Pressure foot and bit size

[denmanmarine]

Hi all,

I purchased a pressure foot with my PRS as I will be cutting a lot of thin plywood (3-6mm) and on some of these panels I need to cut some even, half depth rebates, some almost full length of the sheet. Most of the rebates are 1/2" or 3/4" wide.

I wanted to use a 1/2" straight bit to cut these but the paperwork with the pressure foot says not to use a cutter over 1/4". It is not obvious to me but can anyone advise what would be the problem with using a 1/2" cutter with the pressure foot? (I know I would have to drill out the foot plastic shoe to fit the bit).

Andrew

[feinddj]

The pressure foot is designed to keep small parts from lifting when cut. If you are doing milling of dadoes and whatnot, you should be using vacuum to hold down the sheet and keep it flat. That way you can use your dust collection to keep down the chips and mess as well. When you change bits to cut it all into individual parts that are small, then use the pressure foot.

David

[denmanmarine]

Hi David,

Thanks for the reply. I don't have a vac hold down system hence the pressure foot.

Andrew

[Chuck Keysor]

Hello Andrew. I am assuming you bought your pressure foot from Widget Works. If so, contact them to ask about your application. I had some questions when I was considering my purchase, and I contacted WW. They were very helpful and truthful in assessing my application. They said my application was OK, and I bought their pressure foot, and have been very happy! Happy Thanksgiving, Chuck

[denmanmarine]

A final follow up to this thread.

I used the pressure foot for the first time last night to cut 1/8" x 1/2" rebates in 1/4" ply and it worked a treat. The manufacturer said it was fine to drill out the pressure foot to accept the larger bit (1/2"). The only stupid thing I did was forgot one ply sheet hold down which the pressure foot came up against which the bit would not normally do.

Certainly solved my problem of getting a consistent rebate depth.

The only real issue is dust extraction which I hope to be able to work something out in the near future.

Andrew