Shaping wood

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

I am making very nice exotic wood cutting boards in anticipation for the coming holidays and I am in need of the proper bit, whether for a router or a wood shaper to create concave rounded forms.

I remember having some bits, the same kind people use for making and shaping doors but I'm unsure as to whether this would work and, if so, which tool would be the most appropriate.

Additionally, where could I get the shaping bits at a decent price.

I will thank in advance the advice any of you would could provide.

Thank you

[Jay Boutwell]

Alfredo, if I understand correctly you are wanting to cut a concaved area on the cutting board near the edge to catch liquids from cutting items like vegetables and meat.  There is a router bit called a "bowl cutter"  also called a "dish cutter" of which can be used in a hand held router providing that you devise a fence to guide the router around the cutting board and take light cuts.  Its purpose is to cut a smooth round concaved in the bottom of a bowl or dish.  You can cut a single pass around the board or make multiple passes to carve out a complete bowl.

One source is  "woodworkers supply" whom has them and they range in two sizes of 3/4" and 1 & 3/4" and sell  for around $30.00.  Another option is a bit called a "core bit".  The web site is: woodworker.com

Rocklers also has the same thing called " dish carving bit" and sells for about the same price.

I have used the bit before as sometimes I build wooden cutting boards in  high end kitchen cabinets building them out of hard rock maple. 

 

[John Schaben]

Hi Alfredo - My understanding of your question is the same as Jay's. Those will usually have two configurations. One will have a top mounted bearing so you can use a template to help guide the router and the other will not (although top mounted bearings can be added to virtually any bit) without a bearing, you will need to provide some other means of guidance, edge guide, guide bushing, etc.

Here is one source I have had good luck with.

http://www.mlcswoodworking.com/shopsite_sc/store/html/smarthtml/pag...

 

As Jay pointed out, there are several sources. Almost any online woodworking store as well as some of the big box stores. Selection at the big box is pretty limited in my experience though.

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

Thank you for your contribution but perhaps I didn't express my needs correctly and here I try to do it as it should be.

What I am trying to do is to create a cutting board, where the center area is done in end-grain, with the edges on edge-grain. To illustrate this, I have included a sample of what I wish to do, obviously copied from someone with lots of experience. Notwithstanding, and even if it takes me three years to accomplish it, I WILL GET IT DONE, NO MATTER WHAT!

I remember, or perhaps I was dreaming, that there are shaping bits large enough to do this and I am determined to find one, unless you or any of you have a better, cheaper and available method to do the same without spending a fortune in expensive bits.

Please look at the picture and tell me if I am dreaming.

Best regards and thanks again.
Jay Boutwell said:

Alfredo, if I understand correctly you are wanting to cut a concaved area on the cutting board near the edge to catch liquids from cutting items like vegetables and meat.  There is a router bit called a "bowl cutter"  also called a "dish cutter" of which can be used in a hand held router providing that you devise a fence to guide the router around the cutting board and take light cuts.  Its purpose is to cut a smooth round concaved in the bottom of a bowl or dish.  You can cut a single pass around the board or make multiple passes to carve out a complete bowl.

One source is  "woodworkers supply" whom has them and they range in two sizes of 3/4" and 1 & 3/4" and sell  for around $30.00.  Another option is a bit called a "core bit".  The web site is: woodworker.com

Rocklers also has the same thing called " dish carving bit" and sells for about the same price.

I have used the bit before as sometimes I build wooden cutting boards in  high end kitchen cabinets building them out of hard rock maple. 

 

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

Can anyone of you ascertain who this "Lucia Edward" is?

If you look for her in the member list, you will see that this person replies with the same text and style for everything posted and, as a former Intl. law enforcement person, I see it as a scam.

Please look and see how we could get that name removed from our community and blocked from future postings.

Here is what she posted to all enquiries:       "Hi from Lucia,My name is Lucia Edward I am a girl, I saw your profile herekregjig.ning.com and my spirit ask me to contact you about this important issue so please, I would like you to send me…"

 

Thanks to all of you and regards from the Redwood Forest of northern California.

Just trying to keep our place clean.

Jay Boutwell said:

Alfredo, if I understand correctly you are wanting to cut a concaved area on the cutting board near the edge to catch liquids from cutting items like vegetables and meat.  There is a router bit called a "bowl cutter"  also called a "dish cutter" of which can be used in a hand held router providing that you devise a fence to guide the router around the cutting board and take light cuts.  Its purpose is to cut a smooth round concaved in the bottom of a bowl or dish.  You can cut a single pass around the board or make multiple passes to carve out a complete bowl.

One source is  "woodworkers supply" whom has them and they range in two sizes of 3/4" and 1 & 3/4" and sell  for around $30.00.  Another option is a bit called a "core bit".  The web site is: woodworker.com

Rocklers also has the same thing called " dish carving bit" and sells for about the same price.

I have used the bit before as sometimes I build wooden cutting boards in  high end kitchen cabinets building them out of hard rock maple. 

 

[Jay Boutwell]

Alfredo, this is a female whom resides in Dakar Africa whom is attemtping to run a fraud scheme on someone.  This  happens on occassions.  What they do is try to get you to respond and  by doing so they gain information form you.  Your are correct it is a scam. 

  I just ignore them and report them to the Kreg Rep whom has been very quick to remove them from the system.  If you have an entry on your page you can delete it by clicking on the "x" that is on the left side of the comment.

I'm sure it will be taken care of Monday morning.  It has been reported early this morning.

[John Schaben]

Hi Alfredo - Enlarging the picture didn't help me much, it came through pretty badly pixelated. Anyway, it looks to me like someone made and end grain cutting board first and kind of inlayed it into a larger board. There does appear to be a sustantial lip around the endgrain part though. I'm guessing that could be routed down with a sled....

Alfredo R. Vionnet said:

Thank you for your contribution but perhaps I didn't express my needs correctly and here I try to do it as it should be.

What I am trying to do is to create a cutting board, where the center area is done in end-grain, with the edges on edge-grain. To illustrate this, I have included a sample of what I wish to do, obviously copied from someone with lots of experience. Notwithstanding, and even if it takes me three years to accomplish it, I WILL GET IT DONE, NO MATTER WHAT!

I remember, or perhaps I was dreaming, that there are shaping bits large enough to do this and I am determined to find one, unless you or any of you have a better, cheaper and available method to do the same without spending a fortune in expensive bits.

Please look at the picture and tell me if I am dreaming.

Best regards and thanks again.
Jay Boutwell said:

Alfredo, if I understand correctly you are wanting to cut a concaved area on the cutting board near the edge to catch liquids from cutting items like vegetables and meat.  There is a router bit called a "bowl cutter"  also called a "dish cutter" of which can be used in a hand held router providing that you devise a fence to guide the router around the cutting board and take light cuts.  Its purpose is to cut a smooth round concaved in the bottom of a bowl or dish.  You can cut a single pass around the board or make multiple passes to carve out a complete bowl.

One source is  "woodworkers supply" whom has them and they range in two sizes of 3/4" and 1 & 3/4" and sell  for around $30.00.  Another option is a bit called a "core bit".  The web site is: woodworker.com

Rocklers also has the same thing called " dish carving bit" and sells for about the same price.

I have used the bit before as sometimes I build wooden cutting boards in  high end kitchen cabinets building them out of hard rock maple. 

 

[Jay Boutwell]

Alfredo, I just saw the photo and read John's reply.  I have to agree with him as this is the same impression that I got.  It looks to me like it was made in two different builds of where the outside was made first and then the end grain was then inlayed  into the oval part.  Perhaps you could send another photo taken from a different view one of us might be able to answer your questions.  If possible and it is on the web send the source of the photo so that we might have a better look at it.   

John Schaben said:

Hi Alfredo - Enlarging the picture didn't help me much, it came through pretty badly pixelated. Anyway, it looks to me like someone made and end grain cutting board first and kind of inlayed it into a larger board. There does appear to be a sustantial lip around the endgrain part though. I'm guessing that could be routed down with a sled....

Alfredo R. Vionnet said:

Thank you for your contribution but perhaps I didn't express my needs correctly and here I try to do it as it should be.

What I am trying to do is to create a cutting board, where the center area is done in end-grain, with the edges on edge-grain. To illustrate this, I have included a sample of what I wish to do, obviously copied from someone with lots of experience. Notwithstanding, and even if it takes me three years to accomplish it, I WILL GET IT DONE, NO MATTER WHAT!

I remember, or perhaps I was dreaming, that there are shaping bits large enough to do this and I am determined to find one, unless you or any of you have a better, cheaper and available method to do the same without spending a fortune in expensive bits.

Please look at the picture and tell me if I am dreaming.

Best regards and thanks again.
Jay Boutwell said:

Alfredo, if I understand correctly you are wanting to cut a concaved area on the cutting board near the edge to catch liquids from cutting items like vegetables and meat.  There is a router bit called a "bowl cutter"  also called a "dish cutter" of which can be used in a hand held router providing that you devise a fence to guide the router around the cutting board and take light cuts.  Its purpose is to cut a smooth round concaved in the bottom of a bowl or dish.  You can cut a single pass around the board or make multiple passes to carve out a complete bowl.

One source is  "woodworkers supply" whom has them and they range in two sizes of 3/4" and 1 & 3/4" and sell  for around $30.00.  Another option is a bit called a "core bit".  The web site is: woodworker.com

Rocklers also has the same thing called " dish carving bit" and sells for about the same price.

I have used the bit before as sometimes I build wooden cutting boards in  high end kitchen cabinets building them out of hard rock maple. 

 

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

Hi there. Thank you so much for your sterling assistance.

What you said, make sense and so I will do.

Looks like it is good to stay in touch with those who are much better than me.

Thanks again.

[Jay Boutwell]

Alfredo, Please do stay in touch with us as you grow in your experience with working wood you will find many on here whom are willing to help you with questions and guide you with suggestions when the time is needed.

Never sell your self short as to your abilities as you will see that as you gain experience working wood you will find it easier to figure out problems.  Experience comes only with doing.  Everyone is born with  talent, it is just that some never develope all their talents.  You made a statement earlier that went something like: "I will get it done, no matter what."

This tells me alot about your desire to take on  something that you do not understand.  This says volumns about your drive, interest, and determination.  With this attitude you will acheive much in woodworking.  We all started working wood with little or no experience but stuck to it and our understanding and ability grew. with each project.

My best to you in your challenges.            Regards, jay 

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

Thank you for your encouraging words. I follow two famous names:

Socrates, who said: SIO EGO NON (I know I don't know), and

Michelangelo, who said ANCORA IMPARO (I'm still learning)

[Ken Darga]

I have a project on my drawing board, 

for making a cutting board, with a groove around the perimeter to catch drippings,

and will include a gravy receptacle.

I plan to hand carve the features, using chisels and mallot.

I've seen some beautiful projects that were hand carved.

These were made B4 routers came on the scene.

If I were to use a router, I'd use the ''bowl carving'' bits, by Rockler---

and make a template to guide the cutting of the groove, and free-hand route the gravy bowl.

Free-hand carving with a router takes some practice, to accomplish a smooth finish---

making shallow and narrow cutting passes.

[Alfredo R. Vionnet]

That, I imagine, takes some deep knowledge and lots of patience, not to mention good hands and that's what I don't have.

Due to a failing neck, two cervical fusing procedures and pain, which never ceased, I was given pain blocking injections in my neck and those resulted in the fluid piercing the spinal cord and compressing the root of the C-8 nerve, leaving my right hand paralyzed as a radiculopathy. The result is a retired man with only one functioning hand, using the right one solely as a "helper hand".

This makes me jealous about people who can do hand carving and would very much like to see your project when finished. I find it quite interesting and desirable.

For the time being, I am limiting myself to doing things with machines (lots of them) and seem to get pretty good results, judging by the "Oooos and Ahhhs" I get from people who see my cutting boards. I will post a few when I get them all together finished with the respective oils.

The idea of looking at a bowl carving bit seems like a good one and I intend to explore it. Thank you so much for your tip and best regards to you.