Routing End Grain

[Stephen]

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  When routing the end grain of several boards on the router table, the router profile is coming out uneven.  It is inconsistent, though, and I am thinking it has more to do with how I am feeding the workpiece through the bit than the equipment.  

I am using the miter gauge with scrap behind the workpiece to minimize tear-out; I have a two-piece fence and have moved both pieces close to the bit to support the workpiece.  When I send the workpiece through long-ways, the profile is perfect every time.  

Any thoughts?  Thank you for your time.

[Ken Darga]

Stephen,

Make end-grain cuts FIRST, using a backer board,

then followed by cuts with the ''grain direction''.

A backer board, when fitted tight/butted, will eliminate chip-out.

[David Dean]

some time's I fine it easyer if you just use the router it's self if you can. The longer piece's are easyer to hold to the bit but not so easy on the end grain's and putting it togather and 2 end blocks and clamp so you dont have tear-out.

[John Schaben]

On the router table I use a push block instead of a miter guage. I use a dedicated push block so It has a sacrificial face. It gives even pressure right through the cut and holds it square to the fence.

[Stephen]

Thank you for the feedback.  I had my "Ah Ha" moment this afternoon.  The reason why some of the end grain routed perfectly, and others did not had to do with the wood; some of the boards were ever so slightly cupped.  I figured this out when I used David's suggestion of routing the end grain using the hand-held router.  The sub-base of the router was not sitting flat on the boards in question, which was causing the bit to ride up, thus creating the uneven profile.

Still, your responses have generated new questions:  Ken, I always rout the end-grain first, and have never had chip-out.  I use a squared-up piece of scrap behind the workpiece.  Is that the backer-board you mentioned?

John, is the push block something that you purchased or made?  I have seen push blocks for purchase, but the would you be able to explain the sacrificial face?  Thanks again!

[John Schaben]

Hi Stephen - my push block is basically a glorified version of squared up scrap. I just put together something to push stock though the router table, put a MDF face on it so I wouldn't need to make one every time it got chewed up.

[Stephen]

John,

The explanation was great, and the visual was even better. Thank you very much for sharing.

John Schaben said:

Hi Stephen - my push block is basically a glorified version of squared up scrap. I just put together something to push stock though the router table, put a MDF face on it so I wouldn't need to make one every time it got chewed up.