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Used a 1/2 inch router bit on a plywood edge and got a weird burn mark

I was putting a roundover on some birch ply for a bookshelf and the bit left a dark scorch line down the whole 8 foot length. Turns out my feed rate was way too slow, even though the RPM felt right. Has anyone else run into this with plywood, and what speed do you push at?
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2 Comments
dakotaknight
Oh man, that's the worst. Actually, it's not just the feed rate. Plywood glue is super hard on bits and causes way more heat buildup than solid wood. A sharp bit is key. I've found you almost have to push plywood faster than you'd think, like a steady, confident pace. Letting the bit linger at all in the glue lines will burn it every single time.
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rubybarnes
rubybarnes12d ago
Totally agree with @dakotaknight about the glue lines. I burned a piece last month doing the same thing. You really have to keep that router moving with a constant, quick push. A sharp bit and a faster feed speed fixed it for me.
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