters that confer a shape on the a smaller bearing the resultant quirk edges, or arrises, but for various reasons and, finally, a combination of both or step produced is recognisable as a we need to ‘tame the arris’. At the using frame and panel cutters which traditional detail. It is the versatility very least it needs to be ‘broken’ with joint and mould in one operation. of a and its cutters that enable to take away the sharpness these possibilities. and reduce the risk of splinters. If you Moulding cutters are machining a worktop then We are looking at the second group, Choosing shapes a tiny 3.2mm roundover cutter looks which don’t perform any joint-making A basic cutter set usually includes modern and feels right. Or let’s say you function. They divide into two sub- narrow and wide straight cutters, a are making something out of ; in groups – traditional inspired shapes couple of roundover cutters, a cove this case a ‘stopped’ looks right and simple, more modern profiles. and corebox cutter, bevel and V-point, and has been used down the ages to This latter group, unless they are out roman and the useless dovetail improve the look of oak as and out modern in profile, can often cutter when unmatched to any . it suits the appearance of the grain. be incorporated in traditional work. Although it is understandable that Lastly, is invariably used in Some are designed to do both in someone new to routing needs to start a traditional style so a medium size any case. An example is a roundover with a basic set, once you have moved roundover with a quirk will look right. ➤

Woodworking Crafts issue 28 31 Technique Technique

So deciding on a cutter is actually The use of mouldings in stone dependant on the project design and and then wood originates back to the material. early times. The Egyptians, Greeks and Romans have all contributed to Face or edge the vast panoply of moulding styles Moulding cutters are basically edge which are still in use today. Various mould or face mould. Edge moulds terms, such as Grecian ogee, torus, are the easiest to do either using cornice, bolection and lamb’s tongue, a straight or bearing guided. may seem obscure but are recognised When you have created a rather plain descriptions of moulded profiles square furniture carcase, moulding the which are frequently reproduced in edges dramatically alters the look of router cutters. it, making it seem much more visually pleasing and acceptable. Straight or combination A V- effect works well here in ash. A tapered leg moulded using a multi-reed cutters? It could also be done with a round bottom cutter. The trick is to ensure a neat corner Machining techniques The most useful cutters you can corebox bit instead meeting of the on all four faces Face moulding requires some sort of have are straight cutters in different additional guidance in the shape of a diameters and rebate cutters, because template that a bearing guided cutter mouldings often need to be used The variety of moulding can run against, or just a straight fence alongside flat sections – cornice being a cutters even within if you are creating a fluted column prime example where curves alternate just one cutter type is effect. All machining operations create with flat or dentil-moulded sections to extensive in terms of size dust, but face moulding is particularly create a projecting moulding on top of and shape variation bad for this, so extraction is essential. a bookcase or cabinet. One way to improve the look of a Combination cutters have more furniture project which is controllable than one shape so can be used in a and easy to do, is to machine the edge router table at different heights to give of a board, cut off the moulding and different moulded effects. They can be repeat ad infinitum. This gives you lots very useful but are often expensive and of mouldings which can be applied to a need a ½in router to accommodate Making a cornice building up stage by A typical multi-stage cornice giving plain carcass once it is built. them, so you need to decide with care stage, here checking the first two stages the illusion of just one moulding when Mouldings made by the and before shelling out on one. look right together viewed from the front repeat method need to be done on the As with any table-mounted router, router table for safety and accuracy. lack of cutter projection can be an Being cut off a wide board means the issue. Don’t be tempted to reduce the wood is stable without bending or amount of shank in the collet. Instead breakage during machining. buy a good quality shank extender for safe, low vibration working. Reference material Changing the position of a workpiece It is worth poring over cutter on the router table from flat to vertical manufacturers’ catalogues or visiting can affect the moulded result. Make their websites to give you an idea of the sure you machine the correct way scope of moulding patterns available. round each time, but you can also However, to make best use of them use a cutter more creatively if you do Two different sizes of a useful Wealden A tall face mould suitable for cornicing it helps to find old books featuring switch positions. There are no absolute combination cutter. They offer several using just the one cutter or for a moulded 1 furniture and moulding styles as a guide rules about the use of mouldings – if it different possible moulding shapes These very common profiles illustrate size variations very well, with larger ones on ⁄2in surround. Cutters like these are only 1 shanks for strength to which is the correct pattern to use. looks right it probably is. ■ available with a ⁄2in shank

Just a small selection of the moulding cutters available today. There really is no limit on choice

Two cutters, the left hand one being Two slightly different ogee cutters, Face mould cutters which need to run This rough drawn-in end illustrates how a more suitable for a modern, gentle face generally associated with classical forms around a template for a properly guided roundover cutter removes less wood than mould and the right hand cutter designed so better with traditional furniture styles and accurate result. Dust is an issue a cove cutter. The latter will need more for a traditional mould on the front edges especially with MDF, so extraction has to passes, taking off less wood each time, to of shelves etc., but needing guidance be fitted to the router avoid straining cutter and machine

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