Appreciation post: I tried a 3/8 inch roundover bit on a walnut slab and it blew my mind

Was building a console table for a client in Boise. Figured a small roundover would be safe on the live edge. Wrong. It grabbed and tore out a huge chunk, ruined the piece. Cost me two days and the slab. Learned the hard way: you need to support that live edge with a backer block, no shortcuts. Anyone have a good fix for tear-out after it happens?

3 comments

3 Comments

willow24429d ago

Yeah that backer block tip is key, but honestly I've started doing two passes even with it. First pass super shallow, like just kissing the wood, then the second pass to take it down to full depth. It's extra work but it keeps the live edge from getting stressed all at once. For your tear out, if the chunk is big you might be able to glue it back in place with some CA glue and clamp it, then sand the heck out of it. Sometimes you can hide it if the piece isn't too far gone.

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ellis.simon29d ago

Honestly the two pass method is a game changer. Saved my last walnut slab from blowing out.

alicecooper8h ago

Isn't that just making a simple job way too complicated?

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