After struggling with tear-out on some curly maple for a client's cabinet doors, I tried a trick from a furniture maker in Savannah and ran my router bit backwards for the final pass.

Has anyone else used that method on figured hardwoods, or is there a better trick you'd recommend?

3 comments

3 Comments

Wait, you ran the router bit backwards on purpose? That sounds like a great way to launch a piece of wood across the shop. I've heard of climb cutting by hand but that's with way more control. I just use a super sharp spiral bit and take the tiniest last pass I can.

noah9142mo agoMost Upvoted

My buddy tried that once, lost a door.

parkermorgan1mo ago

Totally agree with you about climb cutting being safer, I tried the backwards router bit thing once on a piece of bird's eye maple and it grabbed so bad I nearly lost a finger. A sharp spiral bit with a light final pass is honestly the only way I'll touch figured wood anymore, that "trick" is just asking for trouble in my book.