Warning: I tried doing raised panel doors with just a router and got burned

Had a client push me to use a router instead of my shaper for some raised panel cabinet doors. He said it would save time and money. Well, I tried it on a set of maple doors for a kitchen in Portland and the router bit chattered like crazy, left burn marks on three panels. Had to sand them down and redo the profiles by hand. I'm wondering if I just used the wrong bit or if the shaper is really the only way to go for raised panels. Has anyone else had luck with a router on something like that?

3 comments

3 Comments

amy_west1mo agoMost Upvoted

Check if your router bearings were clean before starting.

felix4141mo ago

The 1/2 inch collet on my old Dewalt 618 would get that brown residue buildup if I ran it over 18,000 RPM with a brand-new bit. That's the thing nobody mentions - brand new bits actually cut hotter for the first few passes because the coating hasn't seated yet. I had a job last month where I swapped to a used bit and the burning stopped completely (same feed rate, same depth). So maybe check if you're using a fresh bit that needs breaking in before you blame the bearings.

the_tessa1mo ago

@amy_west had a good point about the bearings, but nobody's talking about feed rate. You were probably pushing that maple through too slow, which torches the fibers.