Gabel, any reason you can't use a heavy duty 3 1/4h.p. router for the groove? I think it would feed as fast as a saw setup would but you certainly won't get the mileage from the bit. A 1/2" shank with indexable cutters would be quick and easy to change without removing the whole bit from the machine and will keep you setup consistant.

RWW,

In my experience, a 3/4" router bit has to make 3 passes to get to 3/4" depth in oak (I think 2 passes is pushing it, but either way it is at least twice the mileage). I think I would rather go over it once with a saw-like tool. And even with indexable cutters, that would be a lot of downtime changing cutters.

At least that is what I think.

Thanks for the ideas, keep em coming.

Gabel

Are you still looking for a groove cutter. I found some used ones from the now defunct Willis-Way Corp out of Eugene, Oregon. It has 1 hp motor and can cut up to 1 1/4" deep groves 1" wide. the groove comes out more like a 1 and a slim 1/16" groove. The blade is a stack of unchangeable disks with chain-saw type teeth on them. I date them to 1980s, but its really only a guess. They are in excellent condition and probably never used. I think its an old warehouse clearing sale, as the ones I looked at had sequential serial numbers. They were stored in cases and the only deterioration is a touch of rust on the arbor nut and an irritating residue of decomposed foam on the guard. If your interested, I can send you pics and talk a price.

Michael
soppymeadows@iinet.com