Routing table help

Hey wood working people, gotta question for you.

When I try to use my routing table & bit to make a box joint - it practically shatters the board. I was using 1/2'' birch

I've use a few peices of different style of wood so it must be something I'm missing.

Sorry about the huge picture - i've edited it in photobucket but it still looks monster.

What type of bit are you using and is it sharp? How are you holding the wood and feeding it through? Are you using a backer board? Is your router VS? IMO to cut a clean boxjoint in plywood on a router you need A) a sharp spiral cut bit, preferably an upcut B) a jig of some sort to secure and feed the piece without any wobble C) a sacrificial backer board D) slower bit speed so that you can feed slowly without burning.


FWIW I prefer dado blades on the tablesaw for most box joints, but especially for plywood.

Its the material your using. Its skinned, which is plywood with with a 1/16 layer of birch glued to it. You need to score your wood with a razor knife before you route it. Or use hardwood.

It's a brand new Skil bit that does a 3/4in strait cut. I clamped the board to miter gauge and it is vs.

I will try your suggestions to see if that works. Brand new at using a router so I have no clue - thanks for the help!

Would LOVE to use a dado blade but my tables saw doesn't take em - its a portable dewalt 745 . Love the saw but I wish it did that.

Thanks Coldies! Will do

I've got the same table saw. I run a dado set with no problems.

Someone already mentioned backer board, but for Plywood, you would want a sacrificial board in front and back....especially with a straight bit

that's for the help guys

Arturo - what make/model did you get for the dado? The manual said it cannot be done

IIRC, the Dewalt saw CAN dado....but you're limited by how much. I almost got that saw....ended up getting a Porter Cable one with a few more features. For my limited use, I'm happy with a lesser brand.