Produce professional top quality fine finger joints in a wide range of stock thicknesses. Join wood end-to-end or edge-to-edge. To use, simply align cutters with center of stock and make first cut, face up. Cut matching side, face down. Two flute, carbide tipped, with bearing guide. Use in router table only. USA

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(3 Customer Reviews)    Write your own review

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Product Rating:     Date Posted: 2008-02-22 00:00:00

Finger Joint Bit #191-2215

Posted By: Clark Colby

Location: Irwin, PA United States

Comments: Fairly high quality router bit. However, not easy to use without micrometer router-table adjustment. Guide bearing at outer end is virtually useless. This is a fairly long bit, so any normal run-out generated by router collet tends to degrade final joint fit. No instructions included. Brief instructions in catalog are incorrect.

Product Rating:     Date Posted: 2009-01-25 00:00:00

one of my favorites

Posted By: John

Location: Lubbock, TX United States

Comments: I might agree with the other reviewer--the instructions aren't worth much--but the bit itself makes perfect joints if you know how to use it. It has the advantage over glue joint bits in that it does not require an edge guide. I use it on my router, and not with a router table. Here's how to use it. 1) Start off with all of your wood the same thickness. Route the edges of your board straight using a straight edge or a perfectly cut piece of plywood. 2) Determine how many cutterheads you will require to cut your thickness. The bearing will be riding the top edge of the wood, and at the bottom, you place the wide cutterhead. Be sure that all of the cutters are facing the correct direction. 3) Do an eyeball adjustment: the amount touching the bearing should be the amount touching the bottom cutterhead. 4) For any given plank, cut from the same side (top or bottom) for both edges that you are going to join. 5) Flip every other board in your sequence. So if you are doing a tabletop with 4 planks, route from the top side for planks 1 and 3, and the bottom side for 2 and 4. 6) After routing, push your pieces together. Unless your "guess" setting as perfect, every other plank willl be either alternately high or low. You will probably be off by a mm or so. Pass through a planer to even up. 7) If you don't have a planer, do every other board, then use a scrap piece to adjust the cut on the other boards, and adjust your router until you get it right. No router table required. 8) Gluing--and this is important--note that with a finger joint, your glue has a long, long way to navigate from the center grooves. Use a slightly runny glue like Franklin Type 3. Apply sparingly. I use a pointy glue bottle, and I don't brush it--just get a nice even bead. If you put glue on both sides, it will squeeze into every last nick and cranny. Don't apply out in the sun--give your glue time to squeeze out before

Product Rating:     Date Posted: 2009-01-25 00:00:00

an essetial bit

Posted By: John Wendt

Location: Lubbock, TX United States

Comments: I don't know what the other reviewer is on about. The top bearing is the GUIDE--you run it along the straight edge of a board. No router table required, just a straight edge. The joint is perfect--no run-out--if you just use the router over the top of your board. An incredibly tight joint, good enough to join end grains to incredible strength. Actually does 1-1/2", not 1-3/8" as advertised. No micro-fine adjustments really needed: just take a good guess and plane your boards to fit after cutting, or after doing your first cut, practice on a scrap to get your second cut to join it in line.

Router Saftey Chart - Suggested Speeds:

Bit Diameter	Max Speed
up to 1"	24000 RPM
1-1/16" to 2"	18000 RPM
2-1/16" to 2-1/2"	16000 RPM
2-9/16" to 3"	14500 RPM
over 3"	12000 RPM

Router Saftey Tips:

• Always wear eye and ear protection.
• Always use properly sharpened bits.
• Never use bits that are dull or damaged.
• Shank must be completely inserted into collet and then backed-off approximately 1/16".
• Don't "bottom-out" bit in collet.
• Never partially insert bit into collet. Tighten securely and recheck periodically for possible slippage or "run-out" due to wear.
• Keep collet clean and replace if worn.
• Never start the router with the bit in contact with wood.
• Always feed your work in the proper direction against the bit rotation.
• Don't force feed the bit or overload your router, Feed at a constant moving speed to avoid burning the wood.
• Do not face tool's discharge when operating.
• Always unplug router when changing bits or making adjustments.
• Use a router table and fence whenever possible.
• Make sure your work piece is properly secured and use push blocks, sticks and featherboards whenever possible.
• Keep all your bits, bearings and assemblies clean, lubricated, and securely fastened. To avoid damage, store them properly in a pouch, box or tray.
• The bigger the bit, the lower RPM recommended (see chart).