I start cutting the cove.
It is important to follow the manufacture's instructions and cut only a little bit on each
pass. I am cutting cherry and find that raising the cutter just less than 1/8" each
time works very smoothly on my table saw, about 1/2 turn of the height adjustment
crank gives me the elevation I want.
On several occasions, I have made cove cuts with the saw blade. There is no
comparison. When using this cove cutter the operation is smooth and quiet and feels
very safe.
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I have my cove. It is an exact copy of the template that I had used.
And, it is smooth. I made the last pass a smoothing pass by raising the cove cutter about
1/16". Even then, I sent the board through for one more pass. It takes a second and
really smoothes out any minor bumps.
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If you wonder what I am
doing, that makes two of us. For the life of me, I couldn't figure out how to use those
upside down cutters to finish off my wonderful cove. So this very smooth sample may go
into the "Lucas Trials Hall of Fame."
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This is a new blank that I am using to test this cutter. Clearly, this is the way it is
meant to cut. So, what I did was to cut the smaller profiles first maybe I will be
luckier in cutting the cove after. At least, that is my plan.
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I cut the small
profile on the other end, too. It still seems insane but maybe, just maybe, I am getting
closer.
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Now I use my template to
draw the cove between these two edges.
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Back at the table saw, I am
making my first passes. You can see the line I drew. It will take a number of passes to
get there. In fact, I got close by raising the bit 1/8" each turn, but near the end,
I also started to add tilt. I did a very little bit of tilt (10o) each pass.
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Well, I
have molding. I didn't say this before, but this block is a piece of mahogany, and it not
only mills nicely, it looks wonderful. My nice cove ends right where the small profiles
start.
One molding doesn't make me an expert, but I like doing the cove last
there seems to be more adjustments and controls to this than with the fixed profiles.
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It
takes very little sanding to prepare it for its finish.
While this molding is useable, it is not cove molding at least, the
type that fits as crown molding on top of entertainment centers, kitchen cabinets and the
like.
Clearly, I have to re-read the instructions. I am missing something.
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